Texas Fantasy NASCAR Front Runner Rankings

Clint Bowyer – Clint Bowyer should be high on your radar at Texas. He finished runner-up this spring and in 3 of his 5 races on the new configuration he’s finished in the top 11. One little word of warning is that his two results not in the top 11 have come in the last two fall races. Earlier this year at Texas, Bowyer had a great car. He finished 2nd, earned the 6th best driver rating and had a 9th place average running position. Last fall at Texas, Bowyer started in 2nd but finished a misleading 26th. On the opening lap he had contact with Hamlin and then shortly after that he had a flat tire which dropped him two laps down back to the high-thirties. He never recovered from that and later during a green flag pit stop he was penalized when his crew went over the wall too soon. In spring 2018 at Texas he had a good performance. He finished 9th, earned the 7th best driver rating and had a 7th place average running position. Additionally, he finished 6th in Stage #1 and 5th in Stage #2. In 2017, Bowyer was a good performer in both races. In fall 2017 he finished a misleading 36th. During the Stage #2 caution he had a rear end gear leak and that doomed him to his poor result. Eight laps prior to that Stage ending he was running in 13th. In spring 2017 he had a solid performance. He finished 11th, earned the 9th best driver rating and had a 7th place average running position. This year at 1.5 mile tracks over the 9 combined races, Bowyer has 5 top tens, a 14.0 average finish and a 14.3 average running position.

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Alex Bowman – Alex Bowman isn’t in the Playoffs anymore, but don’t overlook him. He’s a strong performer at 1.5 mile tracks and this year over the nine combined races his 9.8 average finish ranks as the 4th best. At Texas in the #88, Bowman hasn’t been that successful and in his two incident free races he’s finished in the teens. Earlier this year at Texas, Bowman finished 18th and had a 21st place average running position. His teammates were very competitive so hopefully his team will take a good look at their notes. Last fall at Texas he ran well. He finished 14th, had an 11th place average running position and earned the 13th best driver rating. In spring 2018 there’s no real fantasy takeaways from his race. He was involved in a wreck on lap #2 and then later on lap 56 he went to the garage because of a mechanical problem which led to his 28th place finish. On Sunday, I’m going to view him as a low double-digits to mid-teens driver who has a good chance to finish in the top ten.

Aric Almirola – Aric Almirola should have a solid showing at Texas and on Sunday I’m going to view him as a low double-digits to mid-teens driver. This year at 1.5 mile tracks over the 9 combined races he has a 12.3 average finish and an 11.9 average running position. At Texas, Almirola has been solid in recent races. He has back to back top tens and in 3 of the last 4 races he’s finished in the top 15. Earlier this year at Texas, Almirola finished 7th, had a 10th place average running position and earned the 11th best driver rating. Last fall at Texas, Almirola had a great car. When the checkered flag waved he finished 8th, earned the 8th best driver rating and had a 10th place average running position. Additionally, he finished 10th in Stage #1 and 6th in Stage #2. In spring 2018 he didn’t have an incident free race and finished 32nd after crashing on lap 179 during the start of the final Stage. I’ll note he certainly looked like a top ten contender. In Stage #2 he finished 10th and in Stage #1 he finished just short of the top ten.

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