Phoenix Fantasy Race Preview
Phoenix is a flat 1 mile track that is both fast and has tremendous implications on the championship. Phoenix is the track where Jimmie Johnson all but clinched his championship last year. Johnson has absolutely owned this track since the inception of the COT car.
If you want to be successful with your fantasy racing ventures at Phoenix then the key is to study how drivers have performed at similar tracks this season. The similar tracks that I would recommend you study are New Hampshire and Richmond (don’t forget prior Phoenix race). These three tracks all have comparable traits. You will find that the drivers who have been succesful since the first Phoenix race of the year have been succesful throughout the year on this style of track.
It’s hard to pass at Phoenix so qualifying will be a little bit more important here then it was at Texas. Phoenix is also a relatively short distance race so track position (fuel management) will become an issue. (Phoenix Fantasy Tip)
The ifantasyrace.com Top 5 Drivers for Phoenix are……………..
1. Jimmie Johnson– In the 5 COT Phoenix races Jimmie Johnson has won all of them except for the first race and the most recent one. The worst Johnson has ever finished in a COT at Phoenix is 4th. His COT average finish is 2.2. Johnson’s led nearly 400 COT laps at Phoenix and he’s consistently a front-runner in the desert.
2. Denny Hamlin– My Denny Hamlin basic rule of thumb for knowing how to use him fantasy wise is “If’s it flat or short use Hamlin”. Phoenix is both flat and short so expect good things out of Hamlin Sunday. Hamlin’s COT average finish is an impressive 6.6 and he’s also led the second most COT laps at Phoenix (225).
3. Mark Martin– Martin won at Phoenix earlier this year and he backed up his flat track prowess at New Hampshire. Martin also nearly won last year at Phoenix in a part-time DEI ride which I find very impressive.
4. Tony Stewart– Tony Stewart was the runner-up in the spring race at Phoenix. Stewart has an impressive 8.8 average finish (COT), and more importantly he has nothing to lose by running hard.
5. Kurt Busch– Kurt is coming off his Texas win and Phoenix is one of his better tracks. Last fall Kurt Busch finished 2nd and this spring he finished 3rd. Just like Stewart, Kurt Busch has nothing to lose by running hard.
(What you see here is a short compilation that can be seen in my weekly projections. My weekly projections run up through the top 20).
Factors that are important when you select drivers for Phoenix (everything is based on a ten scale of hearts. Ten being the most important).
Qualifying= ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ (7)
Practice= ♥♥♥♥♥ (5)
Prior History at Phoenix= ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ (8)
Recent Performances at Similar Tracks= ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ (7)
Momentum Heading into the race= ♥♥♥♥♥ (5)