NASCAR Fantasy Tool: Average at 2010 Daytona Speedweeks

February 11, 2010

This table shows all 55 drivers who have competed in the 2010 Daytona Speedweeks. They are ranked by averaging their qualifying run with the results from the Budweiser Shootout and Gatorade Duels.

Qualifying Shootout Duels AVERAGE
Kyle Busch 9 4 3 5.3
Clint Bowyer 8 4 6.0
Juan Pablo Montoya 5 10 3 6.0
Jimmie Johnson 7 13 1 7.0
Jeff Gordon 10 6 10 8.7
Jamie McMurray 19 3 6 9.3
Ryan Newman 3 19 8 10.0
Joey Logano 17 7 7 10.3
Kasey Kahne 28 2 1 10.3
Tony Stewart 21 9 2 10.7
Kevin Harvick 30 1 2 11.0
Kurt Busch 6 23 4 11.0
Marcos Ambrose 14 8 11.0
Dale Earnhardt Jr. 2 11 21 11.3
Matt Kenseth 11 16 11 12.7
Bill Elliott 4 22 13.0
Brad Keselowski 15 12 13.5
Scott Speed 13 14 13.5
Mark Martin 1 20 21 14.0
Denny Hamlin 27 5 12 14.7
David Reutimann 22 9 15.5
A.J. Allmendinger 25 7 16.0
David Ragan 24 9 16.5
Joe Nemechek 16 18 17.0
Todd Bodine 17 17.0
Bobby Labonte 18 18 17 17.7
Brian Vickers 35 8 10 17.7
Carl Edwards 26 17 13 18.7
Paul Menard 23 15 19.0
Sam Hornish Jr. 12 26 19.0
Martin Truex Jr. 33 6 19.5
Regan Smith 34 5 19.5
Elliott Sadler 36 5 20.5
Greg Biffle 37 15 11 21.0
Mike Bliss 29 13 21.0
Michael Waltrip 20 21 25 22.0
Jeff Burton 31 12 26 23.0
Robby Gordon 32 19 25.5
John Andretti 42 22 16 26.7
Casey Mears 39 16 27.5
Max Papis 40 15 27.5
David Gilliland 41 18 29.5
Reed Sorenson 38 24 31.0
Derrike Cope 51 24 20 31.7
Michael McDowell 50 14 32.0
Travis Kvapil 45 19 32.0
Robert Richardson Jr. 44 23 33.5
Terry Cook 47 20 33.5
Aric Almirola 46 22 34.0
Jeff Fuller 43 27 35.0
Dave Blaney 49 23 36.0
Boris Said 48 27 37.5
Mike Wallace 53 24 38.5
Norm Benning 54 25 39.5
Kirk Shelmerdine 52 52.0

NASCAR Fantasy Racing Expert Darkhorse Picks: 2010 Daytona 500

February 11, 2010

The On Pit Row fantasy racing experts opinions of the best Sprint Cup driver currently outside the top 12 in Sprint Cup Series points, for this weekends race.

Expert Website Pick to Win Finish Experts Avg
Ryan Rantz On Pit Row David Ragan 16
James Jones On Pit Row Jamie McMurray 1
Dennis Michelsen RaceTalkRadio.com Dale Earnhardt Jr 2
Chris Leone On Pit Row John Andretti 38
P J Walsh FantasyNASCARPreview.com Elliott Sadler 24
Darren Fauth Fantasy Racing Cheat Sheet Kyle Busch 14
Tall Glass of Milk Answerthis.com Kevin Harvick 7
Matt Mercer On Pit Row Jamie McMurray 1
Adam Ansell Roto Experts Kyle Busch 14
Eric McClung On Pit Row Elliott Sadler 24
CharlieTurner On Pit Row Clint Bowyer 4
Lou Lauer USAR Fans Kyle Busch 14
Josh Lobdell FFToolbox Jamie McMurray 1
Bob Ellis NASCAR Ranting and Raving AJ Allmendiger 32
Jon Rodgers Gillette Young Guns Challenge Winner Dale Earnhardt Jr 2
Dan Beaver Fantasy Racing Games Marcos Ambrose 41
Jerry Lagger One and Done Game Winner Dale Earnhardt Jr 2
Charles Rantz ifantasyrace.com Kyle Busch 14

