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NASCAR Fantasy Racing Preview: Kobalt Tools 500 from Atlanta Motor Speedway

With eight of the same drivers making up the Top 10 in two straight races, it is clear what teams have their intermediate program figured out. Momentum is key heading into third intermediate race in a row during this part of the schedule. Atlanta is first of eight races to be held on a 24 degree, 1.5 mile quad-oval but with the standings so top heavy, expect many of the same drivers to play similar parts.

	Fontana		Las Vegas
1	Jimmie Johnson	1	Jimmie Johnson
2	Kevin Harvick	2	Kevin Harvick
3	Jeff Burton	3	Jeff Gordon
4	Mark Martin	4	Mark Martin
5	Joey Logano	5	Matt Kenseth
6	Kurt Busch	6	Joey Logano
7	Matt Kenseth	7	Tony Stewart
8	Clint Bowyer	8	Clint Bowyer
9	Tony Stewart	9	Kasey Kahne
10	Greg Biffle	10	Greg Biffle

• NASCAR Fantasy Tool 2009 Average Finish at Atlanta, Texas and Charlotte [24 degree, 1.5 mile quad-ovals]

Chasing the pole at Atlanta Motor Speedway

1. Mark Martin… Won pole at last year’s Kobalt Tools 500, started seventh in September race.
2. Kurt Busch… Won the pole last week at Vegas. Started second and sixth last year Atlanta.
3. Kyle Busch… Started ninth and fifth last year at Atlanta. Average start of 7.0 this season.

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… Three-time winner at Atlanta: ‘07 sweep, 10/04. Eleven Top 10s in 17 career starts at Atlanta. Y!-A1
2. Jeff Gordon… Four-time winner at Atlanta: 10/03, 3/99, 11/98, 3/95. Since 10/05: Eight Top 10s in nine races, all 12th or better. Y!-A2
3. Kevin Harvick… Won 3/01 race at Atlanta. Average finish of 3.0 last year. Y!-B1
4. Mark Martin… Two-time winner at Atlanta: 11/94, 11/91. Finished 31st (Average Running Position of 14th) and fifth last year at Atlanta. Y!-A3
5. Matt Kenseth… Average finish of 12.0 last year at Atlanta, 6.0 from ‘06-’08. Y!-B2
6. Clint Bowyer… Finished sixth in three straight March races at Atlanta. Y!-B3
7. Greg Biffle… Average finish of 7.0 at Atlanta in ‘08, DNF (crash) and 10th place finish last year. Y!-A4
8. Tony Stewart… Two-time winner at Atlanta: 10/06, 3/02. Average finish of 4.3 in March races since ‘06 at Atlanta.
9. Jeff Burton… Average finish of 4.5 in ‘07 at Atlanta, 14.0 in ‘08. Finished 14th and 34th last year. Y!-B4
10. Carl Edwards… Three-time winner at Atlanta: 10/08, ‘05 sweep. Finished third and 37th last year at Atlanta.
11. Kurt Busch… Two-time winner at Atlanta: 3/09, 10/02. Won last year’s March race, DNF (crash) in September. Average finish of 11.0 in ‘07-’08 March races, 7.0 in September.
12. Kasey Kahne… Two-time winner at Atlanta: 9/09, 3/06. Finished seventh in last year’s March race. Y!-B5
13. Joey Logano… Average start of 38.0, average finish of 26.0 in ‘09 at Atlanta. N’wide: sixth last year. Y!-B6
14. Kyle Busch… Won 3/08 race at Atlanta. Average finish of 15.5 last year at Atlanta.
15. Denny Hamlin… Average finish of 14.0 in last two March races at Atlanta, 4.5 in Sep/Oct.
16. Dale Earnhardt Jr…. Won 3/04 race at Atlanta. Average finish of 13.5 since ‘07. Y!-B7
17. Juan Pablo Montoya… Finished at career-best third in September race last year at Atlanta.
18. David Reutimann… Finished at career-best fourth in September race last year at Atlanta. Y!-B8
19. Brian Vickers… Average finish of 6.0 at Atlanta last year.
20. Jamie McMurray… Finished 15th in last year’s March race at Atlanta, 28th in September.
21. Ryan Newman… Average finish of 15.0 in ‘08 at Atlanta, finished 22nd and ninth last year.
22. Martin Truex Jr…. Finished 10th and 26th last year at Atlanta. IROC: Won ‘05 and ‘06.
23. A.J. Allmendinger… Strong value play. Average finish of 16.8 in four career starts at Atlanta. Truck: DNFs (crashes) in ‘06 and ‘07. Y!-C1
24. Paul Menard… Strong value play. Finished 15th in last year’s September race at Atlanta. Y!-C2
25. Scott Speed… Strong value play. DNF (crash) and 24th place last year at Atlanta. Truck: 27th, fifth in ‘08. Y!-C3
26. Bill Elliott… Weak value play. Five-time winner at Atlanta: ‘92 sweep, 11/87, ‘85 sweep. DNF (crash) in last year’s March race at Atlanta, running 16th midrace. Y!-C4
27. Elliott Sadler… Average finish of 20.5 last year at Atlanta.
28. David Ragan… Average finish of 26.0 last year at Atlanta.
29. Brad Keselowski… No career Cup starts at Atlanta. N’wide: sixth in ‘08, fourth last year.
30. Marcos Ambrose… Average finish of 30.0 in three career starts at Atlanta.
31. Sam Hornish Jr…. Average finish of 30.2 in four career starts at Atlanta. N’wide: 15th in ‘07. IndyCar: fourth in ‘01. IROC: ninth of 12 in ‘06.
32. Regan Smith… Average finish of 34.0 in two career starts at Atlanta (both in ‘08). N’wide: 22.0 from ‘06-’07. Truck: 23.5 in ‘05, ‘07.
33. Bobby Labonte… Long shot value play. Six-time winner at Atlanta: 3/03, 11/01, 11/99, 3/98, 11/97, 11/96. DNF (engine) in March race, 18th in September last year at Atlanta.
34. Robby Gordon… Long shot value play. Average finish of 21.0 last year at Atlanta.
35. David Gilliland… Long shot value play. Average finish of 21.5 last year at Atlanta.
36. Travis Kvapil… DNF (engine) last year in March race at Atlanta. Average finish of 26.0 in ‘08.Truck: 11.8 in five career starts (’04, ‘07-’08). IROC: fifth in ‘04.
37. Kevin Conway… No career Cup starts at Atlanta. N’wide: ‘03, ‘06. ARCA: ‘02. Average finish of 33.5 this season.
38. Max Papis… DNF (crash) in last year’s September race, first career Cup start at Atlanta. Truck: finished 20th last year. IROC: 8.5 from ‘05-’06.
39. Dave Blaney… Did not start and park last week, finished 29th.
40. Michael McDowell… No career Cup starts at Atlanta. N’wide: DNF (transmission) last year.
41. Mike Bliss… Start and parked both races last year at Atlanta. N’wide: seventh in ‘08, start and park last year. Truck: seventh, won in ‘06, eighth last year.
42. Boris Said… Likely start and park. No career Cup starts at Atlanta.
43. Aric Almirola… Likely start and park. Finished 21st in last year’s March race at Atlanta. N’wide: 27th in ‘07. Truck: 18th, DNF (engine) in ‘06.
44. Joe Nemechek… Likely start and park. Two DNFs last year.
45. Casey Mears… Failed to qualify three times this season. Average finish of 21.2 in 14 career starts at Atlanta.
46. Terry Cook… Failed to qualify three times this season. No career Cup starts. Truck: 12.5 in 10 career starts.

