Scouting Report: Talladega Good Sam Club 500
How to make an informed pick at Daytona:
1) Starting with this years Bud Shootout we entered a new era of restrictor plate racing. The distinction between between what happened last year and what’s happening this year is tremendous. That’s why I think it’s really important to study the three plate races this year. That’s the main focus I used when I wrote my Talladega Fantasy Preview.
2) At restrictor plate tracks and others venues where the attrition rate is high I like to pick drivers who have momentum. Drivers who are in slumps are often “crash magnets” at Talladega.
3) Practice is going to be important this week. No one’s 100% certain how this race will play out because of the rules changes. One element you want to focus on in practice is who drivers will potentially be partnering up with.
4) There’s no need to focus on qualifying at all this week. Driving up the front at Talladega is an easy task.
Drivers to watch in the Talladega Good Sam Club 500:
Kevin Harvick – There’s not a safer pick you can make at Talladega then Kevin Harvick. In May Harvick finished 5th and worked heavily with Clint Bowyer. I expect this duo to work together again and have similar results. Another advantage for Harvick is that he’ll have three teammates who are all committed to helping him succeed. Last year at Talladega Harvick finished 1st and 2nd.
Jimmie Johnson – Johnson won in May and he worked with none other than Dale Earnhardt Jr. Johnson has been an extremely safe pick in the Talladega Chase race for years now (4 consecutive top tens). His non-racing strategy until the end has really worked out well for him. Johnson might also be worth valuable qualifying points this week as well. In May he started second in what was a Hendrick 1-2-3-4 sweep of the top four spots on qualifying day.
Brad Keselowski – Keselowski isn’t a one time wonder at Talladega. He also has two other top tens to his name. At tracks like Talladega everyone wants to partner up with someone who’s successful and I think more drivers than ever will be willing to help him out. Look for him to partner up with Kurt Busch. This duo will be formidable on Sunday and will certainly contend for the win.
Kurt Busch – In the three restrictor plate races this year Kurt Busch has the best driver rating (103.8) and he’s averaged 32.6 points a race. Penske is a two car team and as expected I’m projecting his draft partner will be Brad Keselowski. I’ve said this in probably all of my restrictor plate fantasy previews but Kurt Busch in the best plate racer who’s never won a points paying race. During Speed Weeks he won the Bud Shootout but that doesn’t pay any points.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. – How can anyone not like Dale Earnhardt Jr. at Talladega? It’s the patriotic thing to do. He hasn’t won since 2004 but he’s still a solid driver. One big plus about Junior is that he’ll most likely be working with Jimmie Johnson again and I don’t think he’ll have any problems. In May Junior started 4th.
Racing4Glory.com Stat Center:
- Talladega Pre Race Loop Data Book
- Loop Data From The Most Recent Talladega Race
- Drivers Talladega Averages Since 2009
- Past Race Winners / Pole Winners
- Entry List
FantasyRacingCheatSheet.com Driver Momentum:
- Carl Edwards
- Matt Kenseth
- Kevin Harvick
- Kasey Kahne
- Tony Stewart
- Brad Keselowski
- Kyle Busch
- Kurt Busch
- Jimmie Johnson
- David Ragan
Videos about what drivers are saying about Talladega:
- Jeff Gordon says drivers will have to swap positions more often at Talladega Superspeedway
- Harvick thinks cars will run closer together at Talladega because of the recent rule changes
- Jimmie Johnson believes there will be more passing at Talladega Superspeedway
- Matt Kenseth says you need a good partner at Talladega Superspeedway to succeed
- Jimmie Johnson says only practice can determine how different Talladega will be this time around