NASCAR Fantasy Racing Experts Picks: 2010 Daytona 500

February 11, 2010

Expert Website Pick to Win Finish Experts Avg
Ryan Rantz On Pit Row Tony Stewart 22
James Jones On Pit Row Tony Stewart 22
Dennis Michelsen RaceTalkRadio.com Mark Martin 12
Jay Busby Yahoo! Sports Tony Stewart 22
Mike Harmon FOX Sports Tony Stewart 22
Chris Leone On Pit Row Tony Stewart 22
Tall Glass of Milk Answerthis.com Mark Martin 12
Matt Mercer On Pit Row Tony Stewart 22
Adam Ansell Roto Experts Tony Stewart 22
Eric McClung On Pit Row Kyle Busch 14
Darren Fauth Fantasy Racing Cheat Sheet Kurt Busch 23
CharlieTurner On Pit Row Tony Stewart 22
Lou Lauer USAR Fans Tony Stewart 22
Josh Lobdell FFToolbox Dale Earnhardt Jr 2
P J Walsh FantasyNASCARPreview.com Kurt Busch 23
Bob Ellis NASCAR Ranting and Raving Tony Stewart 22
Jon Rodgers Gillette Young Guns Challenge Winner Kyle Busch 14
Dan Beaver Fantasy Racing Games Kyle Busch 14
Jerry Lagger One and Done Game Winner Mark Martin 12
Charles Rantz ifantasyrace.com Kurt Busch 23

NASCAR Fantasy Racing Preview: 2010 Daytona 500 from Daytona International Speedway

February 11, 2010

The wait is nearly over. The 2010 edition of the Daytona 500 will soon be at hand. I’m back with On Pit Row for another round of the NASCAR Fantasy Racing Preview. Before we get to the rankings there are some notes to go over:

  • My five-part Fantasy NASCAR Primer Series covers Allocation leagues, Draft leagues, Salary cap leagues, Changes to Yahoo! Fantasy Auto Racing driver lists and look inside a first-of-its-kind expert fantasy draft
  • A shout out to the Onebadwheel Fantasy NASCAR Racing Cheat Sheet. Darren has put together a great tool that no fantasy player will want to be without.
  • Another shout out to the guys at Running3Wide who are offering perhaps the widest selection of fantasy NASCAR games out there.

On Pit Row has several groups for you to battle against other fantasy players! Some groups already filled up so we are opening up more.

Before we get to the ranks, I’ve built two NASCAR Fantasy Tools based on the results from last year.

After reviewing these tables one thing is very clear, plate racing is crazy and unpredictable. When it comes to your fantasy lineups come out of the gate with some curveballs. Elliot Sadler, Brad Keswlowski, David Ragan were the Top 3 drivers in plate races last year and A.J. Allmendinger was among the best drivers during speedweeks.

Here’s an explanation of the highlighted text in the rankings. Download a printer-friendly version here.

