Carl Edwards 2016 Fantasy NASCAR Preview
Carl Edwards 2015 Stats: Points Finish 5th, 2 Wins, 3 Poles, 7 Top Fives, 15 Top Tens, Average Finish 14.0, Average Running Position 11.4, Laps Led 376, Driver Rating 95.62
Strengths – Carl Edwards is a very talented driver who can perform well at many different track types. In 2016 I would look for him to have his best afternoons at intermediate tracks, flat tracks, short tracks and road courses.
Weaknesses – I would recommend staying away from Carl Edwards at plate tracks. He showed some potential at those venues last year but picking him is like messing with fire.
Track Type Fantasy Value Key = Elite > High > Moderate > Low
Intermediate Track Fantasy Value – Elite
Over the course of the 2015 season the #19 team greatly improved at intermediate tracks. In the final ten races on this track type last year he scored the most points and had a 7.7 average finish.
For the season at intermediate tracks last year Carl Edwards scored the 5th most points and went to victory lane twice. His wins were at Charlotte and Darlington. Although Darlington is a unique track it’s important to note the new 2016 rule package was used in that event. Kentucky is the other race where the 2016 rules package was raced and at that venue he finished 4th. Between the two races with the new low down force rules package nobody scored more points than Edwards.
In 2016 I expect Carl Edwards to be very competitive on this track type. He now has a year under his belt at JGR and I think the new rules package will play to his strengths.
2016 Printable PDF NASCAR Schedule
Flat Track Fantasy Value – High
Last year at flat tracks Carl Edwards scored the 6th most points and had a 10.7 average finish. Also it’s important to note he was the only driver who finished in the top fifteen every race. In all 7 races he finished between 5th and 15th.
At New Hampshire in 2015 Edwards swept the top ten with results of 5th and 7th. It should be noted in both of those events he started on the pole and led 19 laps. Phoenix is the other shorter flat track and last year he finished 12th and 13th at that venue. Next year I expect to see some improvement from him there.
Big flat tracks weren’t his best venues last year. He finished respectable but results of 10th, 13th and 15th aren’t that great when you compare him to elite competition.
Short Track Fantasy Value – High
I believe we’ll see improvement from Carl Edwards at short tracks in 2016. Last year he showed potential at these venues but he failed to deliver.
His best short track without question is Bristol. Last year he ran well in both races. In August he finished 7th and led 74 laps. In the spring race he had top three potential but wrecked late. In that event he led 86 laps. In 2014 at Bristol he finished 1st and 7th. At Bristol he has 3 wins and has finished in the top ten 43% percent of the time.
Don’t overlook him at Richmond. In 2016 I think he could perform very well at that venue. In his last three RIR races he’s finished 11th, 19th and 22nd. Over the few years at Richmond prior to those events he ranked as one of the strongest performers.
At Martinsville he hasn’t finished in the top ten since 2011. Last year he had solid potential but neither race was incident free. Last fall he damaged the front of his car and finished 14th. In spring 2015 he had top ten potential but spun late and finished 17th. In the last 8 Martinsville races he’s finished between 11th and 20th.
Restrictor Plate Track Fantasy Value – Medium
Plate tracks are the venues where I would be the least likely to select Carl Edwards. His drive in the back driving style has not been conducive for producing quality results.
At Daytona he’s been a fantasy dud for quite some time. In the last six races there his best finish is 17th and his average finish is 30th. Last summer he crashed and finished 41st and in the season opening Daytona 500 he ran well but spun on the last lap and finished 23rd. Performance wise he should’ve finished in the top ten.
Last fall at Talladega he survived the carnage and finished 5th. In the four Talladega races prior to that he had a 25.0 average finish.
Carl Edwards Fantasy NASCAR Portal
Road Course Track Fantasy Value – Elite
Carl Edwards is an elite road course racer. He runs well at both road courses on the schedule. Between the two I like him more at Sonoma. Last year at that west coast track he was involved in an accident and finished 40th. In three of the four years prior to that he finished in the top 3. In 2014 Carl Edwards raced his way to victory lane there. In 2013 he finished 3rd.
At Watkins Glen Carl Edwards has an 8.4 average finish. Excluding his first start he’s never finished outside the top fifteen. Currently at Watkins Glen he has three consecutive top tens. Over this stretch he has a 5.7 average finish and the 7th best driver rating. Last year Edwards finished 8th.