Talladega Geico 500 Fantasy NASCAR Front Runner Rankings

Clint Bowyer – Clint Bowyer has had a rough season but Talladega should help cure some ills. In terms of talent on restrictor plate tracks Clint Bowyer ranks as one of the best in the series. Last season on this track type he finished in the top seven in every race his engine went the distance. On paper Talladega ranks as arguably his best track. He’s won here twice and has finished in the top ten in 8 of the last 10 races. Last season at Talladega Clint Bowyer was a fantasy ace. In October 2014 he started 33rd and ran near the back until about the final 20 laps. When the checkered flag waved he finished 3rd. In spring 2014 he started in 27th and dropped to the back early. He ran near the back for the first 140 laps until he made his move to the front. Over the final 28 laps he looked extremely strong and over that portion of the race I would estimate his average running position was around 5th. When the checkered flag waved he finished 3rd. In fall 2013 at Talladega Clint Bowyer had a fairly quiet race. He ran near the back for much of the early portion of the race to protect his car and at the end he finished 10th. In spring 2013 Bowyer had one of the best cars but it was one of those races that get an asterisk mark. With 17 laps to go he was one of six drivers who were in a front breakaway driving away from the pack. Shortly after that there was a caution that regrouped the field and he was then involved in the late big one with 6 laps to go. When the checkered flag waved he finished 18th. In fall 2012 Bowyer almost got his third Talladega win. He was the leader at the time of the Green-White-Checker but during the final restart Kenseth came down the track which caused him to get shuffled out of line. Then shortly afterwards he got collected in the carnage of the Stewart blocking “Big One”. Prior to that race Bowyer had five straight top 7 finishes. In this year’s Daytona 500 Clint Bowyer finished 7th. Last summer at that venue he finished 9th. (Yahoo B Driver)

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Kasey Kahne – Kasey Kahne is a feast or famine driver at Talladega. Since 2011 he has five results of 12th or better and three results of 36th or worse. In 2014 he had a good year at Talladega. Last fall he ran up front nearly all race long and when the checkered flag waved he finished 12th. Also in that event he earned the 4th best driver rating, had a 10th place average running position and led 12 laps. In spring 2014 he survived the carnage and came home with an 8th place finish. 2013 was a disastrous year for him here. 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. In his career at Talladega he has a 21.1 average result and has only finished in the top twenty 45% percent of the time. In this year’s Daytona 500 Kahne finished 9th which snapped a four race streak of finishing 27th or worse. (Yahoo B Driver)

Further Recommended Reading – Top Tier Elite Picks, Mid Pack Predictions, Talladega Scouting Report, Who will win at Talladega

Greg Biffle – Roush Fenway Racing is down on speed but fortunately those issues don’t apply to restrictor plate tracks. If anything I would say his lack of performance at other venues increases his fantasy value here. Recently at Talladega Biffle has been one of the stronger performers. Since 2011 minus spring 2013 when he was collected in “The Big One” he has the 3rd best driver rating, a 10.0 average finish and has led 99 laps. Last fall he was on pace to have a solid race and potentially finish in the top ten but the end of the race didn’t play out favorably for him. He was burned by Larson’s late spin and then he was caught up in the “Big One” during the first Green-White-Checker. Last spring at Talladega he had a strong car. He finished 2nd, earned the 2nd best driver rating, had a 10th place average running position and led the most laps (58). Over the final 48 laps about the lowest he got in the running order was around 5th. In fall 2013 at Talladega Biffle had a solid afternoon. He started 6th, finished 11th and had a 13th place average running position. Also in the race he led 5 laps and earned the 10th best driver rating. In spring 2013 Greg Biffle had a short race and we never got the chance to see how good he was. On lap #43 he was involved in the Kyle Busch / Kasey Kahne “Big One” and as a result he finished 36th. In 2012 Biffle was very good in both Talladega races. He had finishes of 5th and 6th and between the two events he had the second best driver rating, the second best average running position and led 31 laps. One area of strength for him at Talladega is leading laps. He’s led in 7 of the last 8 races. In the Daytona 500 Biffle had his only top ten finish for the season (10th). (Yahoo B Driver)

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