Behind the wheels

Jimmie Johnson is tied with Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt with seven Cup Series titles. Can he take sole possession of the record in his final full season? A look at the top title contenders:

Jimmie Johnson

Two-time Daytona 500 winner says this season will be his final full-time year. Seven-time Cup champion has not ruled out select future NASCAR races.

Kyle Busch

Two-time and reigning Cup champion is 0-for-14 at the Daytona 500. Last year finished second to Denny Hamlin in a 1-2-3 sweep for Joe Gibbs Racing.

Denny Hamlin

Won Daytona 500 last year and led teammates in a Joe Gibbs Racing sweep. It was Hamlin’s second career Daytona 500 win and sparked a resurgence.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

Although he’s only won at Talladega, Stenhouse’s aggressive driving on superspeedways makes him a driver to watch. He’s with a new team in JTG-Daugherty Racing.

Ross Chastain

Eighthgeneration Florida watermelon farmer gets a ride in the Daytona 500 in a car prepared by Chip Ganassi Racing.

Kyle Larson

Considered the top free agent in 2020. Larson hasn’t had much success at Daytona, but needs a strong start to warrant interest in signing him away from Chip Ganassi Racing.

Joey Logano

Has four career superspeedway victories, one in the Daytona 500. He’s back this year with crew chief Paul Wolfe, considered one of the top minds in the garage.

Brad Keselowski

Six-time winner at Talladega and Daytona, but he’s never won the Daytona 500. Part of the Team Penske offseason shakeup and has a new crew chief Jeremy Bullins.

Christopher Bell

Makes his Cup and Daytona 500 debut driving for Leavine Family Racing, a sister team to Joe Gibbs Racing. The sprint car star is among the next wave of drivers in NASCAR.

Kevin Harvick

The 2007 Daytona 500 winner has been caught in accidents in five of his last seven visits to Daytona. If Harvick can avoid the wrecks, he should be a contender at the end of the race.