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NASCAR Fantasy Racing Preview: 2010 Auto Club 500 from Auto Club Speedway

February 18, 2010

The racing at Auto Club Speedway is very fast and very spread out. The leaders can jump out to big leads. The long green flag runs can bring fuel mileage into play at the end of the race. This week will be the first test of each team’s intermediate package which will be important for the upcoming races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Atlanta Motor Speedway.

The most similar track is Michigan International Speedway where the 15th and 23rd races on the schedule are held. Auto Club Speedway will not get another visit until its Chase event, No. 30 on the schedule.

NASCAR Fantasy Tool: 2009 Average Finish at Fontana and Michigan [2.0 mile, D-shaped ovals]

Chasing the pole at Auto Club Speedway

  1. Brian Vickers… Won the pole at last year’s Auto Club 500 in addition to capturing poles for both MIS races.
  2. Jimmie Johnson… Average starting position of 1.8 over the last five starts at Auto Club– 4.4 at MIS.
  3. Juan Pablo Montoya… Started inside the Top 5 for late season races at Auto Club and MIS.

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. Jimmie Johnson… Four-time winner (10/09, 8/08, 9/07, 4/02) at Fontana. Average finish of 2.8 since ‘07 with three wins, all Top 10s– led at least 31 laps in all six races. Y! A-1
  2. Jeff Gordon… Three-time winner (5/04, 5/99, 6/97) at Fontana. Runner-up in both ‘09 races. Had led at least two laps in seven of the last eight. Y! A-2
  3. Matt Kenseth… Three-time winner (2/09, 2/06, 2/07) at Fontana– average finish of 3.9 in that span. Finished 13th in 10/09 race. Y! B-1
  4. Carl Edwards… Won 2/08 race at Fontana. Only one finish worse than seventh in 11 career starts. Y! A-3
  5. Greg Biffle… Won 2/05 race at Fontana. Finished 20th in 10/09 but had an Average Running Position of 10th. Average finish of 3.0 in the prior two. Y! A-4
  6. Tony Stewart… Average finish of 6.5 in ‘09 Fontana races, Top 10s in three straight Feb races.
  7. Juan Pablo Montoya… Finished 11th in 2/09 at Fontana, third in 10/09– each set career bests.
  8. Mark Martin… Won 5/98 race at Fontana. DNF (engine) in 2/09, fourth in 10/09 race.
  9. Denny Hamlin… DNF (crash) in 10/09 race at Fontana, 4.5 in the prior two.
  10. Kyle Busch… Won 9/05 race at Fontana. Average finish of 6.3 from 2/06 - 2/09, 24th in 10/09 race.
  11. Kevin Harvick… Average finish of 15.5 at Fontana in ‘07, 6.0 in ‘08, DNF (crash) and 10th in ‘09. Y! B-2
  12. Kurt Busch… Won 4/03 race at Fontana. Average finish of 8.0 in ‘07, 26.0 in ‘08, 6.5 in ‘09 races.
  13. Kasey Kahne… Won 9/06 race at Fontana. Average finish of 8.5 in ‘08, finished 12th and DNF (crash) in ‘09. Y! B-3
  14. Clint Bowyer… Has never finished worse than 20th in eight career starts at Fontana, 15th in Driver Rating. Top 10s in two of the last three. Y! B-4
  15. Brian Vickers… Had a streak of five Top 12s at Fontana from 2/07 - 2/09. Y! B-5
  16. David Ragan… Strong value play. Finished a career-best seventh at Fontana in 10/09, average finish of 13.2 in six career starts. Y! B-6
  17. David Reutimann… Strong value play. Average finish of 13.7 in the last three starts at Fontana. Y! B-7
  18. Joey Logano… Started 34th, finished 26th in first career Cup start at Fontana– started sixth and finished 14th in 10/09 race. Average start of 3.7, average finish of 3.3 in three career Nationwide starts, won from the pole in October. Y! B-8
  19. Dale Earnhardt Jr…. Finishes of 25th or worse in three of the last four races at Fontana.
  20. Jamie McMurray… Weak value play. Average finish of 8.9 at Fontana from ‘03-’06, 25.2 and no Top 15s since.
  21. Martin Truex Jr…. Weak value play. Average finish of 12.5 in ‘08 Fontana races, 24.5 in ‘09 races.
  22. Jeff Burton… Average finish of 4.0 at Fontana in ‘07, 14.5 in ‘08, 31.0 in ‘09.
  23. Ryan Newman… Average finish of 21.6 at Fontana since ‘06, only three Top 15s.
  24. A.J. Allmendinger… Average start of 10.0, average finish of 23.5 in four career starts at Fontana. Y! C-1
  25. Sam Hornish Jr…. Long shot value play. Finished a career-best 12th at Fontana in 10/09 race, first Top 20 in four starts. Y! C-2
  26. Marcos Ambrose… Average finish of 22.5 in ‘09 Fontana races.
  27. Bobby Labonte… Average finish of 23.0 at Fontana since ‘08. Y! C-3
  28. Brad Keselowski… No career Cup starts at Fontana. Average finish of 28.7 in seven career Nationwide starts, finished a career-best fifth in October.
  29. Max Papis… Started 15th, finished 35th in 10/09 race, first career Cup start at Fontana. Started and finished 10th in last year’s Truck race. Y! C-4
  30. Elliott Sadler… Won 9/04 race at Fontana, 23.5 average finish since– no Top 20s since ‘07.
  31. Scott Speed… DNF (engine) in 2/09 race at Fontana, 21st in 10/09 race.
  32. Travis Kvapil… Finished a career-best 18th at Fontana in 2/09, average finish of 28.8 in six career starts.
  33. Casey Mears… Average finish of 22.7 in 13 career starts at Fontana.
  34. Paul Menard… Average finish of 28.7 at Fontana in six career starts.
  35. Regan Smith… Average finish of 31.7 at Fontana in three career starts.
  36. Aric Almirola… Average finish of 32.0 in three career starts at Fontana.
  37. Robby Gordon… Average finish of 32.6 since ‘05 at Fontana, only one Top 20.
  38. Kevin Conway… No career Cup starts at Fontana. Finished 18th in last year’s October Nationwide race.
  39. Boris Said… No Cup starts at Fontana since ‘05.
  40. David Gilliland… Average finish of 37.5 in ‘09 Fontana races.
  41. Terry Cook… No career Cup starts at Fontana. Average finish of 16.5 in 13 career Truck races, start and parked in both ‘09 Nationwide races.
  42. Johnny Sauter… No career Cup starts at Fontana. Finished 17th in last year’s Truck race.
  43. Mike Bliss… Start and parked in 10/09 race, first Cup start at Fontana. Finished 13th in both ‘09 Nationwide races, 18th in Truck race.
  44. Michael McDowell… Start and parked in 10/09 race, first career Cup start at Fontana. DNF (crash) in both Nationwide races last year.
  45. Joe Nemechek… Start and parked in both ‘09 Fontana races.
  46. Dave Blaney… Start and parked in both ‘09 Fontana races.

