Contender or Pretender : Charlotte
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Jimmie Johnson (Contender) – Forget the talk about Jimmie Johnson struggling with the spoiler, his problems aren’t spoiler related. Last fall Jimmie Johnson put on a dominating performance at Charlotte. He won from the pole and had a 2.8 average running position. His last previous win at Charlotte was back in the fall 2005 race. Between his 2006 through fall 2009 Charlotte winless streak (7 Races) Johnson finished in the top 15 every race except once when his engine blew up. This track isn’t called Lowes anymore but it’s still Jimmie Johnson’s track.
Carl Edwards (Pretender) – Carl Edwards has great numbers at Charlotte but he was so bad last fall I wouldn’t even be tempted to pick him. Last fall he finished 39th and I’m not going to give him the old engine blew up excuse this time (It did but after he struggled all race). To make picking Carl Edwards even more of a risk his data at the other similar tracks since then is limited. He crashed last fall at Texas, he crashed this spring at Atlanta, and he crashed late in the race at Texas earlier this year (ran competitively).
Kyle Busch (Contender) – Early in his career Charlotte was a real bad track for Kyle Busch. If the Coca Cola 600 were to be run to completion last year Kyle Busch unquestionably would’ve been the driver to beat. Over the last five Charlotte races his average finish is 4.8. Kyle Busch is the hottest driver in NASCAR now and he’ll definitely be a contender in the longest race of the season.
Clint Bowyer (Pretender) – Bowyer has really been struggling as of late and I don’t see it ending this weekend. In the COT Clint has pretty consistent numbers. His average starting position (19.8) and his average finish (19.8) are exactly the same. Bowyer has never led a single lap at Charlotte in the COT.
Kasey Kahne (Contender) – In the last 4 Charlotte races (COT Era) Kasey Kahne has finished in the top ten every time. Kyle Busch is the only other driver to accomplish this feat. Where Kasey Kahne has Busch beat is in wins and top fives. In the COT Kahne has finished in the top five 75% of the time. Kahne was also extremely competitive earlier this year at Atlanta on the long runs. In long races you can always expect long runs.
Ryan Newman (Pretender) – Last year in this race Ryan Newman finished second. Everyone knows it rained but Newman really wasn’t that good at all. Newman only ran in the top fifteen 41.9% of the race last year. I plan on avoiding Newman at all costs this weekend.
- Be sure to join the new racing.youneed.us fantasy NASCAR forum
- On my Track Fantasy Prep page I have a direct link to every COT race held at the tracks so you can create your own Yahoo! race charts.
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