JASON KELLER
He's back in the top 10 in points after two-year absence.
DAVE ROGERS
Joe Gibbs Racing crew chief should be headed to Sprint Cup Series again.
TONY STEWART
At least he has his five wins in this series to fall back on.
3 to Watch
DALE EARNHARDT JR.: In 14 series starts at Daytona, Earnhardt Jr. has five wins, seven top-5s, eight top-10s and one pole. His last win came in 2006.
KERRY EARNHARDT: Earnhardt, who works at Dale Earnhardt Inc. as a team liaison, will make just his fifth Nationwide start since 2003. His most recent start came in this race one year ago, when he finished 25th.
KEVIN HARVICK: One win and 10 top-5 finishes in 12 series starts rivals only Earnhardt Jr. in performance of late at Daytona.
Observations
Series points leader Clint Bowyer has been a model of efficiency of late. Although he has not been in down-to-the-wire battles for victories, he has not finished lower than ninth in his past eight races and has only three finishes worse than ninth all season. That is championship-caliber material.
It's good to see veteran Jason Keller in contention for race wins and back in the championship picture. He has done it the hard way, working from the bottom up with start-up operation CJM Racing. Keller and his team seem to be hitting their stride, and it wouldn't be a shock to see him end his nearly five-year winless streak this season.
