It’s about damn time.

After a long dormant winter devoid of racing and full of snow, it’s time to start our yearly marathon with sport’s best opening event.

You can’t beat the Daytona 500. It’s NASCAR’s biggest race. And it starts the season. Many drivers would rather win this weekend than win the Sprint Cup. You can’t say that it any other sport without getting ridiculed.

No such ridicule for me. I bet fake money every race last year and ended up ahead. No reason to not try again. Here’s how it works: I bet 50 fake dollars on every race, keep track and hopefully don’t embarrass my family. Less typing. More picking.

10 fake dollars on Denny Hamlin at 12/1:

Hamlin is either going to melt down or kick teeth after his stumble at Homestead. Dude won eight times last year; so, I’ll take these generous odds.
 
10 fake dollars on Clint Bowyer at 12/1
Can you name me a diver with a better average finish at Daytona? Other than Dale Earnhardt Jr., you can’t. Speaking of Captain Amp…

10 fake dollars of Dale Earnhardt Jr. at 12/1

I know people sitting on the pole haven’t had great success winning the race. But we don't have to worry about that now. Plus, we all know the history here and the power of a good comeback. It would be quite the story.

10 fake dollars on Kurt Busch at 15/1
If a sucker is born every minute, I just came out of a womb with a Penzoil logo on it.

10 fake dollars on Jeff Burton at 25/1
Mark Martin has never won at Daytona in 235 attempts. Jeff Burton has never won in 232 attempts. I’m making these numbers up. But  if George Foreman can win the heavyweight title, Jerry Lawler can take out The Miz and Lyle Lovett can marry Julia Roberts, Martin or Burton can make history…then take a nap. I don't think Martin's car can hang for 500 miles as warm as that engine gets. I think Burton's car can.

NASCAR wants headlines. I want wins. Let’s hope we both get what we’re looking for come Sunday. Here’s what The Spread thinks. Enjoy Sunday, and insert random catchphrase here.

Daytona 500
Kevin Harvick 6/1
Kyle Busch 8/1
Tony Stewart 8/1
Jamie McMurray 10/1
Denny Hamlin 12/1
Jimmie Johnson 12/1
Dale Earnhardt Jr 12/1
Jeff Gordon 12/1
Clint Bowyer 12/1
Carl Edwards 15/1
Kurt Busch 15/1
Joey Logano 20/1
Mark Martin 20/1
Juan Montoya 20/1
Jeff Burton 25/1
David Reutimann 30/1
David Ragan 30/1
Paul Menard 30/1
Kasey Kahne 30/1
Greg Biffle 30/1
Ryan Newman 30/1
Brian Vickers 30/1
Matt Kenseth 30/1
Martin Truex Jr 30/1
AJ Allmendinger 40/1
Brad Keselowski 50/1
Marcos Ambrose 60/1
Regan Smith 100/1
Bobby Labonte 100/1
Field (Any Other Driver) 25/1