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Kevin Harvick predicts winner at Daytona Coke Zero 400

FaceProfileby: Thomas Goldkamp08/21/24
Bubba Wallace (1)
Jun 23, 2024; Loudon, New Hampshire, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Bubba Wallace (23) is introduced before the start of the USA TODAY 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports

Going into the weekend at Daytona with chances to clinch a playoff spot quickly narrowing, Kevin Harvick has made his pick on a race winner: Bubba Wallace.

It would be the first win for Wallace since 2022, when he took home the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas.

“They ran well enough at Michigan to be able to put themselves in the conversation,” Harvick explained on the Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour podcast. “But I love where he’s at mentally. I just love his space right now and just the things that he’s doing and the way that they’ve come back from the break and performed. And I think Daytona’s a good track for him.”

Wallace finished P26 in the race at Michigan over the weekend, struggling in the FireKeepers Casino 400 after getting collected in a wreck by Kyle Larson.

But he had been in a good position up till that point in the race, battling quite a bit inside the top 5 as he looked to secure either a vital win or points to go toward the playoffs. And Wallace will need everything he can get down the stretch.

As things currently stand, Bubba Wallace is sitting just one point outside the playoff cut line, trailing Ross Chastain by that narrow a margin. Overcoming it will require some good racing the next couple weeks … and maybe even a win.

If Kevin Harvick is right, Bubba Wallace will be in excellent shape.

For his part, Wallace reacted in pretty good form following the crash that ruined him at Michigan.

“Guys did a good job, that’s all I could ask for,” Wallace said. “Show up with speed, be competitive, put your name in the hat, that’s what we did so thank you.”

Wallace knows there isn’t much time left to make up ground, but he’s doing everything he can to remain focused and locked in ahead of the last few races of the regular season.

“Two more left,” Bubba Wallace said after Michigan. “Didn’t matter if we ran second today, still got two more left.”

The race at Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. ET on Sunday. You can view the list of betting favorites for Daytona here.