Fantasy NASCAR Racing Preview: Shelby American 400 at Las Vegas

As the first of 10 races at 1.5 mile intermediate tracks, the results from Las Vegas Motor Speedway will preview what is to come next week at Atlanta Motor Speedway and perhaps beyond. After this stretch of races are three races on short and/or flat tracks before heading to Texas Motor Speedway for another intermediate course.

In all, there are seven 1.5 mile tracks on the Sprint Cup schedule. Three feature 24 degree banking in the corners (Atlanta, Texas and Charlotte Motor Speedway) and each hold two races a piece. Las Vegas, Chicagoland Speedway, Kansas Speedway and Homestead-Miami Speedway all fall into the “other” grouping of 1.5 tracks. Each holds one race each which are spread out on the schedule. At 20 degrees in the corners, LVMS features the most banking among them which was part of the redesign for the 2007 season.

• NASCAR Fantasy Tool 2009 Average Finish at Las Vegas, Chicagoland, Kansas and Homestead-Miami [Low-banked 1.5 mile tracks]

Chasing the pole at Las Vegas Motor Speedway

1. Kyle Busch… Has won two straight poles at LVMS.
2. Kurt Busch… Started second at LVMS last year, 5.7 career average start. Only driver to start inside the Top Five at Fontana, Las Vegas and Atlanta early last year.
3. Mark Martin… Average start of 8.3 since LVMS was redesigned.

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 last year’s race at LVMS, average finish of 5.2 over the last five. Y!-A1
2. Jimmie Johnson… Won three straight races (’05-’07) at LVMS. Finished 24th last year, Average Running Position of sixth. Y!-A2
3. Jeff Burton… Two-time winner at LVMS (’99-’00). Top Fives in two straight races at LVMS, eight Top 10s in 12 career starts. Y!-B1
4. Kevin Harvick… Finished a career-best fourth at LVMS in ‘08, 12th last year. Y!-B2
5. Jeff Gordon… Won at LVMS in ‘01. Finishes of sixth or better in four of the last five races at LVMS. Y!-A3
6. Mark Martin… Won inaugural race in ‘98. DNF (engine) last year, average finish of 7.0 from ‘06-’08. Y!-A4
7. Clint Bowyer… Finished a career-best second last year at LVMS. Y!-B3
8. Greg Biffle… Finishes of eighth or better in four of the last five races at LVMS.
9. Carl Edwards… Won at LVMS in ‘08, 17th last year.
10. Matt Kenseth… Two-time winner at LVMS (’03-’04). DNF (engine) last year, finished 20th in ‘08- Average Running Position of fifth. Average finish of 3.2 from ‘03-’07. Y!-B4
11. Denny Hamlin… Average finish of 11.0 in four career starts at LVMS, finished 22nd last year.
12. Tony Stewart… Finished 26th last year at LVMS, Average Running Position of 13th. DNF (crash) in ‘08, seventh in ‘07.
13. Kasey Kahne… Two DNFs due to crash in six career starts at LVMS. Finished 11th last year, average finish of 5.8 in non-DNFs. Y!-B5
14. Brian Vickers… Finished a career-best eighth at LVMS in ‘09. Y!-B6
15. Dale Earnhardt Jr…. Three straight finishes of 11th or better at LVMS, runner-up in ‘08. Y!-B7
16. Jamie McMurray… Top 10s in two of the last three races at LVMS. Y!-B8
17. Kurt Busch… Average start of 5.7 in nine career starts at LVMS, average finish of 25.8 over the last four years.
18. Juan Pablo Montoya… Average finish of 24.0 in three career starts at LVMS.
19. Martin Truex Jr…. Finished 32nd last year, average finish of 13.5 from ‘07-’08.
20. Joey Logano… Started 20th, finished 13th in first career Cup start at LVMS.
21. David Reutimann… Started and finished fourth last year at LVMS.
22. Ryan Newman… Average finish of 15.6 since ‘07 at LVMS.
23. Sam Hornish Jr…. Strong value play. Career-best 16th place finish last year at LVMS. Y!-C1
24. Paul Menard… Strong value play. Average Running Position of 19th last year, finished 35th (crash). Y!-C2
25. Scott Speed… Strong value play. Started 42nd, finished 21st in first career Cup start at LVMS. Y!-C3
26. David Ragan… DNF (engine) last year at LVMS, finished a career-best seventh in ‘08, 37th in ‘07.
27. Elliott Sadler… Finished 29th last year at LVMS, 14th or better from ‘06-’08.
28. Marcos Ambrose… Started fifth, finished 20th in first career Cup start at LVMS.
29. A.J. Allmendinger… Weak value play. Started 19th, finished 33rd in first career Cup start at LVMS. Y!-C4
30. Bobby Labonte… Weak value play. Finished fifth last year at LVMS– average running position of 10th.
31. Brad Keselowski… Started 13th, finished 38rd in first career Cup start at LVMS.
32. Robby Gordon… DNF (crash) in ‘08, average finish in 14.6 (’09,’07,’06)
33. Regan Smith… Long shot value play. Started 18th, finished a career-best 19th last year.
34. David Gilliland… Long shot value play. Average finish of 19.3 in three career starts at LVMS.
35. Travis Kvapil… Long shot value play. Finished a career-best eighth in ‘08, did not start at LVMS last year.
36. Max Papis… Started 26th, finished 36th last year at LVMS.
37. Kevin Conway… No career Cup starts at LVMS.
38. Casey Mears… Average finish of 17.3 in seven career starts at LVMS. Two DNQs this season.
39. Mike Bliss… No Cup starts at LVMS since ‘05.
40. Johnny Sauter… No Cup starts at LVMS since ‘07.
41. Dave Blaney… Likely start and park.
42. Boris Said… Likely start and park. No career Cup starts at LVMS.
43. Michael McDowell… Likely start and park. No career Cup starts at LVMS.
44. Joe Nemechek… Likely start and park.
45. Aric Almirola… Likely start and park. DNFs due to crash in two career starts at LVMS (’09, ‘07).
46. Terry Cook… No career Cup starts. Two DNQs this season.