On Pit Row has several groups for you to battle against other fantasy players!

Written by Eric McClung · Filed Under Auto Club Speedway, Fantasy NASCAR Primer Series, Fantasy Racing, Fantasy racing leagues, NASCAR | Leave a Comment 

NASCAR Fantasy Racing Experts Picks: 2010 Auto Club 500

February 17, 2010

Expert Website Pick to Win Finish Experts Avg
Josh Lobdell FFToolbox Greg Biffle 10 6
Jerry Lagger One and Done Game Winner Carl Edwards 13 12.5
Dennis Michelsen RaceTalkRadio.com Carl Edwards 13 12.5
Tall Glass of Milk Answerthis.com Greg Biffle 10 11
Eric McClung On Pit Row Carl Edwards 13 13.5
Eric McGuire free agent Carl Edwards 13 13.5
Jon Rodgers

Dan Beaver

 Gillette Young Guns Challenge Winner

Fantasy Racing Games

 Mark Martin

Jimmie Johnson

 4

1

 9
7.5
Matt Mercer On Pit Row Greg Biffle 10 16
Adam Ansell Roto Experts Jimmie Johnson 1 11.5
Chris Leone On Pit Row Matt Kenseth 7 14.5
Bob Ellis NASCAR Ranting and Raving Mark Martin 4 13
CharlieTurner On Pit Row Greg Biffle 10 16
Lou Lauer USAR Fans Matt Kenseth 7 14.5
Mike Harmon FOX Sports Matt Kenseth 7 14.5
Jay Busby Yahoo! Sports Jimmie Johnson 1 11.5
James Jones On Pit Row Jeff Gordon 20 21
Ryan Rantz On Pit Row Jimmie Johnson 1 11.5
Darren Fauth Fantasy Racing Cheat Sheet Matt Kenseth 7 15
P J Walsh FantasyNASCARPreview.com Jimmie Johnson 1 12
Charles Rantz ifantasyrace.com Juan Montoya 37 30

