Hoping for an unexpected Daytona 500 winner

By Mike Smith (contact)

Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2009 | 8:32 p.m.

A cartoonist is always looking for the big story. As I drive to work each morning, I find myself hoping that the day’s headlines will be fertile ground for cartoon ideas. This can be dangerous, as my truck has been known to leave the pavement when my mind wanders.

Hopefully, that drive to work next Monday will find me contemplating a big headline from Sunday’s Daytona 500.

We’ve been hearing a lot about Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Carl Edwards, Jimmie Johnson and Kyle Busch. But, frankly, if one of these drivers wins on Sunday, it won’t be a surprise. A victory by Gordon would break his winless streak and a win for Dale Jr. would be a fan favorite, but we wouldn’t be shocked.

NASCAR needs an emotional win by an unlikely driver to start the season off with a spark that would create a lot of water cooler talk on Monday.

So I’m hoping we see someone like Robby Gordon, Mark Martin, Jamie McMurray, Sam Hornish, David Ragan or Brian Vickers hoisting the trophy in Victory Lane after the 500 miles are complete.

Then again, the biggest headline I could hope for would be to see Scott Speed taking the checkered flag. Just think of the great cartoon ideas the toenail-painted, puffy-shirt-wearing, former Formula One driver could provide.

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