  • Y! A/B/C - The top options in the Yahoo! Fantasy Auto Racing game by driver list.
  • Value play - Sneaky plays at this week’s track. Drivers to consider as low-rent salary cap options or alternatives in allocation formats.
  1. Kyle Busch… Won at Daytona 7/08. Best driver rating (116.68) at Daytona over the last three years. Y! A-1
  2. Tony Stewart… Three-time winner at Daytona (’09, ‘06, ‘05). Won last year’s July race, eighth at the Daytona 500. Y! A-2
  3. Jimmie Johnson… Won ‘06 Daytona 500, only two Top 20s in the seven races since– runner-up in July race. Y! A-3
  4. Matt Kenseth… Won last year’s Daytona 500, eighth in the July race. Y! B-1
  5. Jeff Gordon… Six-time winner at Daytona (’05, ‘04, ‘99, ‘98, ‘97, ‘95). Average finish of 27.5 in the last four races, only one Top 15. Y! A-4
  6. Kurt Busch… Six Top 10s with five Top 5s over the last seven races at Daytona. Average finish of 5.3 since ‘08.
  7. Kevin Harvick… Won ‘07 Daytona 500, runner-up last year. Won second straight Bud Shootout. Y! B-2
  8. Dale Earnhardt Jr…. Two-time winner at Daytona (’04, ‘01). Average finish of 33.0 last year, 8.5 in ‘08. Y! B-4
  9. Mark Martin… Had the most laps in the Top 15 in last year’s Daytona 500, finished 16th.
  10. Juan Pablo Montoya… Average finish of 15.5 in ‘09 plate races. Finished a career-best ninth in July race at Daytona.
  11. Kasey Kahne… Average finish of 7.5 at Daytona from ‘07-’08, 22.0 last year. Runner-up in Bud Shootout. Y! B-5
  12. Denny Hamlin… Finished a career-best third in last year’s July race at Daytona, no Top 10s in seven prior starts. Average finish of 22.3 in ‘09 plate races.
  13. Greg Biffle… Won at Daytona 7/03. Fourth-best average finish in ‘09 plate races (12.3).
  14. Clint Bowyer… Finished a career-best fourth in last year’s Daytona 500. Y! B-6
  15. Brian Vickers… DNF (crash) in last year’s Daytona 500, tied a career-best seventh-place finish in July. Average finish of 11.5 in ‘08 races at Daytona. Y! B-7
  16. Ryan Newman… Won ‘08 Daytona 500, average finish of 30.7 in the three races since. Y! B-8
  17. Carl Edwards… Average finish of 20.0 in the Daytona 500 since ‘07, 3.3 in July races.
  18. Jeff Burton… Won at Daytona 7/00. Seventh-best average finish in ‘09 plate races (14.8).
  19. A.J. Allmendinger… Strong value play. Finished a career-best third in last year’s Daytona 500, 17th in July. Y! C-1
  20. Elliott Sadler… Strong value play. Best average finish in ‘09 plates races (10.8).
  21. David Ragan… Strong value play. Third-best average finish in ‘09 plate races (12.0).
  22. Marcos Ambrose… Finished 17th in last year’s Daytona 500– first career start at Daytona, finish sixth in July.
  23. David Reutimann… Career-best 12th place finish at ‘09 Daytona 500. Average finish of 15.7 at ‘09 Speedweeks.
  24. Jamie McMurray… Won at Daytona 7/07, average finish of 26.5 in the four races since. Finished third in Bud Shootout.
  25. Joey Logano… DNF (crash) in last year’s Daytona 500, finished 19th in July.
  26. Brad Keselowski… Started 36th, finished 24th in first career start at Daytona, 7/09. Average finish of 12.2 in four career Nationwide starts (’08-’09).
  27. Martin Truex Jr…. Started from the pole, finished a career-best 11th in last year’s Daytona 500– finished 25th in July race. Average finish of 25.0 in ‘09 plate races.
  28. Michael Waltrip… Weak value play. Three-time winner at Daytona (’03, ‘02, ‘01), four Top 20s in the 12 races since– finished seventh in last year’s Daytona 500. Y! C-2
  29. Bobby Labonte… Weak value play. Average finish of 12.0 at Daytona in ‘08, 21.5 last year. Average finish of 20.3 in ‘09 plate races. Y! C-3
  30. Regan Smith… Weak value play. Average finish of 21.8 in ‘09 plate races. Y! C-4
  31. Casey Mears… No Top 10s at Daytona since ‘06, only Top 15 was last year’s Daytona 500.
  32. Sam Hornish Jr…. Finished 32nd in both Daytona races last year.
  33. Reed Sorenson… Long shot value play. Average finish of 14.0 in four career Daytona 500 starts, 32.8 in July.
  34. Bill Elliott… Long shot value play. Four-time winner at Daytona (’91 ‘88, ‘87, ‘85). Finished 23rd in last years’s Daytona 500.
  35. Boris Said… Long shot value play. DNF (crash) in 7/08. Finished 14th in ‘07 Daytona 500.
  36. Robby Gordon… Streak of six Top 15s at Daytona from ‘06-’08, average finish of 28.0 last year.
  37. John Andretti… Won at Daytona 7/97. Average finish of 24.0 in ‘09 plate races.
  38. Aric Almirola… Started 11th, finished 30th in ‘09 Daytona 500– first career start at Daytona.
  39. Scott Speed… Average finish of 33.0 in two career starts at Daytona.
  40. Michael McDowell… Started 21st, finished 25th last July– first career start at Daytona.
  41. Travis Kvapil… Average finish of 34.3 at Daytona since ‘08 (three starts).
  42. Paul Menard… Only one top 15 at Daytona in five career starts. Average finish of 29.0 in ‘09 plate races.
  43. Max Papis… No career Cup starts at Daytona– average finish of 4.0 (out of 12) in three IROC starts.
  44. Robert Richardson Jr…. No career Cup starts at Daytona. Started 41st, finished 18th in 11/09 Talladega race, his only Cup start. Average finish of 29.5 in six career Nationwide starts at Daytona (’07-’09).
  45. David Gilliland… DNFs (crash) at Daytona in his last two starts (7/09, 7/08).
  46. Joe Nemechek… Failed to qualify for last year’s Daytona 500, start and parked in July.
  47. Dave Blaney… Start and parked in July race at Daytona.
  48. Mike Wallace… No Cup starts at Daytona since ‘07.
  49. Kirk Shelmerdine… No Cup starts at Daytona since ‘06.
  50. Mike Bliss… No Cup starts at Daytona since ‘05.
  51. Derrike Cope… Won ‘90 Daytona 500. No Cup starts at Daytona since ‘04.
  52. Terry Cook… No career Cup starts at Daytona. Average finish of 12.0 in 10 career Truck series starts (’00-’09).
  53. Jeff Fuller… No career Cup starts at Daytona. Average finish of 32.2 in nine career Nationwide starts (’95-’05).
  54. Norm Benning… No career Cup starts at Daytona. Finished 10th in ‘09 ARCA race at Daytona.

