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NASCAR Fantasy Racing Experts Picks: LifeLock.com 400 from Chicagoland

NASCAR Fantasy Racing Expert Darkhorse Picks: LifeLock.com 400 at Chicago

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.

NASCAR Fantasy Racing Preview: LifeLock.com 400 from Chicagoland

It’s the cookie cutter that isn’t exactly a cookie cutter. Like many other intermediate tracks, Chicagoland Speedway is 1.5 miles but is banked at 18 degrees in the corners, like the 2.0 mile Michigan International Speedway. Chicagoland is somewhat unique in that it does not have a true straightaway as the backstretch as a slight curve to it. Considering the slight quirks, it’s best to make selections based primarily on past history at Chicagoland. If your choices have also performed well at most of the other intermediates this season, you are likely on the right path.

Chasing the pole at Chicagoland Speedway

Note: Qualifying was rained out for the 2008 race.

• Jimmie Johnson… Started third last year, average start of 8.5
• Denny Hamlin… Started fourth last year, average start of 7.8
• Red Bull Racing… Scott Speed started second last year. Brian Vickers won the pole. Reed Sorenson, who’s now in Vickers’ car, started 11th.

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… Seven Top 10s, five Top Fives in eight career starts at Chicagoland. Has never held an average running position worse than 11th. Had led 15 or more laps six times. Y!-A1
2. Kevin Harvick… Two-time winner (’01 and ‘02) at Chicagoland. Three Top Fives in the last four starts at the site. Average running position of eighth or better in four of the last five. Y!-B1
3. Jeff Gordon… Won ‘06 race at Chicagoland, average running position of 10th or better in four straight. Five Top Fives in nine career starts. Y!-A2
4. Denny Hamlin… Finished a career-best fifth last year at Chicagoland, average running position of sixth. Y!-A3
5. Kurt Busch… Five finishes of eighth or better from ‘01-’07. Finished 17th last year, average running position of 10th. Y!-A4
6. Tony Stewart… Two-time winner (’04, ‘07) at Chicagoland, seven Top Fives in nine career starts. Has never held an average running position worse than 10th.
7. Kyle Busch… Won ‘08 race at Chicagoland, has held an average running position of ninth or better in four of the last five starts at the site.
8. Jeff Burton… Average finish of 9.3 from ‘06-’08 at Chicagoland, DNF (crash) last year. Y!-B2
9. Clint Bowyer… Three Top 10s in four career starts at Chicagoland. Y!-B3
10. Dale Earnhardt Jr…. Won ‘05 race at Chicagoland, average running position of 12th or better in four of the last five starts at the site. Y!-B4
11. Kasey Kahne… Finished a career-best third last year at Chicagoland, 15th in ‘08. Y!-B5
12. Matt Kenseth… Average finish of 11.2 in nine career starts at Chicagoland. Y!-B6
13. Carl Edwards… Average running position of 12th or better in three straight starts at Chicagoland.
14. Greg Biffle… Finished 11th or better four times in last five starts at Chicagoland.
15. Mark Martin… Won ‘09 race at Chicagoland, first Top 10 since ‘05.
16. Ryan Newman… Won ‘03 race at Chicagoland, three straight Top 10s, average running positions between ninth and 16th. Y!-B7
17. Juan Pablo Montoya… Average finish of 14.3 in three career starts at Chicagoland.
18. David Reutimann… Average finish 13.0 in last two starts at Chicagoland. Y!-B8
19. A.J. Allmendinger… Strong value play. Has finished 13th in both career starts at Chicagoland. Y!-C1
20. Joey Logano… Strong value play. Finished 18th last year, first career Cup start at Chicagoland- average running position of 21st. Won last year’s Nationwide race.
21. Jamie McMurray… Average finish of 21.5 in last two starts at Chicagoland.
22. Martin Truex Jr…. Has never held an average running position worse than 16th at Chicagoland.
23. Brad Keselowski… Finished 32nd last year, first career Cup start at Chicagoland- average running position of 23rd. Average finish of 11.7 in three Nationwide starts.
24. Marcos Ambrose… Finished 11th last year, first career Cup start at Chicagoland- average running position of 20th.
25. Scott Speed… Started second, DNF (crash) last year, first career Cup start at Chicagoland. Y!-C2
26. Reed Sorenson… Long shot value play. Average finish of 9.5 in ‘06-’07, 27.5 in ‘08-’09. Y!-C3
27. Paul Menard… DNF (crash) last year at Chicagoland, average running position of 20th. Y!-C4
28. Sam Hornish Jr…. DNF (crash) last year at Chicagoland, average running position of 22nd.
29. Elliott Sadler… Average finish of 22.7 in nine career starts at Chicagoland.
30. David Ragan… Two finishes of 25th of three career starts at Chicagoland.
31. David Stremme… Finished 26th last year at Chicagoland.
32. Robby Gordon… Average finish of 28.5 in last four starts at Chicagoland.
33. Bill Elliott… Average finish of 30.6 in last three starts at Chicagoland.
34. David Gilliland… Average finish of 33.3 in three career starts at Chicagoland, two straight DNFs.
35. Regan Smith… Finished 34th in ‘08, only career start at Chicagoland.
36. Travis Kvapil… Average finish of 40.3 in three career starts at Chicagoland.
37. Kevin Conway… First career Cup start at Chicagoland.
38. Max Papis… First career Cup start at Chicagoland.
39. Bobby Labonte… Possible start and park. Average finish of 23.3 in last three starts at Chicagoland.
40. Casey Mears… Possible start and park. Average finish of 30.5 in last two starts at Chicagoland.
41. Andy Lally… Possible start and park.
42. Mike Bliss… Likely start and park.
43. Joe Nemechek… Likely start and park.
44. Dave Blaney… Likely start and park.
45. J.J. Yeley… Likely start and park.
46. Michael McDowell… Likely start and park.
47. Todd Bodine… Likely start and park.

NASCAR Fantasy Experts Picks: LifeLock.com 400

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