Scouting Report: Watkins Glen
How to make an informed fantasy pick at Watkins Glen:
1) Look at drivers averages finishes at Watkins Glen. This is a drivers track and as a result their averages finishes can stand the test of time. No over thinking is required this week. This is the one and only stat you need to look at.
2) Pick at driver who starts up front. Nine of the twenty-eight races run at Watkins Glen have been won from the pole (32%). Eighteen races have been won from a top five starting position (64%). The deepest any race winner has started is eighteenth.
Drivers to watch in Heluva Good Sour Cream Dips at the Glen:
Tony Stewart – After Watkins Glen there’s just four races before the Chase starts. This race is a “must win” in order to assure Tony Stewart will be in the Chase. Watkins Glen is Tony Stewart’s best track and there’s no reason to believe he won’t be the favorite heading into the weekend. At Watkins Glen since 1999 Tony Stewart has 5 wins and has only finished worse than 11th once. Since 2004 Stewart has finished either first or second every year except for 2010.
Marcos Ambrose – In his three races at Watkins Glen Ambrose has finished either third or second. The worst he’s finished in a road course race where he didn’t have some sort of car problem is sixth. At Infineon earlier this year he finished 5th.
Carl Edwards – Carl is a very underrated road course driver who will be below most people’s radar this week. Carl has five straight top tens at Watkins Glen and last year he started on the pole and finished fifth. At Infineon earlier this season he finished 4th.
Kurt Busch – Busch won at Infineon earlier this year and last year at Watkins Glen he finished second. Kurt Busch has three straight top tens here. His driver rating earlier this year at Infineon was 142.6.
Kyle Busch – Busch won at Watkins Glen in 2008. Busch has five straight top tens and five straight top ten qualifying efforts at the Glen. The last time he didn’t finish in the top ten here he was a rookie.
To see the rest of my rankings check out my Watkins Glen Fantasy Preview
VegasInsider.com Vegas odds to win at Watkins Glen:
Juan Pablo Montoya 6/1, Jeff Gordon 6/1, Jimmie Johnson 6/1, Tony Stewart 6/1, Kurt Busch 6/1, Kyle Busch 7/1, Marcos Ambrose 7/1, Kevin Harvick 12/1, Carl Edwards 15/1, Robby Gordon 18/1
FantasyRacingCheatSheet.com driver momentum over the last six races:
1)Ryan Newman 2)Tony Stewart 3)Jeff Gordon 4)Jimmie Johnson 5)Paul Menard 6)Greg Biffle 7)Carl Edwards 8)Kurt Busch 9)Dale Earnhardt Jr. 10)Matt Kenseth
