Kevin Harvick predicts winner of NASCAR Daytona Night Race

Kevin Harvick and the Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour crew are elated for the NASCAR Cup Series to head to Daytona International Speedway this weekend. The regular season will be closed out with a bang. 

Ahead of all the fun, they’re locking in their predictions. First, Harvick’s co-host in Kaitlyn Vincie is rocking with a Ford driver currently below the cut-line to notch victory No. 1 of 2025.

“I’m going with Chris Buescher,” Vincie stated. “We’ve talked about the strength of the Fords. I know he can be good there. He’s currently below the line. So, if he could do it (he’d make the playoffs).”

Buescher is an interesting pick, but Mamba Smith is a believer in a couple of other drivers this weekend. While Alex Bowman came close to victory at Richmond last weekend, he couldn’t finish the job, falling short to Austin Dillon. Smith thinks another solid night could be coming for Richard Childress Racing.

“I think the No. 48 group deserves to be in the playoffs. There’s a way that they can get in without winning this weekend. I’m not picking Alex. I’m picking Kyle Busch,” Smith proclaimed. “I want the No. 48 to be in the playoffs, and there’s a way that they could be there without winning, but I’m picking Kyle Busch.

“I want Kyle Busch to win so bad. I don’t know if I’ve ever wanted someone to win as bad as I want for the No. 8 of Kyle Busch.”

Last season, Busch came close to a win at Daytona during the summer iteration of the Cup Series’ trip to the track. He was edged out by Harrison Burton. Maybe that’s the motivation that’ll propel him to his first victory of 2025. Smith is certainly hoping that’s the case.

Finally, Harvick has his eyes on a different veteran wheelman in Florida: “I’m going to go with another guy that needs to get back to Victory Lane, Brad Keselowski,” he stated. That would mark his first win of the season, as well.

Moreover, Keselowski’s controversial drafting tactics make him a polarizing figure at tracks like Daytona. He’s a fascinating pick, and always a potential winner when the Cup Series rolls into the super-speedway, especially with the playoffs on the line.

All in all, the Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour crew are rolling with Chris Buescher, Kyle Busch and Brad Keselowski. We’ll see if any of those three can get the job done, or if they’ll miss out on the playoffs in 2025.