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Fantasy NASCAR Race Preview: Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips 400

by Eric McClung, Special To NASCAR news, fantasy racing advice and statistics On Pit Row

Follow @ericmcclung on Twitter for NASCAR, IndyCar, golf and various other fantasy sports picks.

June 9, 2010 12:53 pm UTC No Comments

The NASCAR Sprint Cup circuit returns to 2.0-mile, D-shaped oval track for the first time since the second race of the season at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California. The result of that race is a good temperate check as you round out your fantasy lineup. Fuel mileage has created a lot of luck in both directions for drivers at Michigan International Speedway, so place close attention to loop data statistics like average running position over basics like Top Fives and Top 10s.

Chasing the pole at Michigan

1. Jimmie Johnson… Started third and fourth last year at Michigan.
2. Juan Pablo Montoya… Started seventh and third last year at Michigan. Started second at Fontana.
3. Kasey Kahne… Started eighth and 10th last year at Michigan. Started fourth at Fontana.

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

• 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. Jimmie Johnson… Average running position of fifth or better in six of the last eight races at Michigan, ran second and third last year- led 279 of 400 laps. Won at Fontana. Y!-A1
2. Jeff Gordon… Two-time winner (6/01, 8/98) at Michigan, runner-up in both races last year. Y!-A2
3. Denny Hamlin… Finished a career-best third and 10th last year at Michigan. Y!-A3
4. Kyle Busch… Average running position no worse than ninth with over 92 percent of laps in the Top 15 in five of the last six races at Michigan. Y!-A4
5. Kevin Harvick… Average finish of 11.6 since ’06 at Michigan. Runner-up at Fontana. Y!-B1
6. Jeff Burton… Has never finished better than 11th at Michigan since ’02, average finish of 17.5 since then. Third at Fontana. Y!-B2
7. Clint Bowyer… Had his first two Top 10s last year at Michigan. Eighth at Fontana. Y!-B3
8. Mark Martin… Five-time winner (6/09, 6/98, 8/97, 8/93, 8/90) at Michigan, average running position of 10th and fourth last year. Fourth at Fontana.
9. Kurt Busch… Two-time winner (8/07, 6/03) at Michigan, average running position of sixth and 18th last year. Sixth at Fontana.
10. Matt Kenseth… Two-time winner (8/06, 6/02) at Michigan, average running position of ninth or better in seven of the last 10 races at MIS- finished 20th and 14th last year. Seventh at Fontana. Y!-B4
11. Greg Biffle… Two-time winner (6/05, 8/04) at Michigan, average running position of ninth or better with over 90 percent of laps in the Top 15 in three of the last four races at MIS. Tenth at Fontana.
12. Carl Edwards… Two-time winner (8/08, 6/07) at Michigan, average finish of 6.1 in 11 career starts- 10 Top 10s. Has never held an average running position worse than 12th.
13. Tony Stewart… Won 6/00 race at Michigan, average finish of 5.0 in the last three June races, 13.0 in August. Ninth at Fontana.
14. Joey Logano… Strong value play. Finished 25th and seventh last year at Michigan, first two career starts at MIS. Fifth at Fontana. Y!-B5
15. Jamie McMurray… Has finished 10th or 11th in three of last four races at Michigan. Y!-B6
16. David Reutimann… Finished a career-best ninth in last year’s August race at Michigan. Y!-B7
17. Juan Pablo Montoya… Finished a career-best sixth and 19th last year at Michigan.
18. Dale Earnhardt Jr…. Won 6/08 race at Michigan, average running position of 17th or better in nine straight. Y!-B8
19. Kasey Kahne… Won 6/06 race at Michigan, held average running positions of eighth and 22nd last year at MIS, finished 21st and 11th.
20. Martin Truex Jr…. Average running position of 19th or better in seven of eight career starts at Michigan.
21. Ryan Newman… Two-time winner (6/04, 8/03) at Michigan, no Top 10s since.
22. Brad Keselowski… Finished 24th in last year’s summer race at Michigan, first career start at MIS.
23. Sam Hornish Jr…. Strong value play. Finished a career-best fifth in last year’s August race at Michigan, average running position of 20th. Finished 16th at Fontana. Y!-C1
24. A.J. Allmendinger… Held average running positions of 31st and 26th last year at Michigan, average finish of 27.8 in five career starts. Y!-C2
25. Paul Menard… Average finish of 23.7 in seven career starts at Michigan. Y!-C3
26. Scott Speed… Average running position of 35.5 in two career starts at Michigan. Finished 11th at Fontana. Y!-C4
27. Regan Smith… Finished 19th at Fontana.
28. Elliott Sadler… Average finish of 22.2 in 22 career starts at Michigan, 13.8 in the last four.
29. Casey Mears… Finished 24th and sixth last year at Michigan.
30. David Ragan… Average running position of 19th or better in five straight races at Michigan.
31. Bill Elliott… Long shot value play. Seven-time winner (6/89, 8/87, ’86 sweep, ’85 sweep, 6/84) at Michigan, finished 16th in both races last year.
32. Marcos Ambrose… Average finish of 36.3 in three career starts at Michigan.
33. Travis Kvapil… Average finish of 14.5 in ’08 races at Michigan, no starts last year.
34. David Stremme… Finished a career-best 13th in last year’s August race at Michigan, 26.5 average finish in six career starts.
35. David Gilliland… Average finish of 29.7 in seven career starts at Michigan.
36. Max Papis… Finished 35th in last year’s June race at Michigan, first career start at MIS.
37. Kevin Conway… First career Cup start at Michigan, finished 31st at Fontana.
38. Robby Gordon… DNFs due to crash in two of the last four races at Michigan.
39. Bobby Labonte… Three-time winner (8/99, ’95 sweep) at Michigan. Possible start and park.
40. Landon Cassill… First career Cup start. Possible start and park.
41. J.J. Yeley… Likely start and park.
42. Todd Bodine… Likely start and park.
43. Joe Nemechek… Likely start and park.
44. Dave Blaney… Likely start and park.
45. Michael McDowell… Likely start and park.
46. Johnny Sauter… Likely start and park.

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