The Fantasy NASCAR Low Tier – Michigan
David Ragan – At Michigan look for David Ragan to be a high-teens to low-twenties performer. Auto Club Speedway is the most similar track visited this year and at that venue he finished 25th and had a 25th place average running position. Since then I’ll note I’ve seen improvement from his team. At Michigan, Ragan hasn’t performed well in recent races. Last year he had results of 29th and 30th. Last August late in the race he got some damage from contact with other cars which led to his poor 30th place finish. Strength wise I would say he was realistically about mid-teens good. One lap prior to his involvement in the wreck because of pit strategy he was running in 9th. His average running position for the afternoon was 18th. In the two Michigan races prior to that he finished 29th.
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Michael McDowell – At Michigan, I’m not going to set the benchmark high for Michael McDowell. Performance wise I would look for him to be a low to mid-twenties performer. At Michigan his track record is brutal and I think his starts last year are the only races that carry fantasy relevance. Last summer at MIS he had his 2nd best result ever, but keep in mind the bar is low. He finished 27th and had a 26th place average running position. Last spring he had his best Michigan result. He finished 23rd, had a 26th place average running position and earned the 27th best driver rating. Auto Club Speedway is the most similar track visited this year and at that venue McDowell finished 26th.
Ty Dillon – Ty Dillon isn’t a strong performer at intermediate tracks. At Michigan I’m going to keep expectations way down and I think he’ll likely prove to be a low to mid-twenties performer. Auto Club Speedway is a similar 2.0 mile oval and at that venue earlier this year he was really bad and finished 27th. Fortunately I think his team has improved since then. In 2017 at Michigan both of his results were in the low-twenties. Last August he finished 21st and had a 27th place average running position. I think his average running position is more reflective of his level of performance. Last June he started way back in 37th but drove up to a 20th place finish. Additionally in the race he earned the 25th best driver rating and had a 26th place average running position. In spring 2016 when he drove the #95 he finished 24th.
Matt DiBenedetto – Matt DiBenedetto will likely be about a mid-twenties performer at Michigan. This year at intermediate tracks in typical races he’s finished in the twenties and I think there’s a good chance that will be the case at MIS. Last year at Michigan he had his best season and finished in the twenties both events. In the spring he finished 28th and in the summer he had his best overall result and finished 26th. Auto Club Speedway is the most similar track visited this year and at that venue he finished 31st.
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