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

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!

• Yahoo! Fantasy Auto Racing ID# 26538, password “daytona”
• ESPN Stock Car Challenge
• FOX Sports Auto Racing Challenge (salary cap) ID# 9138

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

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.

• Yahoo! Fantasy Auto Racing ID# 26538, password “daytona”
• ESPN Stock Car Challenge
• FOX Sports Auto Racing Challenge (salary cap) ID# 9138

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

• 2009 Average Finish at Daytona Speedweeks
• 2009 Average Finish at Restrictor Plate Races

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 Racing Preview: Ford 400 from Homestead Miami Speedway

Totally reconfigured in 2003, Homestead-Miami Speedway is the only place on the Sprint Cup circuit with variable banking, gradually increasing from 18 degrees on the bottom to 20 at the top. Because the track only hosts the season finale of the NASCAR season it is more important to consider a driver’s momentum heading into this race than historical stats. With that in mind, strongly consider three drivers from the Richard Childress Racing stable. Over the last six races, RCR has had two top-10 cars on four occasions.

• Clint Bowyer finished a career-best fifth last year at Homestead and has an average finish of 10.0 over the last six races this season.
• Kevin Harvick holds an impressive 7.6 average finish since the track was reconfigured and only one finish outside the top-10. He was in runner-up last year’s Ford 400 and has registered the 11th-most points over the last six races.
• Jeff Burton is decent at Homestead with a 15.8 career average finish but more importantly has three straight top-10s this season.

Also noteworthy, David Ragan will be running the new Ford engine for the first time in a non-restrictor plate event.

Chasing the pole at Homestead-Miami

1. Kasey Kahne… Winner of the pole in ‘06 at Homestead, Kahne owns an average starting position of 5.8– best among active drivers.
2. Ryan Newman… Starting second in ‘05 and ‘07, Newman would lead laps in both races and finished seventh and 18th. Starting Newman this week will be hinge greatly on his qualifying run, as he finished outside the top-20 in ‘06 and ‘08 when he started 16th and 29th.
3. Jimmie Johnson… Johnson has only started inside the top-10 at Homestead only once, starting from the pole in ‘07. But on the season, Johnson as has recorded the best average starting position (8.5) among all drivers. To avoid another disaster like Texas, Johnson would be wise to  qualify up front in order to avoid the risk of running in the middle of the pack.

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 - Good recent history at this week’s track. Drivers to consider as low-rent salary cap options or alternative options in allocation formats.

