Charlotte Bank of America 500 Fantasy NASCAR Preview and Picks

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A= Really, Really Good Pick

Kyle Busch – Now that “Wild Thing” is out of Chase contention look for him to get even more wild. Kyle Busch isn’t points racing anymore and at Charlotte look for him to be the driver to beat. In the last four Charlotte races Kyle Busch has been phenomenal. He has the best average finish (5.3) and the best average running position (7.3) in the series. (Yahoo A Driver)

Jimmie Johnson – Johnson is the defending Champion and let’s not forget we’re in the Chase. That alone nearly clinches Johnson a solid top five day. In the last five years he’s only finished outside the top thirteen once, and that was because of a blown motor. (Yahoo A Driver)

Tony Stewart – This team has definitely found something on intermediate tracks since they won at Atlanta. Whatever it is put Stewart on your short list of contenders. (Yahoo A Driver)

Who do you think will win at Charlotte? Don’t forget to vote!!

A- = Really Good Pick

Kurt Busch – Kurt Busch has been the best high-speed cookie cutter driver this year. Between Atlanta, Texas, and Charlotte Busch has collected two wins and hasn’t finished worse than sixth this year. In 2010 Busch is 2 for 2 at Charlotte. (Yahoo A Driver)

Jeff Gordon – In the last six Charlotte races Gordon has collected five top ten finishes including a win in 2007. His average finish over this time period is 6.2 and his worst finish is 14th. (Yahoo A Driver)

Carl Edwards – Edwards has been terrific since Chicagoland on intermediate tracks and Auto Club Speedway is his lone hiccup along the way. In eleven starts at Charlotte Edwards has finished in the top ten seven times. (Yahoo A Driver)

Kasey Kahne – Kasey Kahne has been victorious at Charlotte three times in his career. He’s been a solid qualifier (avg start 9.2) and finisher (avg finish 9.7) over the last eleven races at the track formerly called Lowes. (Yahoo B Driver)

Kevin Harvick – It’s been a long, long time since Harvick finished in the top ten at Charlotte (2003), but I have faith in him. He’s consistently been a top five intermediate driver for the last few months. (Yahoo B Driver)

B+ = Good Pick

Clint Bowyer – Bowyer’s finished 6th and 7th in his last two races at Charlotte. He was also strong at Fontana without his crew chief but will it catch up to him in time? (Yahoo B Driver)

Mark Martin – Maybe there is a heart beat in this team again? He looked racy at California and many times when teams miss the Chase their performances normally pick up at around this point. (Yahoo A Driver)

Ryan Newman – Newman had this race won in 2007 but got a little to excited once he got into the lead. May I submit the video evidence. Newman has three straight top eleven finishes at this track. (Yahoo B Driver)

Denny Hamlin – At Charlotte Motor Speedway Denny Hamlin’s best finish is his first finish (8th in 2005). His last top ten at Charlotte was back in 2007 and that was a ninth place finish. Since then his average finish is 22.2 and this number isn’t DNF skewed (only one over this time period). (Yahoo A Driver)

Matt Kenseth – Kenseth has finished in the top ten in four out of his last five races at Charlotte. I think he’s a risky pick because like I said in prior previews I think he’s the “pariah” of the Chase and nothing will go his way. (Yahoo B Driver)

Jeff Burton – Jeff Burton is starting to scare me. He didn’t have bad luck at California and finished bad. Besides Dover Burton has finished 15th or worse in every Chase race this year. In the last two Charlotte races Burton’s finished 25th. He can chalk up his 25th earlier this year to bad luck  (AKA: Kyle Busch getting wild). (Yahoo B Driver)

Jamie McMurray – In 2002 Jamie McMurray made history by winning in his second career start. Earlier this year he finished second. This track has always been friendly to him and some of his bad finishes are deceiving if you just look at the finish number. (Yahoo B Driver)

B = Just A Tier Below The Good Picks

Greg Biffle – When Greg Biffle qualifies good at Charlotte he finishes good. In his last three starts he hasn’t qualified in the top fifteen once and hasn’t finished there either. (Yahoo A Driver)

Joey Logano – Logano’s only raced at Lowes three times and has the best average finish in the series (9th). Last fall Logano finished fifth. (Yahoo B Driver)

B- = You Can Pencil Them In For Around 20th

David Reutimann – David Reutimann’s win was a fluke, no question about it but 1.5 mile tracks have been a strong suite of his. (Yahoo B Driver)

AJ Allmendinger – AJ finished 14th at Charlotte earlier this year which is his best finish at the track. He’s been hot lately but on intermediate tracks he’s been about a teen finish driver all year long. (Yahoo C Driver)

C+ = Proceed With Caution

Juan Pablo Montoya – Montoya is a very good racer, but bad things happen to him all to often. In seven starts Montoya has only finished inside the top ten once. The bigger problem is that his next best finish is 28th. (Yahoo A Driver)

Martin Treux Jr. – You can tell Treux and Montoya were once teammates. Both of their records at this track are dismal with a few exceptions. Treux’s best finish at Charlotte was in his pre-rookie season (7th). (Yahoo B Driver)

Paul Menard – Menard finished 8th earlier this year at Charlotte which is his lone top ten at the track. Menard’s had some success on intermediate tracks in 2010 but many times they get wiped out at the end. (Yahoo C Driver)

Brad Keselowski – Keselowski still hasn’t finished in the top ten this season and yet he’s running away with the Nationwide championship. In two starts at Charlotte Keselowski’s finished in the top twenty twice. (Yahoo B Driver)

C = I’m Not Picking Them

Dale Earnhardt Jr. – In the last four Charlotte races Junior’s finished 22nd or worse. I see the writing on the wall and it says “don’t pick him”. (Yahoo B Driver)

Elliott Sadler – I really don’t know why you should pick him? He’s been good on the 2 mile intermediates this year and on the 1.5’s he’s finished around 20th multiple times. (Yahoo B Driver)

David Ragan – If you’ve watched races this year and you have the urge to use Ragan then you have a very different perspective then me. (Yahoo B Driver)

Marcos Ambrose – Just like I said last week, Ambrose looks lost on intermediate tracks at times. Charlotte has traditionally been a high attrition rate track and I think Ambrose will succumb to it. (Yahoo B Driver)

Sam Hornish Jr. – This could be his last Charlotte start if he doesn’t impress new sponsors. He’s finished in the teens three times in five starts. (Yahoo C Driver)

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Charlotte Fantasy NASCAR Picks

My Pick : Kyle Busch

Top Onpitrow.com Expert Pick : Jimmie Johnson

Top Onpitrow.com Darkhorse Pick : Kasey Kahne