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NASCAR Fantasy Racing Preview: Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500

by Eric McClung, Special To NASCAR news, NASCAR statistics, NASCAR commentary On Pit Row

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

July 28, 2010 8:10 am CDT No Comments

Moving from the rectangle of Indianapolis Motor Speedway to the triangle at Pocono Raceway, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers will remain on a 2.5-mile flat track albeit with a different layout. Pocono is a unique course that features three turns, each modeled after different tracks. Since each of the three turns is different, Pocono has drawn comparisons to a road course. Turn One is banked 14 degrees and modeled after the defunct Trenton Speedway. Turn Two, “The Tunnel Turn”, is banked nine degrees like IMS. Turn Three, with six degrees of banking, is lifted from The Milwaukee Mile.

Chasing the pole at Pocono Raceway

• Jimmie Johnson… Fastest in pre-qualifying practice in June. Started second and first in ‘08 (qualifying was rained out for both ‘09 races)
• Kyle Busch… Won the pole in June.
• Clint Bowyer… Fastest average speed in pre-qualifying practice in June; qualified second.

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. Denny Hamlin… Four-time winner (6/10, 8/09, ‘06 sweep) at Pocono, average running position of 11th or better in eight of nine career starts. Y!-A1
2. Kevin Harvick… Finished fourth in June, matched a career-high average running position of sixth at Pocono. Y!-B1
3. Jimmie Johnson… Two-time winner (’04 sweep) at Pocono, average running position of ninth or better in six of the last eight. Y!-A2
4. Tony Stewart… Two-time winner (6/09, 6/03) at Pocono, has finished 10th or better in nine of the last 10. Y!-A3
5. Jeff Gordon… Four-time winner (6/07, 7/98, 6/97, 6/96) at Pocono, average running position of 11th or better in seven of the last eight. Y!-A4
6. Jeff Burton… Finished seventh in June- five Top 10s, seven Top 15s in last nine starts at Pocono. Y!-B2
7. Kyle Busch… Finished a career-best second in June, average running position of third. ARPs of 14th or better in four straight at Pocono.
8. Clint Bowyer… Career-best average running position of sixth in June at Pocono, finished ninth. Y!-B3
9. Kasey Kahne… Won 6/08 race at Pocono, average running position of 10th or better in four of the last five. Y!-B4
10. Carl Edwards… Two-time winner (6/09, 6/05) at Pocono, average running position of eighth or better in four of the last five.
11. Kurt Busch… Two-time winner (8/07, 7/05) at Pocono, three Top 10s in the last five- laps led in five of the last six.
12. Matt Kenseth… Has finished 17th or better in nine straight starts at Pocono, average finish of 11.5. Y!-B5
13. Greg Biffle… Average running position of 14th or better in five straight starts at Pocono.
14. Juan Pablo Montoya… Has finished eighth or better in three straight starts at Pocono, average running position of 12th and 11th in the last two.
15. Mark Martin… Average running position of 18th or better in all 11 races since ‘05. Five Top 10s in the last seven starts at Pocono.
16. Jamie McMurray… Average running positions between 20th and 24th in five straight starts at Pocono. Y!-B6
17. Joey Logano… Finished a career-best 13th in June at Pocono, average running position of 11th. Y!-B7
18. Ryan Newman… Won 7/03 race at Pocono, average running position of 17th or better in all 11 races since ‘05. Y!-B8
19. A.J. Allmendinger… Strong value play. Finished a career-best 10th in June at Pocono, average running position of 11th. Y!-C1
20. Sam Hornish Jr…. Strong value play. Has finished 11th or better in three straight races at Pocono. Y!-C2
21. David Reutimann… Finished 15th in June at Pocono, average running position of 26th. ARPs of 10th and 15th in ‘09.
22. Martin Truex Jr…. Average finish of 17.0 in nine career starts at Pocono.
23. Dale Earnhardt Jr…. Average finish of 17.5 in 21 career starts at Pocono.
24. Paul Menard… Finished a career-best 16th in June at Pocono, average running position of 28th. Y!-C3
25. Brad Keselowski… Finished 21st in June, first career start at Pocono.
26. Marcos Ambrose… Average running positions of 16th, 20th and 18th in three career starts at Pocono.
27. David Ragan… Average finish of 23.1 in seven career starts at Pocono.
28. Regan Smith… Finished a career-best 18th in June at Pocono, average running position of 23rd. Y!-C4
29. Scott Speed… Finished a career-best 20th in June at Pocono, average running position of 24th.
30. Reed Sorenson… Average running positions of 23rd and 25th last year at Pocono.
31. Bobby Labonte… Three-time winner (7/01, ‘99 sweep) at Pocono. Average running position of 20th or worse since ‘07.
32. David Stremme… Finished 24th in June at Pocono.
33. Elliott Sadler… Average running position of 26th or 27th in three straight starts at Pocono.
34. Travis Kvapil… Finished 22nd in June at Pocono, average running position of 31st.
35. David Gilliland… Finished 33rd in June at Pocono.
36. Kevin Conway… Finished 35th in June, first career start at Pocono.
37. P.J. Jones… Driving for Robby Gordon Motorsports. First Cup start at Pocono since ‘07.
38. Casey Mears… Possible start and park. Two DNQs with Tommy Baldwin Racing.
39. Max Papis… Possible start and park. Four DNQs this season.
40. Joe Nemechek… Likely start and park.
41. Landon Cassill… Likely start and park.
42. Todd Bodine… Likely start and park. Three DNQs with Gunselman Motorsports.
43. Michael McDowell… Likely start and park. Three DNQs this season.
44. Dave Blaney… Likely start and park. Four DNQs this season.
45. J.J. Yeley… Likely start and park. Two straight DNQs.

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