1. Jeff Gordon… Only one finish outside of the top-10 at Homestead since ‘03– four top-fives. Y!-A1
2. Jimmie Johnson… Five finishes of 15th or better at Homestead (four top-10s, one DNF) since ‘03 (six races). Average finish of 10.0 since ‘06, led at least one laps in all three. Y!-A2
3. Mark Martin… DNF (crash) at Homestead in ‘03, average finish of 10.0 in the four races since. Y!-A3
4. Kurt Busch… Won in ‘02 at Homestead prior to reconfiguration. DNFs (crash) in ‘06 and ‘08, runner-up in ‘07. Y!-B1
5. Denny Hamlin… Finished third at Homestead in ‘06 and ‘07, 13th in last year’s Ford 400. Y!-B2
6. Tony Stewart… Two-time winner (’99, ‘00) at Homestead prior to reconfiguration. Average finish of 13.3 since ‘03; two top-10s, five top-15s. Y!-B3
7. Juan Pablo Montoya… DNF (crash) at Homestead in ‘06, average finish of 16.0 in the last two races. Y!-B4
8. Clint Bowyer… Finished a career-best fifth at Homestead last year, one other top-10 in three career starts. Y!-A4
9. Greg Biffle… Three-time winner (’04-’06) at Homestead, average finish of 15.5 in the last two races.
10. Kasey Kahne… Two top-10 finishes at Homestead in the last three races. Y!-B5
11. Kyle Busch… Finished a career-best 19th at Homestead in last year’s Ford 400.
12. Matt Kenseth… Won at Homestead in ‘07, led 214 laps. Started third, finished 25th last year- led 73 laps.
13. Kevin Harvick… Average finish of 9.1 at Homestead in eight career starts, has never finished worse than 20th.
14. Carl Edwards… Won last’s year Ford 400 at Homestead. Owns a streak of four top-10s, has never finished worse than 14th.
15. Ryan Newman… Average finish of 20.6 at Homestead in the last three races. Y!-B6
16. David Reutimann… Won the pole at Homestead last year but only led one laps, finished 20th. Finished 13th in last year’s Nationwide race. Y!-B7
17. Jeff Burton… Only one top-10 at Homestead since ‘03- but has finished 14th or better three times in that span.
18. Brian Vickers… Has never finished better than 18th at Homestead, only one lead-lap finish (two DNFs) in six career starts. Y!-B8
19. Joey Logano… No career Cup starts at Homestead. Won the pole, finished 10th in last year’s Nationwide race.
20. Marcos Ambrose… Started 41st, finished 42nd in last year’s Ford 400– first career start at Homestead. Finished 10th in ‘07 Nationwide race, DNF last year. Y!-C1
21. AJ Allmendinger… Strong value play. Started 43rd, finished 11th in last year’s Ford 400– first career start at Homestead. Y!-C2
22. Jamie McMurray… Strong value play. Finished a career-best third at Homestead in last year’s Ford 400, 15.4 average finish in six career starts.
23. Casey Mears… Strong value play. Average finish of 15.3 at Homestead in the last four races.
24. Dale Earnhardt Jr…. Average finish of 23.4 at Homestead in nine career starts, has not finished better than 19th since ‘03.
25. David Ragan… Weak value play. Average start of 6.5 at Homestead in two career starts– finished 10th and 24th.
26. Martin Truex Jr…. Weak value play. Average finish of 12.5 at Homestead in four career starts.
27. Brad Keselowski… Weak value play. Started 31st, finished 23rd in last year’s Ford 400– first career Cup start at Homestead. Finished third in last year’s Nationwide race. Y!-C3
28. Bill Elliott… Long shot value play. Won from the pole at Homestead in ‘01 prior to reconfiguration. Started 15th, finished 12th last year. Y!-C4
29. Sam Hornish Jr…. Started 29th, finished 37th in last year’s Ford 400– first career Cup start at Homestead. Average finish of 3.0 (three wins) in seven IndyCar starts (’01-’07)
30. Bobby Labonte… Won in ‘03 at Homestead, average finish of 28.6 in the five races since.
31. Scott Speed… Started second, finished 16th in last year’s Ford 400– first career Cup start at Homestead.
32. Travis Kvapil… Started 19th, finished seventh at Homestead in last year’s Ford 400– both career bests.
33. David Stremme… Finished 11th at Homestead in ‘06 and ‘07, did not start last year.
34. Reed Sorenson… Average finish of 24.2 at Homestead in four career starts.
35. Paul Menard… Average finish of 27.3 at Homestead in four career starts.
36. Robby Gordon… Average finish of 27.4 at Homestead in seven career starts.
37. Elliott Sadler… Average finish of 30.0 at Homestead since ‘03.
38. David Gilliland… Average finish of 30.7 at Homestead in three career starts.
39. Regan Smith… Started 26th, finished 34th in last year’s Ford 400– first career Cup start at Homestead.
40. Michael Waltrip… Started 42nd, finished 38th at Homestead in last year’s Ford 400– no starts in ‘06 and ‘07.
41. Max Papis… No career Cup starts at Homestead. Finished 27th in last year’s Truck race.
42. Erik Darnell… No career starts at Homestead.
43. John Andretti… No Cup starts at Homestead since ‘04.
44. Terry Labonte… No Cup starts at Homestead since ‘04.
45. Sterling Marlin…? Possible start and park. Rumored to the TBD driver. Started 21st, finished 29th last year at Homestead.
46. Dave Blaney… Possible start and park. Average finish of 18.8 at Homestead since ‘03.
47. Joe Nemechek… Possible start and park. Average finish of 23.4 at Homestead since ‘03.
48. Michael McDowell… Possible start and park. No career Cup starts at Homestead. DNF (transmission) in ‘07 Nationwide race.

NASCAR Fantasy Racing Preview: Pepsi 500 from Auto Club Speedway

The first race at Auto Club Speedway was held back in February. But its sister track, Michigan International Speedway, held contests in June and August and make for more relevant comparisons. I have compiled a table with the average results at all three of those races. Check out my Average Finish at Similar Tracks [Auto Club Speedway and Michigan International Speedway] table.

My 2009 Average Finish at Chase Tracks Table is also very useful for planning your lineup for the rest of the season.

The results from last week’s race at Kansas Speedway, another cookie-cutter track (albeit a shorter one), should also be heavily considered when picking your lineup.
There are also several noteworthy items to cover for this week’s race:

• Brian Vickers won the pole at all three events; he also won the second MIS race. If you play Yahoo! Fantasy Auto Racing, or any other format that rewards top qualifiers, Vickers needs to be in your lineup.Jimmie Johnson is another driver likely to pay fantasy points for top qualifying runs, he started second, third and fourth. Kurt Busch is the only other driver to start inside the top-10 at all three races.
• Johnson ran out of fuel at the both races at MIS so his finishes look far worse than his actual performance. At both races Johnson was leading at the halfway mark and recorded the best average running position. He also led the most laps at both events.
• Jeff Gordon was the runner-up at Fontana and both MIS races. He was also runner-up last week at Kansas.
• Carl Edwards, Denny Hamlin and Brain Vickers are the only other drivers with top-10 finishes in all three races.
• Mark Martin also ran out of fuel in the August race at MIS. Martin was running second midway through and ran fourth on the average during the race.

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 or alternative options in allocation formats.
• Risky play - Good overall history at this week’s track but poor recent finishes.

