Spotter's Call - Charlotte Motor Speedway

Spotter's Call archive for Charlotte Motor Speedway. Fantasy NASCAR information we believe to be helpful to our subscribers to stay on top of their fantasy NASCAR game.

Archive of Spotter's Calls for Charlotte Motor Speedway

Weighing the Trevor Bayne option for Charlotte Motor Speedway

Trevor Bayne is driving the #21 tonight in the Bank of America 500 and will be the third driver in the last four years to race the #21 at Charlotte Motor Speedway for the Wood brothers. This is their sixth Charlotte race in this span. Fantasy NASCAR players take note it was Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. (and not Trevor Bayne) that piloted the #21 car earlier this year in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte earning an 11th place finish, the second best finish of the year for the #21 and the only other top-15 this season for the 14 races run. The three intermediate track races Trevor has run this year in the #21 (Las Vegas 16th, Texas 18th and Chicagoland 28th) he has an average finish of 20.6 and completed all but 2 laps. Bayne has not raced any Cup Series races at Charlotte but has raced the last three Nationwide races there. May 2010 for Micheal Waltrip Racing he finished 17th. October 2010 for Roush he finished 17th. And, last nights race (October 2011 also for Roush) he finished 3rd. Depending on your game rules Bayne could be a great pick this weekend. Most savvy owners that do their research and realize he is in the race will probably use him. This late in the season could you gain more points by not going with the crowd and picking another driver?

Posted on 10/15/2011 1:19 PM

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Kahne runs fastest and most in first Charlotte practice

Kasey Kahne not only ran the fastest lap of practice #1 at Charlotte Motor Speedway but he also ran the most. Kahne made 31 circuits around the track. The next most laps run by other drivers in 23 by Kurt Busch and Jeff Burton. What does this mean for your fantasy NASCAR team? The catch-22 with Kahne is consistency through the race but so many laps is a good indicator that Kahne is happy with his car.

Posted on 10/13/2011 4:18 PM

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Jeff Burton breaks suspension part in first Charlotte practice

Jeff Burton had to put the #31 Caterpillar Chevrolet in the garage 50 minutes into the first practice at Charlotte Motor Speedway after a part broke on his suspension. He might not be able to come back out to lay down a fast lap to set himself up for qualifying. Tough break for Jeff and typical of his 2011 season. UPDATE: Burton was able to return to the track before end of practice and do a mock qualifying run.

Posted on 10/13/2011 4:11 PM

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Few teams focus on race set-up half-way into first Charlotte practice

42-minutes into first practice at Charlotte Motor Speedway most drivers have only focused on fast laps and run 5 or less. Nine drivers have decided to work on race set-up running multiple laps.

• Mark Martin: 14 laps (13th)
• Tony Stewart: 11 laps (15th)
• Brian Vickers: 14 laps (29th)
• Kurt Busch: 15 laps (31st)
• Kasey Kahne: 17 laps (34th)
• Jamie McMurray: 13 laps (38th)
• Jeff Burton: 17 laps (39th)
• Ryan Newman: 11 laps (40th)
• Bobby Labonte: 11 laps (45th)

Posted on 10/13/2011 3:19 PM

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Joey Logano rebounds at Charlotte Motor Speedway

The Fall 2010 race at Charlotte Motor Speedway was a turning point for Joey Logano. His 7th place here was followed by 6th, 5th, 4th and 3rd place finishes. Logano has raced five points-paying Cup races at Charlotte (3rd, 7th, 13th, 5th and 9th) and has an average finish of 7.4 which is best among all drivers. As word of caution, Joey doesn't come in to this race carrying momentum. His average finish over the last three races is 24th. But, historically Logano has not always come into Charlotte with momentum. His previous three race average (in parentheses) prior to each Charlotte race is:

• 2011 (24.3 avg) Charlotte #1: 3rd
• 2010 (10.3 avg) Charlotte #2: 7th
• 2010 (17.6 avg) Charlotte #1: 13th
• 2009 (28.0 avg) Charlotte #2: 5th
• 2009 (12.3 avg) Charlotte #1: 9th

Additionally, Joey has better finishes in the second Charlotte race of each season.

Posted on 10/11/2011 9:13 AM

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Matt Kenseth set to gain most on Chasers at Charlotte Motor Speedway

Looking at the last two Chase races at Charlotte Motor Speedway Matt Kenseth has scored on average 41-points per race (using NASCAR's new point system). Only Jimmie Johnson has outscored him with 45-points. Kyle Busch averages 40-points during the same two. Next nearest Chasers are Kevin Harvick and Jeff Gordon each with an average 31.5 points. If numbers hold true (do they ever really?) Kenseth could gain points on the other Chasers but still be separated from Johnson whose averages would put him as the points leader coming out of Charlotte.

Posted on 10/11/2011 8:43 AM

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Odds are Jimmie Johnson will start top-10 at Charlotte Motor Speedway

Jimmie Johnson has 20 career, Cup Series points-race starts at Charlotte Motor Speedway. 17 (85%) of them are from 10th place or better. 12 (60%) are 5th place or better. He has four (20%) poles here. His career average starting position here is 8th. His median is 5th. The only doubt to cast on him continuing this starting pattern is he has not averaged as good a starting position through the 30 races in 2011 as in previous seasons.

• 2011 (30 race avg start): 13.7
• 2010 (first 30 race avg start): 8.2
• 2009 (first 30 race avg start): 8.8
• 2008 (first 30 race avg start): 8.9
• 2007 (first 30 race avg start): 10.9

Posted on 10/10/2011 1:57 PM

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Charlotte Motor Speedway race winners don't always start up-front

Of the 105 points-paying, Cup Series races that have been run at Charlotte Motor Speedway the last two race winners have started from two of the top-3 worst ever starting positions the race has been won from. Kevin Harvick won the May 2011 Coca-Cola 600 from 28th. Jamie McMurray won the October 2010 Bank of America 500 from 27th. The race winner here with the worst starting position is Jimmie Johnson who won the May 2003 Coca-Cola 600 from 37th.

Posted on 10/10/2011 1:24 PM

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