Analysis: Dale Earnhardt Jr starts NASCAR Daytona 500 as favourite

There was a period early in Dale Earnhardt Jr's career where he could do little wrong on the restrictor plate tracks at Daytona and Talladega.

From 2001-04 Earnhardt won two races at Daytona International Speedway, including the '04 500, and five at Talladega Superspeedway including four in a row from 2001-03.

Then from 2005, Earnhardt's career went into deep decline. Gone was the magic he displayed on the restrictor plate superspeedways, or any other racetrack for that matter. He began to experience self-doubt.

His second Daytona 500 victory in 2014 revitalised his career. It was the first of four wins that year and three more in '15.

He arrived at Speedweeks 2016 with a fast Hendrick Chevrolet and proved it by winning the first Duel qualifying race on Thursday night.

Earnhardt played out the final laps perfectly and made a race-winning 'slingshot' move out of Turn 4.

In Sunday's 58th Daytona 500 Earnhardt has the car, the team and the confidence to become a three-time winner of the NASCAR Sprint Cup's biggest race.

"The car is awesome," Earnhardt said. "I don't really get too confident, I don't want to get overly confident in what I'm doing. But the car really does everything I ask it to do.

"When you have a car that you know can do the things that this car can do, you're willing to take those gambles and risks to pull out and pass and not worry about getting shuffled to the back because you feel like the car is really capable of doing what you're going to ask it to do every time you make a move.

"It's just a fun car to drive - a really special car."

Earnhardt has even told team boss Rick Hendrick that the Daytona 2016 car "might be one he wants to put in a museum one day".

His Duel victory gives Earnhardt third in Sunday's starting line-up, and came on the 15th anniversary of his father Dale's death in a final-lap crash at the 2001 500.

"I was thinking about that," Earnhardt said. "I try not to make too big a deal.

"I've told all you guys in interviews how much I like people to remember dad. It really warms my heart to see the stuff on social media and so forth.

"I'm guilty of daydreaming a little bit about winning that race because of the day."

Many drivers feel NASCAR's rule changes in recent years have brought the art and skill back to restrictor plate racing after a period when many regarded it as a lottery.

Earnhardt was particularly unimpressed with the era of tandem drafting, but believes the current spec suits his style well.

"When we started this tandem stuff, it was like a tag team match. It felt so unnatural to run second by having to draft a guy that was going to win the race," he said.

"When that all went away, we got lucky that this package is similar to the '01 to '05 range, maybe even late '90s, where you have to look out for you.

"That's what makes this fun again. That's why you see the same guys up there, because they understand the mentality.

"Different styles work. Denny [Hamlin] and I are real similar. He's aggressive. Joey Logano, he's aggressive.

"But Matt Kenseth does well, and he's not quite as aggressive. He's real smart.

"It's a mentality where you just have to be a selfish jerk."

Earnhardt was the fastest driver in Saturday's final practice session with a lap at 197.131mph.

A win in the Daytona 500 will earn entry into NASCAR's Chase for the Championship. His father won seven Cup titles but Earnhardt continues to fight for his first.

"It's hard to win," Earnhardt said.

"Some guys have great careers without winning the championship.

"I think I've got some good years left to have the opportunity at it. We're working really hard to try to make that happen.

"We've just got to keep showing up and see if it works."

Autosport Race Centre Live will cover the 2016 Daytona 500 as it happens from 6pm UK time on Sunday