1. Jimmie Johnson… Strong qualifier. Started first or second in four straight attempts at CA. 13 career starts at CA: eight top-five finishes, average finish of 6.2. Had led an average of 98.6 laps in five straight CA races. Has won back-to-back Chase races at CA. Runner-up four times, has never finished worse than 16th. Three-time winner (’08, ‘07, ‘02). Finished ninth last week at Kansas. Y!-A1
2. Jeff Gordon… Runner-up in Feb CA race, led 64 laps. He was also runner-up at both MIS races and last week at Kansas. Started third, finished 15th in last year’s Pepsi 500. Three-time winner (’04, ‘99, ‘97). Y!-A2
3. Mark Martin… DNF (engine) in Feb race, was running seventh midrace. Only raced the Feb CA races in ‘07 and ‘08, average finish of 10.5. Won in ‘98. Finished seventh last week at Kansas. Y!-A3
4. Tony Stewart… Finished eighth in Feb CA race. Average finish of 14.5 in ‘08 CA races, 10.5 in ‘07. Finished seventh and 17th at MIS. Won last week at Kansas. Y!-B1
5. Juan Pablo Montoya… Career-best 11th-place finish in Feb CA race. Finished sixth and 19th at MIS. Finished fourth last week at Kansas. Y!-B2
6. Denny Hamlin… Finished sixth in Feb CA race, career-best third in last year’s Pepsi 500. Finished third and 10th at MIS. Finished fifth last week at Kansas. Y!-B3
7. Kasey Kahne… Finished 12th in Feb CA race. Average finish of 8.5 in last year’s CA races. Finished 21st and 11th at MIS. Won in ‘06. Finished sixth last week at Kansas. Y!-B4
8. Kurt Busch… Good qualifier. Started fourth, finished fifth in Feb CA race. Average finish of 26.0 in ‘08 CA races, 8.0 in ‘07. Won in ‘03. Finished sixth and 36th at MIS. Started sixth or better at CA and both MIS races. Finished 11th last week at Kansas. Y!-B5
9. Brian Vickers… Strong qualifier. Won the pole in Feb CA race, finished 10th. Average finish of 10.2 from ‘07-’09. Finished ninth and won at MIS. Y!-B6
10. Greg Biffle… Started fifth, finished fourth in Feb CA race, led 12 laps. Runner-up in last year’s Pepsi 500, led 12 laps. Winner and runner-up in ‘05. Finished fifth and 20th at MIS. Finished better than expected at Kansas, finishing third. Y!-A4
11. Kyle Busch… Won in ‘05, all top-10 finishes in the seven CA races since, average finish of 6.3 in those races from ‘06-‘09. Started 10th, finished third in Feb CA race. Finished 13th and 23rd at MIS. Finished 12th last week at Kansas.
12. Carl Edwards… 10 career starts at CA: six top-five finishes, nine top-10 finishes, average finish of 6.7. Won in ‘08. Finished fourth at both MIS races. Finished 10th last week at Kansas.
13. Matt Kenseth… Has not finished worse than seventh in eight straight CA races, average finish of 4.25 in at span- led laps in six of those races. Three-time winner (’09, ‘07, ‘06). Finished sixth and 19th at MIS. Finished 20th and 14th at MIS.
14. David Reutimann… Average finish of 11.5 in last two CA races. Average finish of 11.8 in eight Nationwide races. Finished 19th and ninth at MIS. Finished eighth last week at Kansas. Y!-B7
15. Clint Bowyer… Started 21st, finished 19th in Feb CA race. Finished 10th and eighth at MIS.
16. Dale Earnhardt Jr…. Risky play. 15 career starts at CA: average finish of 21.9. Has only seven led-lap finishes, average finish of 7.1 in those races. Y!-B8
17. Ryan Newman… Last eight CA races: one top-10 finish, average finish of 22.0. Finished 23rd and 15th at MIS.
18. Kevin Harvick… Strong value play. DNF (accident) in Feb CA race. Average finish of 6.0 in ‘08 CA races, 15.5 in ‘07.
19. Marcos Ambrose… Strong value play. Started 14th, finished 22nd in Feb CA race. Average finish of 18.8 in four career Nationwide races at CA ‘07-’08. Finished 14th last week at Kansas. Y!-C1
20. Joey Logano… Started 34th, finished 26th in Feb CA race, first career Cup start at Auto Club Speedway. Average start 5.0, finish 4.5 in two career Nationwide races at CA ‘08-’09.
21. Jeff Burton… Started 41st, finished 32nd in Feb CA race. Average finish of 14.5 in ‘08 CA races, 4.0 in ‘07- laps led in all four races.
22. Martin Truex Jr…. Weak value play. Started 33rd, finished 27th in Feb CA race. Average finish of 12.5 in ‘08 CA races.
23. AJ Allmendinger… Weak value play. Started eighth, finished 29th in Feb CA race. Average finish of 16.0 in ‘08 CA races. Y!-C2
24. Sam Hornish Jr…. Weak value play. Started 26th, finished a career-best 23rd in Feb CA race. Average start 5.0, average finish 2.8, two wins in four IndyCar races at CA. Y!-C3
25. Casey Mears… Finished 24th in Feb CA race. He finished 15th at Kansas- and you all said I was crazy for suggesting him for One and Done!
26. Jamie McMurray… Started third, finished 16th in Feb CA race. Average finish of 23.0 in ‘08 CA races, lost track position on both of those races as well.
27. Elliott Sadler… Zero top-10 finishes at CA since ‘06. Finished 25th in Feb, average finish of 29.0 in ‘08 races. Won in ‘04.
28. David Ragan… Long shot value play. Started a career-best 13th in Feb CA race, finished a career-worst 17th. Average finish of 14.4 in five career starts at Auto Club Speedway. Finished a career-best fifth in the Feb Nationwide race.
29. David Stremme… Long shot value play. Started 38th, finished a career-best 13th in Feb CA race.
30. Michael Waltrip… Long shot value play. Started 42nd, finished 15th in Feb CA race- best finish at Auto Club Speedway since ‘05.
31. Scott Speed… Started ninth, DNF (engine) in Feb CA race, first career start at Auto Club Speedway. Y!-C4
32. Bobby Labonte… Started 16th, finished 20th in Feb CA race. Average finish of 23.0 in ‘08 CA races.
33. Reed Sorenson… Started a career-best 17th in Feb CA race, tied a career-best with 21st-place finish.
34. Robby Gordon… Started 12th, finished 30th in Feb CA race.
35. Paul Menard… Has finished 37th in back-to-back CA races.
36. John Andretti… Last three races at CA: average start 41.7, average finish 34.3, laps led 1.3.
37. David Gilliland… Started 32nd, finished 33rd in Feb CA race.
38. Regan Smith… Did not start in Feb race at Auto Club Speedway. Average finish of 33.5 at CA last year.
39. Michael McDowell… No career Cup starts at Auto Club Speedway. Started third, DNF (accident) in Feb Nationwide race at CA.
40. Joe Nemechek… Last finished last in three of the last four CA races.
41. Dave Blaney… Start and park. Finished 42nd in Feb CA race.
42. Max Papis… No career Cup starts at Auto Club Speedway. Started and finished 10th at the Feb Truck Series race.
43. Tony Raines… Start and park. No Cup starts at Auto Club Speedway since ‘07.
44. Mike Bliss… Start and park. No Cup starts at Auto Club Speedway since ‘05.
45. Mike Wallace… Start and park. No Cup starts at Auto Club Speedway since ‘05.

