Noteworthy Americans Make Their Daytona 500 Predictions

Lance Armstrong is picking Bobby Labonte – a sentimental favorite due for a big win.

Super chef Mario Batali contends Jimmie Johnson’s momentum will bring him to the checkered flag first.

Some guys from Chicago who know how to win – Bulls superstars Scottie Pippen and Cubs catcher Michael Barrett – believe off-season controversy has stoked the fire in the belly of Dale Earnhardt Jr.

All-star guard Gilbert Arenas says Casey Mears has a new team, a winning crew chief and “something to prove. ”

Baseball legend Keith Hernandez predicts Sterling Marlin will turn back the clock and wind up in Victory Lane.

Olympic gold medalist Bart Conner is counting on a Carl Edwards back flip under the lights.

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck is picking his Seattle homeboy Kasey Kahne, while hoops star and Daytona Beach resident Vince Carter is pulling for his neighbor Mark Martin.

Supermodel Ingrid Vandebosch had a premonition: a Jeff Gordon hat dance.

Wall Street Journal “By the Numbers” columnist Allen St. John noted Tony Stewart spent the most time at the front of the pack in 2006 – a NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series-leading 1,360 laps.

These noteworthy public figures are, of course, discussing the driver they believe will win the Daytona 500 on Feb. 18 (FOX, 3 p. m. ET) NASCAR reached out to familiar names for their “Great American Race” predictions. The answers were, at times, surprising and humorous, and reflected a strong passion for NASCAR. Here are 71 celebrity predictions for the Daytona 500, in alphabetical order:

“Looking at years past, I like the DEI cars, mainly now, Dale Jr. I also like the Hendrick teams, mainly Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson. But you can never count out Tony Stewart with the way he finished up last year. If I were going to pick one for Daytona, it would be Jr.. With all that’s going on with him at DEI, he will try to make a statement. “ – Philadelphia Eagles Kicker David Akers

“I’m picking Jr. to win. I want to see this because of all the things that will go on outside of the car. “ – Jamal Anderson, former NFL rushing leader with the Atlanta Falcons

“Casey Mears has a new team, new car, a winning crew chief and something to prove. He will win it. “ – Gilbert Arenas, all-star guard, Washington Wizards

“I have to go with a sentimental favorite and a driver long overdue for the big win: Bobby Labonte. “ – Lance Armstrong, seven-time Tour de France winner

“Without question, Jimmie Johnson is the best. He’s got the top car and he’ll do the best job at avoiding the wrecks. “ – Philadelphia Eagles Linebacker Shawn Barber

“The obvious pick would be Jimmie Johnson, but since Darian Grubb left his crew, I think that Dale Earnhardt Jr. is a real good pick. I know that Dale Jr. is going through some negotiations right now, but I believe those things will get worked out and he will rise to the occasion. “ – Michael Barrett, Chicago Cubs catcher

“Jimmie Johnson has the most momentum in American sports after Tiger and Federer. ” – Mario Batali, celebrity chef and NASCAR cookbook author

“My prediction would be Jimmie Johnson.... Do not ask me why as it’s impossible to predict!!! “ – British LeMans and Formula 1 driver, Derek Bell

“Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Dale’s son holds a special place in all our hearts. “ – Tobin Bell, actor in “Saw”

“Jeff Gordon. He’s the man. He has won big races before and he knows how to win when he is under pressure. “ – Martin Brodeur, three-time Stanley Cup champion with the New Jersey Devils

“Jimmie Johnson knows the race and how to win it. Plus, he has the best record and consistently finishes on top, which is where he will wind up next Sunday. “ – Caron Butler, all-star forward, Washington Wizards

“Carl Edwards’ incredible training regimen and unmatched fitness will take him to the checkered flag at Daytona. “ – Chris Carmichael, fitness/nutrition expert (and Lance Armstrong’s trainer)

“As a native of Daytona Beach, I’m always excited to see a safe and entertaining race that will make sports fans want to return to Daytona year after year. Of course, I’m going with Mark Martin, a resident of Daytona Beach. ” – Vince Carter, New Jersey Nets

“I pull for Jeff Gordon because he is a San Francisco 49ers fan and I am showing him the same support he showed the 49ers. “ – Dwight Clark, former San Francisco 49ers receiver, infamous for “The Catch”

