Another Saturday Night And We’re Half-Way Through
Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 Interstate All Battery Center Toyota and Ryan Newman, driver of the #39 Bass Pro Shops/NRA Chevrolet, lead a pack of cars during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coke ZERO 400 Powered by Coca-Cola at Daytona International Speedway on July 2, 2011 in Daytona Beach, Florida.
Credit: John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR
Congratulations to Brad Keselowski on winning his series leading third race of the season by winning the Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway this past Saturday night, under the lights.
This week marks the halfway race of the season as the series heads back to Daytona International Speedway for the running of the third restrictor plate race of the season, another Saturday night race.
Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola
Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Dale is having a great season and is my pick to win this week’s race at Daytona. This team has a lot of confidence every week when they get to the track and Dale loves to run the restrictor plate races. He finished second here in this year’s Daytona 500 also.
Kevin Harvick: Kevin always seems to have a chance to win at Daytona. You never hear much about him during the race until it gets close to the end and then he shows up from somewhere deep in the pack and makes a run at a win. He won this race back in 2010 and will have a good car once again this weekend.
Matt Kenseth: Matt won the Daytona 500 this season and finished second in this race last year. Even though he will not be back with Roush/Fenway Racing next season, if he has a shot at winning the title, he will be given the equipment to get the job done. There is too much money involved to give up on him right now.
Carl Edwards: Carl has never won a Cup race at Daytona, but he has come close on a few occasions. With only nine more races left before the Chase starts, Carl is on the outside looking in. He needs to get a win or move up in the standings and time is running out.
Clint Bowyer: Clint has been one of the most consistent drivers at the restrictor plate tracks over the past few seasons. He historically runs better at Talladega than at Daytona, but he never won a road-course event until a few weeks ago. He is a contender each and every week right now.
Greg Biffle: Greg works well with his teammates in the draft here and that says a lot. The Roush/Fenway teams have shown a lot of power this season on this type of track and they should all be in contention at the end of the race.
Tony Stewart: Tony is notorious for teaming up with Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the draft at Daytona. I look for him to find Junior early in the race and stick with him until the end. If Junior does well, so will Tony.
Jeff Gordon: Jeff is another master of the draft. He will find a driver during the practice sessions that he drafts well with and that is the person he will try to stick with during the race. If they can both stay out of trouble either of them could win the race.
Denny Hamlin: Denny is good at staying out of trouble early in the restrictor plate races, which gives him a chance at the end of the race. He tries to hook up with one of his teammates if he can, but will go with who he thinks is the fastest at the moment of truth.
Brad Keselowski: Brad leads the series in wins right now and won his first Cup race on a restrictor plate track. He is another driver who will find someone he trusts in practice and then try to find that guy during the race and stick with him.
Yahoo Fantasy NASCAR Picks for Daytona International Speedway
Yahoo Driver Group A
- Kevin Harvick
- Carl Edwards
Yahoo Driver Group B
- Dale Earnhardt Jr.
- Clint Bowyer
- Jeff Burton
- Martin Truex Jr.
Yahoo Driver Group C
- Michael Waltrip
- Trevor Bayne
My Top-5 For Daytona
- Dale Earnhardt Jr.
- Kevin Harvick
- Carl Edwards
- Clint Bowyer
- Matt Kenseth
Dark Horse: Michael Waltrip
Stay Away From: Jimmie Johnson
Howdy Jeff, On your top 5 picks you have Jr. 1st. If you feel like Tony is going to team with Jr, why don’t you have Tony as part of your top 5?
Good question. When I look at restrictor plate races I like to see what I think will happen. Yet, these races are so unpredictable because of the big wrecks that can occur that I don’t like to put all of my eggs in one basket so to speak. If Junior and Tony do team up and then get caught up in the big one together I don’t want to put my whole fantasy team at risk.
Great advice Jeff, that makes a lot of sense. Thanks again for all your help.
These restrictor plate races are like a crap-shoot. I have the hardest time trying to guess who will make it to the front at the end of the race. I’m sure we will see a big shake up on our Yahoo teams this week.
Howdy Jeff, I have one race left for Aric Almirola. Which would it be wiser, keep him for a 1 1/2 mile race later in the season or using him in the last race of the year? One question could be will he be racing, the last race?
If this is for the Yahoo league, there aren’t a lot of other drivers in the C group to choose from that are all that good anywhere. I like to use Michael Waltrip and Brian Vickers when they are running the 55 car for that reason alone. I wouldn’t start him until later in the season because once you have used all of his starts you can’t get any qualifying points for him. As long as he has a start left and he is on your roster you get his qualifying points and he has gotten a few of them this season. This is not the race to use any driver that you intend to use 9 times during the season in the Yahoo league. It is way to unpredictable with the chance for the big one.
Howdy Jeff, Ya, it’s the Yahoo league. After I left my question, I was trying to think of the best way to handle Aric. I did think of the exact same thing you just mentioned. I’m going to keep him as a bench starter. This is my first full year doing yahoo.com racing. Last year was my first time doing anything fantasy. Fantasyracingcheetsheet is my main source of information and I’m in the 96% and have you guys to thank. Keep up the great work, you have me sold, for life.
Hey Jeff,
I am in a fantasy (Nascar Fantasy Live)league that awards points for start/finish differential. Can you tell me where Tony Stewart is starting? 2nd or 42nd? Thanks!
As far as I know Tony will be starting 42nd due to failing inspection. Michael Waltrip, Clint Bowyer, and Jamie McMurray are starting 28th thru 30th respectively and could potentially be other good options for you.
@Denise E I hope you went with Tony he brought in the most points