NASCAR Fantasy Racing Preview: Price Chopper 400 from Kansas Speedway

Kansas Speedway may only host one race per season but its sister track, Chicagoland Speedway, held its race in mid-July and offers useful information for deciding a fantasy lineup for the Price Chopper 400.

Kansas features slightly less banking but the action reaches the same speeds. Both are 1.5 mile, D-shaped ovals and fall into the cookie-cutter mold. The most recent cookie-cutter race was held at Michigan International Speedway in August but MIS is a two-mile track with much faster racing. Qualifying is important but not definitive, like most other cookie-cutters the top cars tend to get to the front of the pack in a hurry- even those that start in the middle. The results of this race should be telling for what to expect in next week’s Pepsi 500 at Auto Club Speedway in California. Fontana is the same D-shape with similar banking in the corners but is a longer race track with higher speeds.

Be sure to check out my 2009 Average Finish at Chase Tracks Table which lists the results and average finish at eight of the 10 Chase tracks that held events earlier this season.

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 or alternative options in allocation formats.
• Risky play - Good overall history at this week’s track but poor recent finishes.

1. Mark Martin… Won in ‘05, third in ‘06 at Kansas- average finish of 15.0 in ‘07-‘08. Dominated at Chicagoland in July victory, leading 195 of 271 laps. Y!-A1
2. Jimmie Johnson… Strong qualifier. Has won three poles at Kansas, including the last two- average start of 4.9, best among all drivers. Won last year’s race from the pole. Chicagoland in July: started third, finished eighth, average running position of second. Y!-A2
3. Jeff Gordon… Won the first two Kansas races in ‘01 and ‘02, finished fourth last year and fifth in ‘07. Runner-up at Chicagoland in July. Y!-A3
4. Denny Hamlin… No top-10 finishes in four career Cup starts at Kansas but finished a career-best 11th last year, plus won the Nationwide race. Started fourth, finished fifth At Chicagoland in July. Y!-B1
5. Tony Stewart… Won in ‘06 but finished 39th (accident) in ‘07, 40th last year. Average finish of 6.5 from ‘01-’06. Finished fourth at Chicagoland in July. Y!-B2
6. Kurt Busch… Has started where he’s finished in the last two Kansas races: ‘08- 31st/30th, ‘07- 12th/11th. Started 22nd, finished 17th at Chicagoland in July. Y!-B3
7. Juan Pablo Montoya… Average finish of 24.0 in two career Kansas races. Started 42nd, finished 20th last year. Finished 10th at Chicagoland in July. Y!-B4
8. Brian Vickers… Finishes where he starts at Kansas: average start 13.8, average finish 13.3 in four career starts. At Chicagoland in July: won the pole, finished seventh, average running position of fourth. Y!-B5
9. Ryan Newman… Runner-up in ‘01 and ‘02 races at Kansas, won in ‘03 but has not finished better than 16th since- average finish of 27.0 in those five races. Finished sixth at Chicagoland in July. Y!-B6
10. Clint Bowyer… Average finish of 7.7 in three career starts at Kansas, his hometown track- three straight top-fives in Nationwide races. Started fifth, finished ninth at Chicagoland in July. Y!-A4
11. Kasey Kahne… Erratic performance at Kansas. Started eighth, finished 21st last year. Started 29th, finished ninth in ‘07. Finished third at Chicagoland in July. Y!-B7
12. Kyle Busch… Started 27th, finished 28th in last year’s race at Kansas, average finish of 26.8 in five career starts. Started sixth, finished 33rd (engine) at Chicagoland in July.
13. Greg Biffle… Won in ‘07 at Kansas, finished third last year. Laps led in four of the last five Kansas races. Started 35th, finished 31st at Chicagoland in July.
14. Carl Edwards… Runner-up in last year’s race at Kansas, DNF (accident) in ‘07. Average finish of 4.5 in ‘05 and ‘06 races. Started 25th, finished 14th at Chicagoland in July.
15. Matt Kenseth… Started third, finished fifth in last year’s race at Kansas. Average finish of 29.0 in ‘06 and ‘07 races. Finished 23rd at Chicagoland in July.
16. Kevin Harvick… Strong value play. Has finished sixth in two consecutive races at Kansas. Finished 19th at Chicagoland in July.
17. Marcos Ambrose… Strong value play. Started 20th, finished 36th in last year’s race, first career start at Kansas- finished 11th in the Nationwide race. Finished 11th at Chicagoland in July. Y!-C1
18. David Reutimann… Strong value play. Started 40th, finished 19th in last year’s race at Kansas- average finish of 15.3 in three Nationwide races. Finished 12th at Chicagoland in July. Y!-B8
19. Casey Mears… Strong value play. Started 10th, finished 14th in last year’s race at Kansas. Average finish of 4.7 from ‘05-’07. Finished 28th at Chicagoland in July.