“I’m picking Carl Edwards because he is great, plus whenever he wins, he does a backflip off his car. “ – Olympic gold medalist Bart Conner

“Jimmie Johnson has what it takes to be the first driver to win back-to-back Cup titles since Jeff Gordon did it back in the late 90s. He’s my clear favorite to start the season off strong with a win at the Daytona 500. “ – Singer/songwriter Jimmy Cozier

“Tony Stewart has won races at Daytona before, but not the big one. But on any given race day, no matter what kind of car he has or the conditions, he’s the biggest threat out there, so I look for him to win his first Daytona 500, edging Jimmie Johnson and Kasey Kahne. “ – Johnny Damon, New York Yankees center fielder

“Kasey Kahne will win because his tactics are increasingly cunning. ” – Gavin DeGraw, recording artist

“Tony Stewart is going to win. He’s a great driver and has invited me to come check out a race this year. ” – Gary Dell’Abate, producer of “The Howard Stern Show”

“I’m going to stay with Jimmie Johnson since I’m his back-up driver. “ – North Carolina Gov. Mike Easley

“I’ve got to go with Jeff Gordon; he’s my guy! “ – Actor Aaron Eckhart

“I’d like to go with Juan Pablo Montoya, but it that may be too much to ask, too soon. So I’m going to put my money on Smoke. ” – Janet Evanovich, best-selling author Jimmie Johnson

“I know that he lives here in Charlotte and I see him at our games. He won the Cup last year, so I know he has skills. ” – Raymond Felton, Charlotte Bobcats

“Daytona pick? Jimmie Johnson. The car’s not broke and nobody’s fixing it. (Welcome back Ricky Rudd, the sport could always use another gentleman on the track, and a ‘hell of a race car driver! ’)” – William Fichtner, actor

“I’ll take David Reutimann in the Domino’s car. Because when you go with pizza, you never lose. And also bacon is great on pizza, and since there is no bacon car, I have to go with pizza. When are they going to get a bacon car? Tell me everyone wouldn’t route for the bacon car. Mmmm. Bacon. “ – Comedian Jim Gaffigan

“It will come down to two drivers: last year’s champion, Jimmie Johnson, and three-time champ Jeff Gordon… with Jeff Gordon taking the checkered flag. I predict Gordon’s fourth win at the Daytona Speedway will propel him to win the Nextel Cup this year. “ – Stacey Gardner, “Deal or No Deal” (Case No. 2)

“My pick is Dale Earnhardt Jr. – my favorite driver. Dale Jr. said that his favorite track all season was Daytona. He has won there before, and a good way to start 2007 is with a win there! ” – Natalie Gulbis, golfer

“I just did a commercial with Michael and he’s No. 55 – need I say more? I am also a Dale Earnhardt Jr. fan and I think he really has what it takes to win at Daytona. ” – Sammy Hagar, rock and roll legend

“This is Jeff Gordon’s year. He’s got a great crew, and knows how to get it done on the race track. Look for him to win at Daytona and be the favorite for the Nextel Cup this year. “ – John Hannah, Pro Football Hall of Fame offensive linemen for the New England Patriots

“Jeff Gordon is my man. He is always driving at the top of his game. I see Jeff adding another Daytona trophy to his HUGE trophy case. ” – Steve Harvey from the national radio show “The Steve Harvey Morning Show”

“I’ll go with Kasey Kahne because he is the local boy from Seattle. “ – Matt Hasselbeck, quarterback of the Seattle Seahawks

“I am a proud member of NASCAR Nation, attending the Dickies 500 in Dallas for many years. While my favorite driver is Kasey Kahne, if I had to put my money on one driver to win Sunday, it’s Jimmie Johnson. “ – Kasie Head, model, “Deal or No Deal” (Case No. 16)

“The only Daytona 500 I went to, Sterling Marlin was the winner and he won in the Kodak car. I always liked him as a driver and he’s going to win this year! ” – Keith Hernandez, former New York Mets first baseman and current Mets broadcaster

“I think Jimmie Johnson will win the Daytona 500 because he’s the man. ” – Desmond Howard, Superbowl XXXI MVP and 1991 Heisman Trophy winner

“Dale Earnhardt Jr. is in the last year of his contract and he wants ownership in DEI. With that kind of motivation, he’s my pick. “ – Antawn Jamison, Washington Wizards