NASCAR Fantasy Tool: 2009 Average Finish at Restrictor Plate Races

February 10, 2010

This table shows the average finish of 37 drivers at the four races restrictor plate races held at Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway during the 2009 season.

Daytona 1 Talladega 1 Daytona 2 Talladega 2 AVERAGE
Elliot Sadler 5 19 10 9 10.8
Brad Keswlowski 1 24 8 11.0
David Ragan 6 12 13 17 12.0
Greg Biffle 20 7 18 4 12.3
Matt Kenseth 1 17 8 24 12.5
Kurt Busch 10 6 5 30 12.8
Jeff Burton 28 10 16 5 14.8
Carl Edwards 18 24 4 14 15.0
Marcos Ambrose 17 4 6 34 15.3
Juan Pablo Montoya 14 20 9 19 15.5
Tony Stewart 8 23 1 35 16.8
Brian Vickers 39 8 7 13 16.8
Reed Sorenson 9 11 33 16 17.3
Jimmie Johnson 31 30 2 6 17.3
Michael Waltrip 7 21 37 7 18.0
Joey Logano 43 9 19 3 18.5
Dale Earnhardt Jr. 27 2 39 11 19.8
Bobby Labonte 22 28 21 10 20.3
Kasey Kahne 29 36 15 2 20.5
Clint Bowyer 4 39 29 12 21.0
Regan Smith 21 15 12 39 21.8
Kevin Harvick 2 38 26 21 21.8
A.J. Allmendinger 3 35 17 33 22.0
Denny Hamlin 26 22 3 38 22.3
Casey Mears 15 16 34 25 22.5
Jamie McMurray 37 42 11 1 22.8
Ryan Newman 36 3 20 36 23.8
Kyle Busch 41 25 14 15 23.8
John Andretti 19 27 27 23 24.0
Scott Speed 35 5 31 27 24.5
Jeff Gordon 13 37 28 20 24.5
Martin Truex Jr. 11 33 25 31 25.0
David Reutimann 12 26 36 26 25.0
Paul Menard 38 13 23 42 29.0
Robby Gordon 34 29 22 32 29.3
Mark Martin 16 43 38 28 31.3
Sam Hornish Jr. 32 34 32 40 34.5