20. AJ Allmendinger… Strong value play. Started 14th, finished ninth in last year’s race, first career start at Kansas. Finished 13th at Chicagoland in July. Y!-C2
21. Dale Earnhardt Jr…. Average finish of 11.0 over the last three races at Kansas. Finished 15th at Chicagoland in July.
22. Joey Logano… Started 28th, finished 39th in last year’s race, first career start at Kansas- finished ninth in the Nationwide race. Finished 18th at Chicagoland in July.
23. Jeff Burton… Average finish of 18.0 in eight career starts at Kansas. Started 23rd, finished 37th at Chicagoland in July.
24. Bobby Labonte… Weak value play. Average finish at Kansas jumps to 19.2 when excusing three DNFs due to accident. Finished 21st at Chicagoland in July. Y!-C3
25. David Ragan… Weak value play. Average start 15.0, average finish 12.0 in two career starts at Kansas- finished third in last year’s Nationwide race. Finished 25th at Chicagoland in July.
26. Elliott Sadler… Weak value play. Last two Kansas races: average start 9.5, average finish 9.0. Finished 27th at Chicagoland in July.
27. Sam Hornish Jr…. Started 23rd, finished 33rd in last year’s race, first career start at Kansas- average finish of 6.9 in seven IndyCar Series starts. Started 16th, finished 38th at Chicagoland in July. Y!-C4
28. Jamie McMurray… Finishes where he starts at Kansas: ‘08- 16th/17th, ‘07- 20th/24th, ‘06- 41st/42nd (accident). Finished 22nd at Chicagoland in July.
29. Martin Truex Jr…. Three career starts at Kansas, starting position improving but not finishes, ‘08- fifth/43rd (transmission), ‘07- ninth/38th, ‘06- 23rd, 11th. Finished 16th at Chicagoland in July.
30. Brad Keselowski… Long shot value play. No career Cup starts at Kansas, finished sixth in last year’s Nationwide race.
31. Bill Elliott… Long shot value play. Started seventh, finished 25 at Kansas last year. Started eighth, finished 29th at Chicagoland in July.
32. Paul Menard… Finished 27th in ‘07 and ‘08 races at Kansas.
33. Michael Waltrip… Finished 35th at Kansas last year, 20th at Chicagoland in July.
34. Reed Sorenson… Finished 26th at Kansas last year, 24th at Chicagoland in July.
35. David Stremme… Finished 17th in ‘07, most recent Cup start at Kansas. Finished 26th at Chicagoland in July.
36. Robby Gordon… Finished 37th at Kansas last year, 35th at Chicagoland in July.
37. Scott Speed… No career Cup starts at Kansas. Started second, won the ARCA Re/Max Series race last year. Started second, finished 36th at Chicagoland in July.
38. Erik Darnell… No career Cup starts at Kansas. Started last, led 20 laps, finished runner-up in ‘07 ARCA Re/Max Series race.
39. John Andretti… Finished 33rd in ‘07, most recent Cup start at Kansas. Finished 30th at Chicagoland in July.
40. Max Papis… No career Cup starts at Kansas.
41. Joe Nemechek… Finished 38th at Kansas last year, start and park at Chicagoland in July. Won from the pole in ‘04.
42. Michael McDowell… No career Cup starts at Kansas. Finished 11th in ‘07 ARCA Re/Max Series race.
43. Dave Blaney… Finished 31st at Kansas last year, start and park at Chicagoland in July.
44. Mike Bliss… Has not started at Kansas since ‘05, start and park at Chicagoland in July.

NASCAR Fantasy Racing Preview: Pep Boys 500 at Atlanta

Greetings On Pit Row readers.

Lights. Cameras. Racing! This weekend will mark the first night race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Among the fastest tracks on the NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule, drivers rarely need to put a foot on the brake pedal around this 1.54-mile quad-oval.

Atlanta Motor Speedway is among the fastest tracks on the NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule. Drivers rarely need to put a foot on the brake pedal around this 1.54-mile quad-oval. Its configuration is most similar to Texas Motor Speedway and Lowe’s Motor Speedway; all three tracks are banked 24 degrees in the corners.

For fantasy owners, I would look closer at the results of the early March race at Atlanta and the early April race at Texas. The race, held in late May, at Lowe’s was the most recent but is 100 miles longer and the crews had a lot more time to setup thanks to the All-Star events.

• Jeff Gordon is the only driver who finished in the top five at both events, winning at Texas and runner-up in Atlanta.
• Several drivers registered top-10 finishes at both Atlanta and Texas: Kurt Busch (first, eighth), Carl Edwards (third, 10th), Tony Stewart (eighth, fourth) and Jimmie Johnson (ninth, second).
• Only Carl Edwards finished in the top 10 at all three tracks, adding a fourth-place result at Lowe’s.

Erik Darnell will make his Cup series debut at the expense of Bobby Labonte, a six-time winner at Atlanta, in the No. 96 car. Darnell has had success in the Truck series. At Atlanta he owns an average career finish of 13.2 in six career Truck races, including three top-10 finishes.

