Michigan Quicken Loans 400 Fantasy NASCAR Mid Pack Predictions

Kurt Busch – Kurt Busch has two wins at Michigan but he’s a fairly risky fantasy prospect for the Quicken Loans 400. In 50% percent of his Michigan starts he’s had a result outside the top twenty. He’s shown improvement in recent weeks but on this particular track type he hasn’t performed well this season. He’s only had one good result and it was at Auto Club Speedway (finished 3rd). Outside of that race his performances on this track type have been pretty ugly. Last season at Michigan Kurt Busch looked strong. In August he started in 2nd, finished 3rd, had a 5th place average running position and led 43 laps. In June 2013 he qualified 2^nd and led until the competition caution (21 laps). Shortly after the restart on lap #29 while he was running in 4th he spun and damaged the #78. That led to his 35th place finish. In 2012 on the new surface he finished 30th twice. (Yahoo A Driver)

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Martin Truex Jr. – Martin Truex Jr. has performed well on the new Michigan surface. In the combined races since the repave he has a 10.3 average finish, 11.8 average running position, led 12 laps and has the 6th best driver rating. Last August he had his worst race on the new surface. In that event he started 17th, had a 17th place average running position and finished 16th. Over the last 40 laps he was a driver who ran between the mid-teens and the low twenties. In June 2013 Martin Truex Jr. had his best performance at Michigan on the new surface. He started in 13th, had a 7th place average running position, finished 3rd and earned the third best driver rating. In the first two races on the new MIS surface in 2012 he had results of 10th and 12th. One reason in optimism in Truex Jr. at Michigan is how well Kurt Busch performed in 2013. This season on high-speed intermediate tracks Truex Jr. has been a disappointment. On this track type he’s finished between the mid-teens and mid-twenties every race. (Yahoo B Driver)

Recommended Reading – Michigan Top Tier Elite Picks, Michigan Front Runner Rankings, Yahoo C List Preview, Michigan Scouting Report, Who will win the Michigan Quicken Loans 400

Marcos Ambrose – Marcos Ambrose has some quality dark horse sleeper potential at Michigan in the Quicken Loans 400. Recently RPM tested here so that gives them an early advantage. At Michigan Marcos Ambrose has a 21.1 average result. A poor average finish like that adds to his sleeper value because it will keep others away. On the new surface at Michigan he’s performed well. Since the repave he’s one of just five drivers who have finished in the top ten three times. Also on the new surface he has a 1 pole, a 10.8 average finish and a 14.8 average running position. Last August he started in 26th, had a 15th place average running position and finished 6th. From about lap 80 to 180 he ran in the low teens and then in the final 20 laps he drove hard to his eventual finish position. In June 2013 Ambrose started where he finished. He started in 23rd and finished 23rd. In the race he earned the 29th best driver rating and had a 25th place average running position. In 2012 he performed well in both races and swept the top ten. In June 2012 he won the pole, led 15 laps and finished 9th. In August 2012 he finished 5th. This season on high-speed intermediate tracks Ambrose has finished between 20th and 30th every race. (Yahoo B Driver)

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