Scouting Report: Charlotte Coca Cola 600
How To Make A Good Informed Fantasy Pick For The Coca Cola 600:
1) Look at other similar track races that have been run this year. The two tracks in particular that I would encourage you to look back at are Texas and Las Vegas.
2) Past History at Charlotte is extremely important. This race is your Pocono primer in terms of race time length. Since it’s so long drivers and crew chiefs need to know how to make adjustments to their cars for the three phases of the race (daylight, dusk, and night). Looking at past history will help shed some light for you in terms of who you should pick and who you should avoid.
3) Practice is important at Charlotte but this week I don’t want to see my drivers running 100 miles in happy hour. What I want to get out of practice is a good ten lap average and hear the drivers are happy with their car. What I don’t want to see is them out on the track anymore then they have to.
4) What happened in the All-Star Race really shouldn’t be of that much concern to you. It’s not a typical race and most likely drivers were using setups that are radically different from what they would be using in the Coca Cola 600.
5) Qualifying is semi important at Charlotte. I wouldn’t say it’s a must but I certainly wouldn’t want to pick a driver who qualified back in the thirties unless it’s Jimmie Johnson who won from the farthest back starting position ever (37th).
Click HERE to check out my Charlotte Fantasy NASCAR Preview
Fast Five At Charlotte:
1) Matt Kenseth -The last time NASCAR visited a 1.5 mile tri-oval Kenseth was in victory lane. He’s starting to get back into his old “winning robot” ways. Kenseth doesn’t abuse his car and he’ll be around at the conclusion of NASCAR’s longest race. Kenseth has four straight top tens at Charlotte.
2) Kyle Busch -No wins but he hasn’t finished below 8th in the last seven Charlotte races. There is a risk level here though with the ongoing Joe Gibbs Racing engine drama. Will they last or will they blow?
3) Carl Edwards -In the two 1.5 mile tracks that NASCAR visited this year Edwards has walked away with finishes of first and third. Carl Edwards has been six Coca Cola 600 races and he has an impressive 8.33 average finish.
4) Jimmie Johnson -Sure he’s had problems in some recent Coke 600’s but don’t bet against him. He’s the leader in nearly every loop data category in the last twelve races.
5) Kasey Kahne -This team has been hot lately and Charlotte has always been friendly to this Red Bull driver. Kahne’s won every type of race there is at Charlotte. He’s won the All-Star race, the Coca Cola 600, and the fall night race. What makes Kahne so good at Charlotte is that he adjusts his driving style throughout the race.
Sleepers At Charlotte:
Jamie McMurray -He hasn’t made any noise so far this season but don’t forget he finished first and second last year.
David Reutimann -Previous “rain dance” winner who’s finished in the top fifteen four straight races at Charlotte. Also don’t forget he won at Chicagoland last year.
Brian Vickers -Stats lie sometimes but take my word for it he’s good here.
Odds To Win The Coca Cola 600 from TheSpread.com: Carl Edwards 5/1, Kyle Busch 5/1, Jimmie Johnson 7/1, Matt Kenseth 10/1, Denny Hamlin 12/1, Tony Stewart 12/1, Kevin Harvick 12/1, Greg Biffle 15/1, Jeff Gordon 15/1, Clint Bowyer 20/1