1. Jimmie Johnson… Strong qualifier. Best average start of the last five years (6.7), also best average finish (5.8). Last 12 Atlanta races: has led laps in eight, eight top-five finishes, 10 top-10 finishes- never finished worse than 16th in that span. Swept in ‘07, another win in ‘04. Won the pole last year. Finished ninth in March. Y-A1
2. Tony Stewart… Last 16 Atlanta races: eight top-five finishes, 13 top-10 finishes. Won in ‘02 and ‘06. Average finish of 9.0 over the last two years (three races). Finished eighth in March. Y-B1
3. Jeff Gordon… Last eight Atlanta races: four top-five finishes, all top-12 finishes, led laps in five. Won the pole 3/08. Won in ‘95, ‘98, ‘99, ‘03. Runner-up in March. Y-A2
4. Kurt Busch… Dominated in March: started second, won after leading 234 of 325 laps. Also won in ‘02. Last five races: led laps in four, average finish of 7.4- has not finished worse than 11th in that span. Y-B2
5. Mark Martin… Won the pole in March, led five laps but finished 31st- but was running in the top-10 before an accident. Last six Atlanta races: only one top-10 finish, two DNFs. Wins in ‘91 and ‘94. Y-A3
6. Brian Vickers… Three top-10 finishes in his last four Atlanta races. Finished a career best fifth in March. Y-B3
7. Carl Edwards… Good qualifier. Ten career starts at Atlanta: swept in ‘05, won last year. Six top-five finishes, eight top-10 finishes, has led laps in seven. Career average finish of 3.1, minus two DNFs. Started fourth in both races last year. Finished third in March. Y-A4
8. Kasey Kahne… Boom or bust. 11 career Atlanta starts: six top-10 finishes but average finish of 34.6 in the other five races. Won from the pole in ‘06. Finished seventh in March. Y-B4
9. Denny Hamlin… Nine career starts at Atlanta: two top-10 finishes. Career-best third-place finish last year, led 56 laps. Finished 13th in March. Y-B5
10. Matt Kenseth… Five top-five finishes over the last eight Atlanta races, average finish of 6.6 in that span- all 13th or better. Finished 12th in March.
11. Greg Biffle… Started fifth, finished 34th (accident) in March. Average finish of 7.0 in ‘08.
12. Clint Bowyer… Has finished in sixth in four of the last five Atlanta races, including the March race.
13. Kyle Busch… No top 10s until winning last year’s March race, led 173 of 325 laps, finished fifth in November. Finished 18th this past March.
14. Juan Pablo Montoya… Career-best fourth-place start in March, finished 27th. Five career starts: average finish of 20.5 in four non-DNFs. Y-B6
15. Ryan Newman… Strong qualifier. Won seven poles, most recent 3/07. Six poles in a row from ‘03-’05. Last three races: 13.6 average start, 17.3 average finish. Finished 22nd in March. Y-B7
16. Dale Earnhardt Jr…. Won in ‘04. Average finish of 9.1 in eight races since, not counting two DNFs (accident). Finished 11th in March. Y-B8
17. AJ Allmendinger… Strong value play. Average finish of 9.4 in three career Atlanta races (’07-’09). Y-C1
18. Kevin Harvick… Strong value play. Won as a rookie in ‘01. Average finish of 8.0 over the last three Atlanta races (’08 and 3/09). Finished fourth in March.
19. David Reutimann… Has never finished better than 20th at Atlanta. Average finish of 30.0 in four career starts.
20. Marcos Ambrose… DNF (engine) in March. Finished 29th in last year’s race, first career start at Atlanta. Finished 11th in last year’s Nationwide race. Y-C2
21. Joey Logano… Started 42nd, finished 30th in March, first career start at Atlanta.
22. Sam Hornish Jr…. Average finish of 24.5 in ‘08, DNF (accident) in March. Y-C3
23. Jeff Burton… Weak value play. Has finished 18th or better six straight Atlanta races. Average finish of 10.6 in that span.
24. Jamie McMurray… Weak value play. Started third, finished 15th in March. Average finish of 19.8 in 14 career starts jumps to 9.8 when not counting five DNFS and non-led lap finishes.
25. Casey Mears… Weak value play. Has finished 17th or better four straight Atlanta races. Average finish of 14.3 in that span.
26. Martin Truex Jr…. Weak value play. Average finish of 21.8 in 10 career starts jumps to 14.6 (two top 10s) when not counting four DNFS. Finished 10th in March.
27. David Ragan… Finished 19th in March, career best eighth place in last year’s October race.
28. Bill Elliott… Long shot value play. Last three Atlanta races: 36th in March (accident), 38th 10/08, 18th 10/07. Five career wins: ‘87 and sweeps in ‘85 and ‘92. Y-C4
29. Reed Sorenson… Average finish of 6.0 in ‘07 at Atlanta, 35.0 in ‘08. Finished 33rd in March.
30. Elliott Sadler… Average finish of 16.0 in ‘07 at Atlanta. DNF (accident) and 25th place in ‘08. Finished 20th in March.
31. Scott Speed… DNF (accident) in March race. Started and finished 24th last year, first career start at Atlanta.
32. Robby Gordon… Average finish of 23.0 over the last three Atlanta races.
33. David Stremme… Started 28th, finished 23rd in March.
34. Paul Menard… Average finish of 26.0 over the last three Atlanta races.
35. John Andretti… Average finish of 27.3 over the last three Atlanta races.
36. Michael Waltrip… Average finish of 30.6 over the last three Atlanta races.
37. Regan Smith… Average finish of 34.0 in two career Atlanta starts, both in ‘08.
38. Max Papis… No career Cup starts at Atlanta. Started 10th, finished 20th in the March Truck race at Atlanta.
39. Erik Darnell… Very first career Cup start. Average career finish of 13.2 in six career Truck races at Atlanta, three top-10 finishes.
40. Patrick Carpentier… Started 21st, finished 35th in 3/08 race, first career start at Atlanta.
41. David Gilliland… Average finish of 27.6 over the last three Atlanta races.
42. Terry Labonte… No starts at Atlanta since ‘06.
43. Joe Nemechek… Average finish of 39.0 over the last three Atlanta races.
44. Dave Blaney… Average finish of 38.6 over the last three Atlanta races.
45. Tony Raines… Average finish of 31.0 over the last three Atlanta races.
46. Mike Bliss… Started and finished 43rd in March.

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