Earnhardt will win the Daytona 500

UPDATE Looks like Dale Earnhardt Jr. never got word that "the fix" was in, as he was far from the dominant horse at the Daytona 500. Earnhardt Jr finished in 9th place and led the race three times for a grand total of 12 laps.

Earnhardt, Jr.'s Hendrick Motorsports (HMS) teammates Jimmie Johnson, No 48 Lowe's Impala SS, Casey Mears, No. 5 Kellogg's/CARQUEST Impala SS, and Jeff Gordon, No. 24 DuPont Impala SS, all battled adversity to finish 27th, 37th and 39th respectively. Gordon led three times for a total of five laps.

02/17/08 This is not to say the fix is in, but Dale Earnhardt Jr. will win the Daytona 500 today.

It's inevitable.

I know NASCAR and that's why I'm almost positive of Junior's victory in today's Hendrick MotorMonopoly 500.

You see, NASCAR television ratings have slipped for two consecutive years. There is much fanfare because Junior, by far the sport's most popular driver, is on a new team with new colors, a new number and new sponsors. And let's not forget, this is the 10-year anniversary of his iconic father winning his first and only Daytona 500 in 1998.

It's too good a story for Junior NOT to win today. In fact, I'm so sure of it, I'm guaranteeing it.

Of course, this isn't exactly one of the most daring predictions ever made. It's sort of like guaranteeing the Patriots to win the Super Bowl or Duke to make the Final Four or Britney to wind up back in rehab. You have a pretty good chance of being right. Orlando Sentinel