“Tony Stewart is going to win because he is the best professional driver out there. He can drive any car on any track, period. My second pick is Michael Waltrip in the new Toyota. ” – Tommy John, former New York Yankees pitcher

“How can I go with anybody but Jimmie Johnson? He has the same name as me. ” – Jimmy Johnson, NFL & College Football Championship coach / FOX analyst

“I have a very confident feeling about Carl Edwards winning the Daytona 500 this year. Towards the later half of the 2006 season, he started to turn into the Carl we all know and love. His profile is going up as a celebrity, along with his talent and confidence, and I think he is finally comfortable with being a huge star. ” – Josh Kelley, Threshold Records recording artist

“I personally think that Sterling Marlin is going to be the man to beat at the Daytona 500 this year. Simply said, he is going to win it!! Sterling knows how to live life like he’s got nothing to lose. He’s got a real heavy foot, the heart of a warrior and he loves to have fun. Don’t hurt a thing that he’s driving a Chevy and he’s proven over again he knows how to win on this track. And that’s why my friend Sterling is gonna win the Daytona 500. “ – Big Kenny of “Big and Rich, ” Grammy-nominated Country duo

“Dale Earnhardt Jr. He’s extremely visible and is kind of synonymous with winning. ” – Brevin Knight, Charlotte Bobcats

“Tony Stewart because he’s motivated to prove that last year wasn’t an aberration. ” – Tampa Bay Lightning Stanley Cup Champion Vincent Lecavalier

“I believe that this year’s race will be between the No. 24 car, Jeff Gordon, and the No. 8 car, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Since Mr. Gordon won in 2005, I think that this could be Dale Earnhardt Jr. ‘s year. “ – Jim Leyritz, former New York Yankee

“I have been watching Jeff Gordon race for a while, and I know what he can do in a race car. He doesn’t like to lose and he knows what it takes to win. He is a great competitor. I think 24 will fly at the Daytona 500. ” – Ryan Lochte, two-time Olympic medalist

“I’m picking Dale Earnhardt Jr. and would like to go to his club! ” – Olympic alpine skiing gold medalist Julia Mancuso

“Dale Jr., because there will be a sea of red at Daytona International Speedway willing him to the front of the draft. “ – Howie Mandel, comedian

“I believe that Todd Bodine will win the Daytona 500… driving a truck. That’s right, the Onion will destroy the pack, and he will spray champagne onto leggy models in the winner’s circle before half the field finishes. Mark my words, you’ll be crying from the Onion. You know I’m right! “ – Joel McHale, host of “The Soup” on E!

“I will pick Kasey Kahne. I don’t really have a reason other than (like horse racing) I tend to stay away from the top-two favorites. Kasey is so young and talented that winning Daytona to start his season would be great for NASCAR, plus I think he is dreamy. ” – Jay Mohr, actor / comedian and three-time NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series awards host

“Kurt Bush. I’ve been following him since I moved to Charlotte and I’ve also had the chance to meet him and think he’s in it for all the right reasons. He’s all about winning. ” – Adam Morrison, Charlotte Bobcats

“I am going with Tony Raines to win this year’s Daytona 500 because of the great team owners he drives for and because my guitar tech knows his crew chief. ” – Brad Paisley, Country music star (2006 CMA Album of the Year – “Time Well Wasted”)

“I am just learning about NASCAR. I am picking Tony Raines to win the Daytona 500 because my husband’s (Brad Paisley) guitar tech knows his crew chief. ” – Kimberly Williams-Paisley, actress on ABC’s “According to Jim”

“My colleagues and I recently had the pleasure of welcoming Jimmie Johnson to the Capitol to congratulate him on his success as NASCAR Champion. He is a gifted athlete, a great ambassador for the sport of NASCAR and my pick to win the Daytona 500. “ – House Speaker Nancy Pelosi

“With Jimmie Johnson winning last year’s Daytona 500 along with the 2006 Cup championship, Jeff Gordon will be motivated to follow his teammate. Gordon has always been strong at Daytona, which will certainly help. ” – Former Chicago Bull NBA World Champion, Will Perdue

“Daytona’s a crap shoot. Anything can happen. I’d like to see Dale come back this year, but I think Jimmie Johnson’s going to take it again. Mind you, he’s got to keep an eye on some of those younger guys like Kasey Kahne. They’re really gonna go for it, too. “ – Comedian Russell Peters

