Chicagoland LifeLock.com 400 Fantasy NASCAR Preview and Picks
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A = Really, Really Good Pick
Jimmie Johnson – The only thing that has ever stopped Jimmie Johnson from finishing outside the top eight at Chicagoland is a flat tire. Johnson has the best average running position (7.3) and highest driver rating (112.8) over the last five years. (Yahoo A Driver)
Kevin Harvick – Kevin Harvick won the first two races at Chicagoland and has been close to victory on other occasions. In nine Chicagoland races Kevin Harvick has the second best average finish (8.7). Kevin Harvick has been strong all season long and when you combine that with a good track for him you can be certain he’ll be a contender. (Yahoo B Driver)
Kurt Busch – Kurt Busch has been one of the best intermediate track drivers this year so there shouldn’t be any concern at all picking him this weekend. His track history isn’t good but I have no problems overlooking it. (Yahoo A Driver)
Jeff Gordon – Check out what I said about Jeff Gordon is my Contender or Pretender post. (Yahoo A Driver)
A- = Really Good Pick
Jeff Burton – Jeff Burton is fast everywhere. One thing you might not know is that loop data wise Jeff Burton has statistically been the fastest car in traffic this year, even faster than Jimmie Johnson. (Yahoo B Driver)
Denny Hamlin – Hamlin has been good on intermediate tracks this year and recently won at Michigan. Hamlin should unquestionably come into the pre-weekend winner talks. (Yahoo A Driver)
Kyle Busch – Kyle Busch was absolute junk in this race last year but I think he’ll be strong this weekend. He won this race in 2008 when he made an impressive near last lap pass on Jimmie Johnson. From a historical standpoint Kyle Busch has finished in the top three every other year so things should be looking up for him this weekend. (Yahoo A Driver)
Kasey Kahne – From Michigan until now Kasey Kahne has been a top five driver performance wise nearly every week. At Michigan Kahne finished 2nd to Denny Hamlin. (Yahoo B Driver)
Tony Stewart – Tony Stewart has multiple wins and seven top fives at Chicagoland. He finished 5th at Michigan which is a positive sign heading into Chicagoland. (Yahoo A Driver)
B+ = Good Pick
Carl Edwards – Edwards was a about a tenth place car last year in this race but he lost positions late. Supposedly Roush found the answer to their lack of performance and now they’ve had a month to work on it. (Yahoo A Driver)
Mark Martin– Martin is the defending champion of Chicagoland but he’s really struggled this year. I would focus a lot more on what happened recently than what happened last year. (Yahoo A Driver)
Juan Pablo Montoya – Montoya will most likely run as good as anyone at Chicagoland but can he finish? In 2009 he finished 10th. (Yahoo A Driver)
Clint Bowyer – Montoya’s not the only driver who’s run good lately but doesn’t bring home the good finish. His Daytona finish almost sums up his season. At Chicagoland he’s finished in the top ten three times. (Yahoo B Driver)
Matt Kenseth – In nine races at Chicagoland Kenseth has an average finish of 11.2 which is seventh best in the series. Matt Kenseth has never finished outside the top 25 at Chicago. (Yahoo B Driver)
B = Just A Tier Below The Good Picks
Ryan Newman – Check out what I said about Ryan Newman in my Contender or Pretender post. (Yahoo B Driver)
Joey Logano – I think Logano will have lots of playability at Chicago. He recently finished 10th at Michigan and 13th at Charlotte. Last year he finished 18th at Chicagoland. (Yahoo B Driver)
Greg Biffle – Chicagoland really hasn’t been a good track for this Roush driver. His average finish (15.4) is a pretty good indicator of what type of driver he is at Chicago. He’s finished 20th twice, 11th three times, 4th once and last year he finished 31st. (Yahoo A Driver)
Dale Earnhardt Jr. – If you’re fan of Dale Earnhardt Jr. then you must be really happy right now. From the fantasy NASCAR perspective I’m not buying into the hype. He’s had some good runs lately but nothing really all that special. (Disclaimer: ifantasyrace.com is pro Junior, no heat directed at me is needed : ) (Yahoo B Driver)
B- = You Can Pencil Them In For Around 20th
AJ Allmendinger – Allmendinger has a pair of 13th place finishes at Chicagoland. His top 15 streak is over but Allmendinger notably finished 11th at Michigan. (Yahoo C Driver)
David Reutimann – Reutimann’s basically been a teen finish driver all year long on intermediate tracks and at Chicagoland he’s finished in the low teens the last two years.(Yahoo B Driver)
Marcos Ambrose – Ambrose finished 11th last year at this Midwest track and overcame an early spin at Michigan to finish 15th. (Yahoo B Driver)
C+ = Got Some Question Marks Here
Martin Treux Jr. – Treux is in the midst of a long cold streak. His last top ten was at Richmond. He’s had some good runs on intermediate tracks this year but he hasn’t had the finishes. (Yahoo B Driver)
Jamie McMurray – There was a time earlier this year when Jamie McMurray looked like a Chase contender but that ships sailed. In the last five years at Chicagoland McMurray’s average finish is 28.4. His best finish over this time period is 21st. (Yahoo B Driver)
Paul Menard – Paul Menard had a solid run at Chicagoland last year but fizzled at the end and finished 35th. (Yahoo C Driver)
Brad Keselowski – He’s only raced once at Chicagoland and finished 32nd last year. Besides Atlanta he really hasn’t done anything great on intermediate tracks this year. (Yahoo B Driver)
David Ragan – Ragan’s only finished in two different positions at Chicagoland. He’s finished 8th once and 25th twice. (Yahoo B Driver)
C = I’m Not Picking Them
Reed Sorenson – Sorenson’s in the car that Brian Vickers finished 6th and 7th with the last two years at Chicagoland but this is Reed Sorenson were talking about. Hopefully he’ll find some success soon but he’s never worked with this team on an intermediate track. (Yahoo C Driver)
Sam Hornish Jr. – With finishes like 37th and 38th at Chicagoland how can you go right here? (Yahoo C Driver)
Elliott Sadler – Will his new crew chief bring him the competitive edge Sadler desperately needs? I say no. He hasn’t had a top ten this season and I don’t expect things to change now. (Yahoo B Driver)
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Chicagoland Fantasy NASCAR Picks
My Pick : Jimmie Johnson
Top Onpitrow.com Expert Pick : Kevin Harvick
Top Onpitrow.com Darkhorse Pick : Kasey Kahne
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