Filet Or Bologna- Daytona

February 9, 2010

Tony Stewart- (Filet Mignon) Stewart has been close to victory in the Daytona 500 multiple times in his career only to come up short at the end. In the past 5 years at Daytona no driver has led more laps than Stewart. In fact Stewart has led twice as many laps as his closest competitor (Kyle Busch). One element of this Daytona race that will be overshadowed and probably not even discussed is that the race will be end during hotter hours than usual with the earlier start time. This Daytona race will end under the Florida sun and not the track lights.  I think this will play right into Stewart’s hands.

Denny Hamlin- (Bologna) Denny Hamlin’s usually competitive at Daytona. When is he not competitive is what your probably now asking. Well Denny Hamlin’s usual Daytona 500 race pattern is that he starts towards the front and he somehow ends in the back. If you sign up for the onpitrow.com weekly email newsletter then you’ll be able to see the same stats expanded that I’m talking about.

Average Start: 8.6

Average Mid Race: 13.1

Average Position: 17.0

Average Finish: 23.8

I think you see the trend here.

Kyle Busch- (Filet) There hasn’t been a single race at Daytona since 2007 where Kyle Busch wasn’t a factor. He arguably had the best car in both Daytona races in 2009. Daytona is a tough track where drivers need to stay on the gas and Kyle thrives in this type of race situation.

David Reutimann- (Bologna) In six career races at Daytona Reutimann’s finished inside the top 15 only once. Reutimann’s stats across the board are flat at Daytona. Reutimann starts towards the back and stays there.

Average Start- 33.3

Average Finish 25.0

Average Position 26.9

None of these numbers give me any faith in him. He sure doesn’t sound like a prime pick to me.

David Ragan- (Roast Beef) Ragan won’t enter the Daytona 500 as a pre-race favorite after the year he had in 2009, but he is a guy who should be on your radar. Daytona was his one bright spot last year and he had finishes of 6th and 13th. In six career starts at Daytona his average finish is 3rd best in the series at 13.8.

Brad Keselowski- (Bologna) If your picking him because of his win at Talladega then you’ll be greatly disappointed. The only thing that correlates between the two tracks is that they both use the same horsepower sapping restrictor plates.

NASCAR Fantasy Tool: 2009 Average Finish at Daytona Speedweeks

February 5, 2010

This table shows the average finish of 37 drivers in the 2009 Budweiser Shootout, Gatorade Duels and Daytona 500. Note that several drivers did not qualify for the Shootout due to the unique criteria used to set the field. Also, there are two separate Duel events so several drivers share the same finish.

