Talladega Geico 500 Fantasy NASCAR Mid Pack Predictions

Kurt Busch – Kurt Busch is a more than capable restrictor plate driver. More than once I’ve declared him the best restrictor plate track driver who’s never won a points paying race. I’m prepared to change my tune on him now. I think he’s been so snake bitten at these venues he’ll never win a race. Now that I got that off my chest he might just win. Since fall 2010 he has a best result of 18th and has a 29.4 average finish. Those two facts in the last sentence are scary but he’s actually performed quite well over these 8 races. Over this stretch he has the 5th best driver rating and a 13.6 average running position. This spring he performed well and could’ve easily finished in the top ten but he got caught up in the carnage when Keselowski spun running near the front of the field. Last fall at Talladega he had one of his better recent races and finished 18th. At Talladega in spring 2013 he looked strong and would’ve had a good finish but with 6 laps to go he was involved in the late big one and was sent flipping. In 2012 at Talladega Kurt Busch ran well in both races until trouble found him. In the spring race he spun in the closing laps while running in the top five and in the fall he ran out of gas while running well. Early in his career he was money in the bank at Talladega. In 11 of his first 14 starts he came home with a top ten result. In this year’s Daytona 500 Kurt Busch had top ten potential but spun in the closing laps and no caution came out to aid him. In the summer Daytona race he finished 3rd and led 36 laps. (Yahoo A Driver)

[box type=”tick”]Get the ifantasyrace Advantage and read all of our full exclusive content. Join Now![/box]

Kasey Kahne – Kasey Kahne is a risky prospect on restrictor plate tracks. His risk to reward ratio is probably about 4 to 1 so he’ll bite you more often than not. At Talladega Kahne has a 21.5 result and has only finished in the top ten 24% percent of the time. It should also be noted that in 57% percent of his Talladega starts he’s come home with a result outside the top twenty. This spring at Talladega he survived the carnage and came home with an 8th place finish. Last season at Talladega he had a disastrous year. In spring 2013 he was taken out by Kyle Busch from a bump draft gone bad. In fall 2013 his performance was even more disappointing. In that race his problem was self-inflicted. What happened is that he lost the draft by driving defensively, went a lap down and then later got a speeding penalty. For a driver of his talent level losing the draft by your own doing is unconscionable. In the three Talladega races before 2013 he had results of 12th, 4th and 6th. Kahne’s best Talladega results are runner-up finishes in fall 2009 and fall 2006. This season at Daytona he had results of 31st and 27th. (Yahoo A Driver)

Further Recommended Reading – Top Tier Elite Picks, Front Runner Rankings,  Who will win at Talladega, Talladega Scouting Report

Aric Almirola – Aric Almirola will likely be getting a little more fantasy love at Talladega following his Daytona win in July. From that event it should be noted the attrition rate was catastrophic and the race was rain shortened. In this year’s Daytona 500 he was involved in an accident and finished 39th. At Talladega Almirola has been a rather safe pick recently. Over his last 7 races since October 2008 he’s finished between 10th and 22nd every race. In his races over this stretch he has a 15.6 average finish, 15.7 average running position and has run in the top fifteen in 50.1% percent of the laps completed. This spring at Talladega he had a solid afternoon and walked away with a 13th place result. For much of the race he ran towards the back until about the final 40 laps. Last fall at Talladega Aric Almirola was the pole winner. In that event he led 8 laps, had a 16th place average running position and finished 22nd. In spring 2013 Almirola got his only Talladega top ten. In that race he finished 10th and earned the 5th best driver rating. In the three races on restrictor plate tracks this season Almirola has scored the 8th most points. (Yahoo B Driver)

Make sure you read the full spectrum of our Talladega Geico 500 Fantasy NASCAR Rankings

Top Tier Elite Picks > Front Runners Rankings > Mid Pack Predictions > Yahoo C List Preview