Advance to Victory Lane: Predicting the unpredictable at Daytona

All signs point to an unpredictable race to wrap up the regular season on Saturday at Daytona International Speedway (7 p.m. ET, NBC, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Peacock, NBC Sports App). Just look at some of these factoids from Racing Insights for proof: -- The summer Daytona winner got his first win of the season four of the last five years. The names here include Austin Dillon in 2022 and William Byron in 2020, who both needed to win their way into the playoffs and got the job done at Daytona. FANTASY LIVE: Set your roster | Weekend schedule -- Five of the last 10 Daytona winners got their first Cup Series win. If we go 6-for-11 with first-time Cup winners, it will mean somebody from below the elimination line -- such as Corey LaJoie, for example -- is winning his way into the playoffs. -- Seventeen drivers are fighting for the final playoff spot at Daytona, seven of which have been winners on drafting tracks before. Those names include Bubba Wallace, Chase Elliott, Austin Cindric, Aric Almirola, Justin Haley, Erik Jones and Austin Dillon. Would it be a surprise to see any of these drivers in Victory Lane this week? With all of that said, we know you come here for the winner prediction and not a bunch of waffling and discussion on possible scenarios. So let's look at the drivers to watch and then get you that prediction. DRIVERS TO WATCH AUSTIN DILLON: The 2018 Daytona 500 champion won this race last year to get into the playoffs. Richard Childress Racing's success at superspeedway tracks is well-known throughout the land. BUBBA WALLACE: He's the lone driver battling for a playoff spot who is sitting on the positive side of the elimination line, 32 points ahead of Ty Gibbs entering Daytona. Wallace won on a superspeedway in 2021 at Talladega, and he is a three-time runner-up finisher at Daytona. CHASE ELLIOTT: He is a three-time winner on drafting tracks, with those victories coming twice at Talladega and most recently in July of 2022 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Elliott has been a two-time runner-up finisher at Daytona. DANIEL SUÁREZ: The Trackhouse Racing driver has posted six top-10 finishes in the last nine drafting races, including a runner-up last year at Atlanta. His teammate Ross Chastain won last season at Talladega, so the team in general has shown speed at these track types. COREY LAJOIE: All six of his career top-10 finishes have come in this style of racing. LaJoie posted top-five finishes in both Atlanta races this year and has a best finish at Daytona of sixth (2019). Projections as of Wednesday, Aug. 23. RACING INSIGHTS' PROJECTIONS FOR THE COKE ZERO SUGAR 400 Racing Insights' advanced statistical formula includes current track, current track type, recent performance, team data and pit-crew data to arrive at a projected winner and full race results. [table id=82 /]