Daytona Coke Zero 400 Fantasy NASCAR Preview and Picks

A= Really, Really Good Pick

Carl Edwards – Edwards has never won on a restrictor plate track before but that could change in this Saturday nights Coke Zero 400. Earlier this year he finished 2nd to Trevor Bayne but what I really like is that he excels in the summer night race. His average finish in this race over the last four years is 4th. (Yahoo A Driver)

Kurt Busch – Kurt has never won a points paying plate race but he’s the best driver who never has. This team has been coming on strong lately and what I really like about him is his summer average finish. In the last five summer Daytona races he hasn’t finished worse than 7th and he has a 4.4 average finish. (Yahoo A Driver)

Kevin Harvick – Mr. Where did he come from had engine issues in the Daytona 500 but I consider that to be a fluke. Harvick is the defending champion of this race and there’s no reason to think he won’t be a safe pick again. A safe pick after all is what you really want this week anyways. (Yahoo A Driver)

Tony Stewart – If you want to pick Tony Stewart at Daytona this is the race to do it, not the 500. He’s won this race multiple times and his most recent victory here was in 2009 when he moved Kyle Busch out of the way right before he took the checkered flag. (Yahoo A Driver)

Dale Earnhardt Jr. – He’s gonna win a race one of these days right? Why not Daytona. Last season he finished 2nd and 4th at this 2.5 mile track. If qualifying points matter to you don’t forget he won the pole for the Daytona 500. (Yahoo B Driver)

LIKE ifantasyrace.com on Facebook (I’ll take pity likes)

A- = Really Good Pick

Matt Kenseth – Matt’s a former 500 winner and he’s the real deal on plate tracks. In the summer Daytona races going back to 2005 he’s finished in the top fifteen every race and has an average finish of 7.5. Also don’t discount Roush’s engine cooling advantage at Daytona. (Yahoo A Driver)

Kyle Busch – Do you like taking risks that can pay off big in fantasy NASCAR? If the answer is yes take Kyle Busch. He has one win and has been close several times. When I say he’s come close I mean getting crashed out at the end. Since his 2008 win things haven’t come easy for this Busch at Daytona. In this years Daytona 500 he finished 8th which is his only top ten since his win. (Yahoo A Driver)

VOTE for who you think will win the Daytona Coke Zero 400

B+ = Good Pick

Clint Bowyer – Bowyer’s a relatively safe pick this week. He does a good job avoiding wrecks and when he does he at least has the courtesy to cross the finish line on his hood. Bowyer has led 19 laps or more in the last three Daytona points paying races. (Yahoo B Driver)

David Ragan – Plate racing is Ragan’s strength and if he didn’t jump the restart earlier this year he might’ve won the Daytona 500. Out of all the races remaining on the schedule this will be his best chance to get to victory lane this year. (Yahoo C Driver)

Denny Hamlin – If you look at his Daytona stats you’ll definitely not be picking him this week. He’s had a car that’s been capable of winning 7 weeks in a row according to him on twitter so why not 8? His best finish at Daytona is third. (Yahoo A Driver)

Kasey Kahne – Kahne’s probably not the first driver who comes to your mind at plate tracks. If you need a sleeper pick choose him. He has the capability of sneaking in a top ten. Usually when drama happens at the end of these races he’s the beneficiary. Kahne finished second last year. (Yahoo B Driver)

Brad Keselowski – I can’t present any statistical facts here but I think he’ll perform better than many expect. Daytona races a lot more like Talladega now so I think he’ll perform better. (Yahoo B Driver)

B = A Tier Below The Good Picks

Brian Vickers – Vicker’s isn’t a terrible plate racer. At Talladega he won with a third place car (joke). In four out of the last six points paying races at Daytona he’s finished 15th or better. That doesn’t sound bad to me. (Yahoo B Driver)

Jamie McMurray – His Daytona 500 win really sticks out to people but in the COT that’s his only top ten. His average finish here since 2008 is 23.4. (Yahoo B Driver)

AJ Allemdinger – People won’t be paying attention to him this week but he’s proven to me there’s potential here. Last year was rough on him (36th and 32nd) but in his other three most previous races (excluding 2010) he’s finished 11th, 17th, and 3rd). Look for him to give you a solid top 15 effort. (Yahoo B Driver)

Paul Menard – Menard has a decent record here and in an RCR car he should be even better. In his last three Daytona starts he’s finished 9th, 18th and 13th. In the Daytona 500 this year he led 11 laps. (Yahoo C Driver)

Jeff Gordon – Looking to help out your fantasy racing friends this week? Give them Jeff Gordon. He’s the suckers pick of the week. Last summer he finished 3rd but his overall average finish in the last seven Daytona races is 23.8. His third place finish is his only top ten in this time span. (Yahoo A Driver)

David Reutimann – 2010 was a great year for Reutimann on restrictor plate tracks. Last year he finished 5th and 11th at Daytona. At Talladega he finished 14th and 4th. At Daytona in February he finished 30th. (Yahoo B Driver)

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

Jimmie Johnson – Up until the mid to late 2000’s Jimmie Johnson was really good at Daytona. I wish that Johnson would come back. Since his 2006 win he has two top tens and an average finish of 25.7. (Yahoo A Driver)

Greg Biffle – Biffle’s had his hero and zero moments at Daytona. In 2003 he got his first Sprint Cup Series win by outlasting the field on fuel. In recent years Biffle has typically gotten one top ten a season at Daytona and since he finished 35th earlier this year he may be due. (Yahoo A Driver)

Mark Martin – Martin finished 10th in this seasons great American race (crashed but he kept on going). Martin for the most part throughout his career is either a feast or famine at Daytona. Feeling lucky? (Yahoo B Driver)

Juan Pablo Montoya – Montoya typically performs better in the season opening Daytona 500. Earlier this year he finished sixth. In the summer race his finishes are all over the place. Typically there not good though. (Yahoo B Driver)

C+ = Proceed With Caution

Martin Truex Jr. – Truex finished sixth in the Daytona 500 last year but that’s his only top ten here. If you pick him you should be happy with a mid teens day at best. I really don’t see much fantasy value here. (Yahoo B Driver)

Marcos Ambrose – In five starts at Daytona Ambrose has only finished in the top 15 once in his career. His lone top fifteen was a sixth place finish in July 2009 race. Ambrose has never led a lap here and has never started better than 18th. (Yahoo B Driver)

C = I’m Not Picking Them

Ryan Newman – Don’t let his Daytona win cloud your fantasy racing judgment. His average finish since his win is 29th. His best finish since his then is 20th. Yikes, if you’re in an allocation league save him for New Hampshire. (Yahoo B Driver)

Jeff Burton – Last season he finished 5th and 11th. He doesn’t have a top ten this year yet and this certainly won’t be the week. With the way he’s performed this year he’s got DNF written all over him. (Yahoo B Driver)

Joey Logano – Logano has awful stats at Daytona. His finishes are 23rd, 29th, 20th, 19th and 43rd. Use at your own risk. I’m not picking him. (Yahoo B Driver)