AAA Texas 500 Fantasy NASCAR Contender or Pretender
Jimmie Johnson (Contender) – Last year Jimmie Johnson almost put his championship hopes in peril with an early accident at Texas Motor Speedway. This time around expect no mistakes from the 48 team. In April Jimmie Johnson finished second and had the best average running position of the race (5th). When you omit his accident from last year Jimmie Johnson has an average finish of 4.4 since the fall 2007 race in Texas.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. (Pretender) – In April Dale Earnhardt Jr. had a strong showing. He led the most laps (46), raced inside the top fifteen more than anyone (96.1% of laps), had the second highest driver rating (116.5), and most importantly finished eighth. The problem is that this team is ready for the golf course and really haven’t shown positive signs on intermediate tracks since.
Denny Hamlin (Contender) – Hamlin was the winner in April’s Texas race just a few weeks after having surgery. I wouldn’t say he had the best car but the reason why the 11 team is in the championship hunt is because how strong they are on intermediate tracks.
Kasey Kahne (Pretender) – Kahne has three top fives at Texas including a win back in 2006. Those are his only top tens in twelve races at Texas. Earlier this year he finished 5th but the problem will be he’s never been with this team on an intermediate track before. Kahne and Vickers seem like they have similar driving styles on intermediates, but I guess we’ll find out Sunday. In fantasy racing you should fear the unknown and stay away from Kahne this week.
Kevin Harvick (Contender) – Kevin Harvick is the third of the championship contenders who will be a driver to watch in the AAA Texas 500. Harvick and the 29 team have been extremely strong on intermediate tracks this year. Texas is friendly to drivers who use the high line around the track and in my opinion no driver has done that better than Harvick in 2010.
Jeff Burton (Pretender) – Jeff Burton has been fast almost everywhere this year but something always happens. Earlier this year at Texas Burton might of had the best car, but he had one of his incidences again ( I believe he brushed against the wall and damaged his car). Here’s his Yahoo race chart for the April race.