Written by Charlie Turner · Filed Under Auto Club Speedway, Fantasy NASCAR, Fantasy NASCAR Primer Series, Fantasy Racing, NASCAR | Leave a Comment 

NASCAR Fantasy Racing Expert Darkhorse Picks: 2010 Auto Club Speedway

February 17, 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
Matt Mercer On Pit Row Sam Hornish Jr 16 8.5
James Jones On Pit Row Kyle Busch 14 7.5
Josh Lobdell FFToolbox David Ragan 23 12
Dennis Mickelson RaceTalkRadio.com Jimmie Johnson 1 1.5
Jon Rodgers Gillette Young Guns Challenge Winner Kyle Busch 14 8
Jerry Lagger

Eric McGuire

 One and Done Game Winner

Free agent

 Jimmie Johnson

Jimmie Johnson

 1

1

 1.5
1.5
Charlie Turner On Pit Row Jimmie Johnson 1 2.5
Tall Glass of Milk Answerthis.com Kurt Busch 6 6.5
Adam Ansell Roto Experts Jimmie Johnson 1 7.5
Charles Rantz ifantasyrace.com Jimmie Johnson 1 7.5
Darren Fauth Fantasy Racing Cheat Sheet Jimmie Johnson 1 7.5
Lou Lauer USAR Fans Jimmie Johnson 1 7.5
Ryan Rantz On Pit Row Jimmie Johnson 1 8.5
Eric McClung On Pit Row Jeff Gordon 20 22
P J Walsh FantasyNASCARPreview.com Jimmie Johnson 1 12.5
Bob Ellis NASCAR Ranting and Raving Kyle Busch 14 23
Chris Leone On Pit Row Jimmie Johnson 1 19.5
Dan Beaver Fantasy Racing Games Jimmie Johnson 1 21

Written by Charlie Turner · Filed Under Auto Club Speedway, Fantasy NASCAR, Fantasy NASCAR Primer Series, Fantasy Racing, NASCAR | Leave a Comment 

One and Done NASCAR Fantasy Racing News: Shelby 427

February 26, 2009

don’t tell me you watched the academy awards?

Race two is a wrap. The California race was long. And wet. And a good reason to use the remote. Eleven left in the One and Done Spring Thing - the first of three games in the 2009 One and Done season. We’ll finish this one at the race in Dover. Then, you win stuff and cinch those belts back up and do it again for thirteen more races. You get more prizes and then play the grand finale - the Chase for the One and Done Cup.

So tell your friends to sign up. After all, you’re a veteran at this now.

race 3: the shelby 427

Welcome to the home of the Rat Pack,bad Robert De niro movies and the  Busch brothers of NASCAR.

Four players picked Auto Club 500 winner Matt Kenseth last week and those guys are all near the top of the points.  Good job  - you lucky dogs. Who ‘ya gonna take this week, when Matty might just set a record for winning the first three One and Done races in history.? He might set a NASCAR record too.

You can view all the results for One and Done week two here.

next week: hot’lanta

Lets talk prizes. 

You all should know that the winner of the One and Done Spring Thing will receive a Dale Jarrett Racing Adventure package, good at several NASCAR tracks, including Talladega Superspeedway. You can read the experience of one of our past winners at that track right here.

The top ten finishers will win prizes in each game. I will have the details on those other prizes finalized this week. I think you’ll be happy with the possibilities. Stay tuned.