Shootout Duel Daytona AVERAGE
Tony Stewart 3 2 8 4.3
A.J. Allmendinger 5 10 3 6.0
Jeff Gordon 4 1 13 6.0
Kevin Harvick 1 18 2 7.0
Clint Bowyer 11 4 7.5
Kurt Busch 9 6 10 8.3
Mark Martin 2 16 9.0
Juan Pablo Montoya 4 14 9.0
Carl Edwards 7 8 18 11.0
Matt Kenseth 8 26 1 11.7
Kasey Kahne 6 7 29 14.0
Elliott Sadler 21 17 5 14.3
David Ragan 23 6 14.5
Denny Hamlin 13 5 26 14.7
Casey Mears 15 14 15 14.7
Michael Waltrip 22 15 7 14.7
Marcos Ambrose 13 17 15.0
Bobby Labonte 19 6 22 15.7
David Reutimann 20 15 12 15.7
Jimmie Johnson 14 3 31 16.0
Martin Truex Jr. 21 11 16.0
Jamie McMurray 2 10 37 16.3
Kyle Busch 10 1 41 17.3
Dale Earnhardt Jr. 18 7 27 17.3
Aric Almirola 5 30 17.5
Reed Sorenson 23 21 9 17.7
Brian Vickers 11 3 39 17.7
Regan Smith 16 21 18.5
Paul Menard 12 9 38 19.7
Greg Biffle 17 24 20 20.3
Jeff Burton 24 14 28 22.0
John Andretti 25 19 22.0
Sam Hornish Jr. 16 32 24.0
Bill Elliott 27 23 25.0
Joey Logano 28 4 43 25.0
Robby Gordon 22 34 28.0
Ryan Newman 24 36 30.0
Scott Speed 25 35 30.0

NASCAR Power Rankings: Chicago

July 7, 2009

Daytona

Change from last week

Who's Up

Change from last week

Who's Down

Biggest Gain This Week:

Kurt Busch: 5th to 3rd

Biggest Drop This Week:

Ryan Newman: 9th to 12th

No new drivers this week. No drivers dropped out this week.
NASCAR Power Ranking On Pit Row

Rank: 1st

Tony Stewart- 2 wins, 14 Top Tens

As Stewart once famously said at Daytona, "Someone's going to die out there". Well luckily his prophecy hasn't come true but he did get the win which gave him 10 point bonus points for the Chase.

NASCAR Power Ranking On Pit Row

Rank: 2nd

Jimmie Johnson- 2 Wins, 12 Top Tens

For the first time since Dover the 48 team avoided race problems and finished 2nd at Daytona. Chad Knaus even claimed to have learned something for future Daytona races.

NASCAR Power Ranking On Pit Row

Rank: 3rd

Kurt Busch- 1 Win, 10 Top Tens

Kurt had a rough night at Daytona. He wrecked, he had pit stop problems, and despite all of these setbacks he still managed to get a top 5 finish. Overcoming bad circumstances is a sign of a championship contender.

NASCAR Power Ranking On Pit Row

Rank: 4th

Carl Edwards- 5 Top Fives, 9 Top Tens

Carl Edwards loves slick tracks and once said that repaving tracks should be illegal. The track was super slick Saturday night and Carl finished 4th. Don't tell him but Daytona is looking to repave in the next few years.

NASCAR Power Ranking On Pit Row

Rank: 5th

Jeff Gordon- 1 Win, 12 Top Tens

Is the drive for 5 once again dead? Not yet but the 24 car definitely isn't performing at a championship level like they did in spring.

NASCAR Power Ranking On Pit Row

Rank: 6th

Mark Martin- 3 Wins, 8 Top Tens

With an early exit at Daytona Martin dropped to 13th in the point standings. The 5 car is competitive almost everywhere but they seem to be in a slump since their lucky Michigan win.

NASCAR Power Ranking On Pit Row

Rank: 7th

Kasey Kahne- 1 Win, 6 Top Tens

Dodges have always been good "pushers" at restrictor plate tracks and at Daytona Kahne proved to be a strong pusher when he pushed Kyle Busch across the finish line.

NASCAR Power Ranking On Pit Row

Rank: 8th

Denny Hamlin- 5 Top Fives, 7 Top Tens

Denny Hamlin had a strong car at Daytona but once again he wasn't able to capitalize on the situation. The 11 car has found consistency but now they need to put themselves in more race winning situations.

NASCAR Power Ranking On Pit Row

Rank: 9th

Greg Biffle- 5 Top Fives, 8 Top Tens

The 16 car is starting to drop off pace but yet they have managed to score the 9th most points over the last 6 races. It's kind of an amazing fact considering they have only had 2 top tens over that time span.