“This is Dale Earnhardt’s year. He’s had success at this track many times and is motivated. It certainly helps that he is in the final year of his contract. ” – Former Chicago Bull NBA World Champion Scottie Pippen

“The four-time Nextel Cup champion likes Daytona, and Daytona likes him. ” – George Pyne, president, Sports and Entertainment, IMG

“I’m going with Jeff Gordon because he’s won it multiple times and he always has a chance to win. ” – Tampa Bay Lightning Stanley Cup Champion and Conn Smythe Trophy winner, Brad Richards

“Tony Stewart. Why? Because even though he’s never won the 500, he’s got a track record at Daytona, winning the Pepsi 400 in both 2005 and 2006. And while Mr. Stewart failed to make The Chase last year, he spent more time at the front of the pack than any other driver, leading a Nextel Cup-best 1,360 laps. ” – Allen St. John, “By the Numbers” columnist, The Wall Street Journal

“I’ll pick Jimmie Johnson because the defending champ always has the confidence until someone knocks him off. ” – Tampa Bay Lightning Stanley Cup Champion and Hart Trophy winner, Martin St. Louis

“Clint Bowyer will win. Those other guys – Dale and Jeff – they know what they gotta do if they think their kneecaps are helpful in their careers. ” – actor Steve Schirripa (Bobby Bacalla on “The Sopranos”)

“Jr., because he is Joe Dirt’s favorite driver. ” – David Spade, star of the CBS Monday night comedy “Rules of Engagement”

“Dale Earnhardt Jr. is gonna win this one—he’s due and 2007 is his year. Earnhardt is out to make a point and everyone else should just watch their backs. “ – Josh Stewart, actor in FX’s “Dirt. ”

“Jimmie Johnson: He follows our program and comes to games now and then, and his wife is a Sooner. ” – Bob Stoops, head football coach, University of Oklahoma

“Although it’s easier to get on top than to stay on top, Jimmie Johnson is primed and ready for another standout year. ” – Aaron Taylor, 2005 ABC/ESPN college football analyst and Green Bay Packers Super Bowl champion

“Tony Stewart will win the Daytona 500; he does extremely well under pressure. And even though he didn’t make it into The Chase last season, the No. 20 Home Depot team did an outstanding job in the pits. “ – Cowboy Troy, Warner Bros. artist

Jeff Gordon will win The Great American Race and be back on top in ‘07. “ – tennis star Nicole Vaidisova (No. 5 in the 2007 WTA Tour)

“I think my husband Jeff Gordon is going to win. “ – Fashion model Ingrid Vandebosch

“I thought all the freaks, misfits and outcasts lived in the Rock and Roll world, but after the great time we had when NASCAR came to New York in the fall, I know they’re alive and well in the racing world as well. And while I can’t predict who will win Daytona, I have a special place in my heart for the Richard Childress Racing team. ” – Steven Van Zandt, actor, rock and roll legend.

“I think Jeff Gordon will win. He’s been really consistent over the years and he’s always been one of the Top-10 racers-and I think he’s going to pull it off. ” – Jonathan Vilma, New York Jets linebacker

“Dale Earnhardt Jr. “Because he’s a fierce competitor that hates to lose and I can relate to that. ” – Gerald Wallace, Charlotte Bobcats

“Jimmie Johnson is the man. “ – Seattle Sonics forward Chris Wilcox

“Dale Jr. has a great chance and so do Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Matt Kenseth. But I think it’s going to be an RCR car. So I’m going to flip between Jeff Burton and Kevin Harvick. OK, I’m going to go with Harvick. ” – Milwaukee Brewers Manager, Ned Yost who wears the No. 3 in tribute to his friend Dale Earnhardt Sr.

About the Daytona 500

The Daytona 500 on Feb. 18 is the ultimate season-opener for a professional sport. It is NASCAR’s richest and most prestigious race, filled with tradition and lore. Accordingly, it also is one of the most attended and watched sporting events of the year.

Approximately 200,000 fans will attend “The Great American Race” at Daytona International Speedway, starting the season for the second highest-rated regular season sport on television. In 2006, the Daytona 500 broadcast attracted 37 million viewers, making it the highest-rated and most-viewed NASCAR race in history.