We’re also considering having a weekly prize, so that new players or players who miss making a pick for whatever reason, will still have a chance to win something. If we do the weekly award, it will be determined via the random drawing method.

 e experts

Every week we’ll ask a few folks from around the NASCAR internet community to share who they think would be a good pick for the next race.
Dustin Long NASCAR beat writer for the  Landmark Newspapers likes the Biff. ” Got a feeling for Greg Biffle  as the winner. Roush makes it 3 in a row. Also, keep an eye on the #48. Let’s see how the #88 responds also.”
Veteran ARCA RE/MAX Series driver Brad Smith thinks it’s cousin Carl this time…”I just think the #99 is due. He’s been good and I just have a feeling that this is his week.”
Fast and Fabulous Valli is in the #24’s corner…”I think Jeff Gordon will take the win at LVMS because after coming close to the win in California, he was passionate, excited and pumped up about his team’s potential. I think a win for him is just around the corner.”
Backstretch Motorsports’ Bram is a history buff…” This week at Vegas will Matt Kenseth get #3?…if he does he’ll be defying an awful lot of odds stacked against him in the history books. But it’s time for another new record to be written and this team has been on fire, so I say Kenseth gets his name in the record books and leaves Vegas with the jackpot.”

Thunder Lounge king Luke remembers last year… “Ah Vegas. A city that seemingly has everything. While it doesn’t have Shakespeare’s this year it has another Columbia favorite on loan. Carl Edwards. When the tough get going Sunday, he’ll be out to prove that his oil lid is locked down tight.”

Written by Charlie Turner · Filed Under Fantasy NASCAR, Fantasy Racing, Fantasy racing leagues, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, NASCAR, Site News | Leave a Comment 

One and Done NASCAR Fantasy Racing News: Auto Club 500

February 19, 2009

are you gettin’ the hang of this yet?

Race one is done. Twelve to go in the One and Done Spring Thing - the first of three games in the 2009 One and Done seasons. This game goes through the race at Dover. We’ll pass out the prizes, cinch those belts back up and do it again for thirteen more races. We’ll hand out more prizes and then play the grand finale - the Chase for the One and Done Cup.

So tell your friends to sign up. After all, you’re a veteran at this now.

race 2: auto club 500

Mark Martin was the most popular pick in week one. Fully 17 players took the veteran. That front row starting position may have convinced some that Martin was the man finally, at Daytona. Lots of you liked Jeff Gordon too.

But nobody had the 500 winner Matt Kenseth. So the One and Done points leaders this week were the three players who chose Kevin Harvick. Nicely done.

You can view all the results for One and Done week one here.

next week: vegas baby

Lets talk prizes. 

You all should know that the winner of the One and Done Spring Thing will receive a Dale Jarrett Racing Adventure package, good at several NASCAR tracks, including Talladega Superspeedway. You can read the experience of one of our past winners at that track right here.

The top ten finishers will win prizes in each game. I will have the details on those other prizes finalized this week. I think you’ll be happy with the possibilities. Stay tuned.

We’re also considering having a weekly prize, so that new players or players who miss making a pick for whatever reason, will still have a chance to win something. If we do the weekly award, it will be determined via the random drawing method.

 e experts

Every week we’ll ask a few folks from around the NASCAR internet community to share who they think would be a good pick for the next race.
Fancy Clance’ of Church of the Great Oval sees Smoke in the future saying “I am calling Tony Stewart. His Astro-Aspects for the day are full of Uranus, Mars and Trines, which signify quick thinking, agression and balance in all.
OK. OnPitRow photo-jockey BethAnne likes Kyle Busch. “He won the Nationwide race last summer and the Truck race in the spring. His racing this year has been strong. The time is right for him to add the Cup race to his list.
NASCAR Bits’ Bruce thinks this is easy…”This is an easy one. Jimmy Johnson OWNS this track. With finishing positions of 1,2,1,3,11 & 2 in his last few races, they’ve got a top three locked up.”
The Catfish - Matt Mercer - likes AJ Allmendinger…”best to go ahead and ride the momentum of AJ’s 3rd place run at Daytona this week. ‘Dinger’s from the west coast, runs well on bigger tracks, and could very well contend for another top finish. He’s my pick of the week.”

Our Scottish Racer pal Bram likes McMurray. I think. “I like Jamie McMurray as a dark horse here..and something tells me to watch for the better finish from Allmendinger..seeking sponsorship after a humbling off-season tends to boost one’s abilities..if you get my drift.”

Written by Charlie Turner · Filed Under Auto Club Speedway, Fantasy NASCAR, Fantasy Racing, Fantasy racing leagues, NASCAR, On Pit Row | Leave a Comment