NASCAR Power Ranking On Pit Row

Rank: 10th

Kyle Busch- 3 Wins, 6 Top Tens

After Kyle wrecked on the final lap he was lucky to get one last big hit from Kasey Kahne to propel him across the finish line. Carl Edwards wasn't that lucky at Talladega.

NASCAR Power Ranking On Pit Row

Rank: 11th

Juan Pablo Montoya- 1 Pole, 8 Top Tens

Juan Pablo Montoya is starting to become a weekly top ten driver. The key thing I keep hearing about the 42 team is that their points racing now. I just hope that also includes getting their first top 5.

NASCAR Power Ranking On Pit Row

Rank: 12th

Ryan Newman- 5 Top Fives, 8 Top Tens

I think Newman's in big Chase trouble now. This team has really struggled recently and their biggest achilles heel in 2009 has been intermediate tracks so don't expect much Saturday at Chicago.

NASCAR Fantasy Experts Picks: Coke Zero 400

July 1, 2009

Expert Website Pick to Win Finish Experts Avg
James Jones On Pit Row Tony Stewart 1 6.9
Ryan Rantz On Pit Row Kyle Busch 14 8.9
Yahoo Users Yahoo! Sports Jimmie Johnson 2 9.9
Mike Harmon FOX Sports Tony Stewart 1 10.3
Cheryl Lauer Speed Couch Jeff Gordon 28 10.5
Dennis Mickelsen RaceTalkRadio.com Tony Stewart 1 11.1
Lou Lauer USAR Fans Jamie McMurray 11 12.4
Darren Fauth Fantasy NASCAR Names Ryan Newman 20 12.7
Roger Rotter FOX Sports Tony Stewart 1 12.7
Gerrit Ritt FOX Sports Jeff Gordon 28 13.9
Eric Brewer Mark Martin 38 14
Bob Ellis NASCAR Ranting and Raving No Pick 44 14.8
Charlie Turner On Pit Row Jeff Gordon 28 15.4
P J Walsh FantasyNASCARPreview.com Kyle Busch 14 16
Eric McGuire FFToolbox Kyle Busch 14 16.2
Eric McClung On Pit Row Kyle Busch 14 17
Jon Rodgers Gillette Young Guns Challenge Winner Kyle Busch 14 17.7

NASCAR Fantasy Racing Preview: Coke Zero 400 Powered by Coca Cola

July 1, 2009

Greetings On Pit Row readers.

There have been two restrictor plate races held thus far, so consider the results of the Daytona 500 and the Aaron’s 499 at Talladega Superspeedway when  evaluating your lineup for this week.

Here’s an explanation of the highlighted text in the rankings.

Download a printer-friendly version here.

  • Y! A/B/C - The top options in the Yahoo! Fantasy Auto Racing game by driver list.
  • Strong qualifier - History of winning poles or qualifying inside the top-five.
  • Good qualifier - History of qualifying inside the top-10.
  • Value play - Good recent history at this week’s track. Drivers to consider as low-rent salary cap options.

Leave your comments below!

  1. Tony Stewart… Strong qualifier: best average starting position (16.0) over the last five years. Eight top-10 finishes in 11 races since ‘04, including two wins. Led laps in those eight top-10s. Y! B-1
  2. Kyle Busch… Finished fourth or better in four of the last six races, including a win last year. Y! A-1
  3. Matt Kenseth… Won this year’s Daytona 500 but historically better in the July race: ‘08- third, ‘07- eighth, ‘06- fifth, ‘05- ninth, ‘03- sixth. Y! A-2
  4. Kurt Busch… 17 career starts: eight top-fives. Top-10 finishes in five of the last six races. Y! B-2
  5. Mark Martin… Good qualifier. 48 career starts, zero wins. Started second at this year’s Daytona 500 (finished 16th) and last year’s Coke Zero 400 (finished 10th). Y! A-3
  6. Jimmie Johnson… Won in ‘06, only one top-10 in the six races since. Had finished eighth or better in six of seven previous races (’02-’05). Y! A-4
  7. Jeff Gordon… Wins in ‘04 and ‘05 but only three top-10 finishes in the eight races since.
  8. Clint Bowyer… Seven career starts: five top-10 finishes. Career-best fourth-place finish at Daytona.
  9. Kasey Kahne… ‘07, ‘08: streak four top-10 finishes, finished 29th at this year’s Daytona 500. Y! B-3
  10. Dale Earnhardt Jr…. Finished ninth and eighth last year, leading laps in both. Finished 27th at this year’s Daytona 500. 19 career starts: led laps 13 times. Runner-up at Talladega. Y! B-4
  11. Ryan Newman… 14 career starts: won 2/08, only two other top-10 finishes. Third at Talladega. Y! B-5
  12. Brian Vickers… Finished 12th and 11th last year. Finished 39th (accident) at this year’s Daytona 500. Y! B-6
  13. Kevin Harvick… Last six races at Daytona: win, runner-up, five finishes of 14th or better.
  14. Carl Edwards… Only two top-10 finishes but each came in the last two July races (fourth 7/07, second 7/08).
  15. Denny Hamlin… Seven career starts: zero top-10 finishes. Career-best 17th (2/08, 7/06) Y! B-7
  16. Greg Biffle… 13 career starts: only three top-10 finishes. Third at Talladega.
  17. Jeff Burton… One top-10 finish since ‘04.
  18. David Reutimann… Career-best 12th-place finish at Daytona. Y! B-8
  19. Marcos Ambrose… Finished 17th at this year’s Daytona 500, first career start. Fourth at Talladega. Y! C-1
  20. Elliott Sadler… Strong value play. Last seven races: five finishes of sixth or better
  21. AJ Allmendinger… Finished third in second career start at Daytona this year. Y! C-2
  22. Brad Keselowski… Long shot value play. No Cup starts at Daytona. Nationwide Series: ‘08- 16th, fifth (led 28 laps). ‘09- 2nd (led six laps). Won at Talladega. Y! C-3
  23. Joey Logano… DNF in first career start at Daytona this year. Finished 20th in the Nationwide Series.
  24. Martin Truex Jr…. Weak value play. No top-10s but four straight finishes of 20th or better.
  25. Juan Pablo Montoya… Career-high 14th-place finish at this year’s Daytona 500. 32nd or worse in three of five career starts.
  26. Jamie McMurray… Finished 26th or worse in four of the last five at Daytona, a win in ‘07.
  27. Bobby Labonte… Finished 11th and 13th last year. Finished 22nd at this year’s Daytona 500. Y! C-4
  28. Robby Gordon… Daytona 500: 34th. ‘08: eighth, sixth. Streak of six top-15 finishes from ‘06-’08.
  29. Sam Hornish Jr…. Declining over three career starts: 15th, 29th, 32nd.
  30. David Ragan… Lone top-10 of the season came at Daytona.
  31. Casey Mears… 15th or worse in five straight races at Daytona.
  32. Joe Nemechek… Good qualifier: 7/08- fourth, 7/06- fifth, 7/05- fifth.
  33. Michael Waltrip… Daytona 500: seventh. First top-10 since winning in ‘03.
  34. Reed Sorenson… Last three Daytona 500’s: 13th, fifth, ninth. Last three July races: 34th, 42nd, 22nd.
  35. David Stremme… ‘07: 11th, 22nd. Daytona 500: 33nd
  36. Scott Speed… Daytona 500: 35th. Fifth at Talladega.
  37. Paul Menard… Finished a career-best 15th last year.
  38. Patrick Carpentier… ‘08: started 10th, finished 14th.
  39. John Andretti… Three top-20 finishes since ‘00.
  40. David Gilliland… ‘07: eighth, 11th. ‘08: 28th, 40th.
  41. Regan Smith… ‘08: 37th, 24th. Daytona 500: 21st
  42. Dave Blaney…’08: 38th, 19th.
  43. Max Papis… No Cup or Nationwide starts at Daytona.
  44. Tony Raines… ‘07: 39th.

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