Regan Smith 2012 Fantasy NASCAR Preview
2011 Stats: Points Finish 26th, 1 Win, 2 Top Fives, 5 Top Tens, Average Running Position 20.4, Average Finish 21.5, Laps Led 36, Driver Rating 71.1
In 2011 Regan Smith crossed the finish line first for the second time in his career and got his first career win. I think the 2012 season for this team will mirror 2011, but I don’t see a win coming.
Strengths– Regan Smith is at his best on plate tracks. DNF avoidance has also been a strong suite for him throughout his career. The 78 team is really good in strategy races and will roll the dice when needed. He’s also an underrated qualifier (14.8 average starting position).
Weaknesses- Unless strategy comes into play then you can pretty much pencil this team in for 20th place finish.
Intermediate Track Grade- C, Smith won at Darlington but that still doesn’t save him from an ifantasyrace.com C grade. He only averaged 21.6 points per race on this track type and loop data wise he’s a low 20th place driver across the board (average finish 23rd, average running position 22nd, mid race running position 22nd).
Flat Track Grade- B-, Smith was a very underrated flat track driver last season. His flat track 2011 highlight was his 3rd place finish in the Brickyard 500 (fuel mileage race). At Pocono he finished 15th and 18th. His best flat track performances came at New Hampshire. He finished 10th in fall and in the summer race he finished 33rd, but he did record his second best non restrictor plate track average running position of the season (14.5 avg running position). At Phoenix he was the victim of early accidents twice.
Restrictor Plate Track Grade- B, Regan Smith was a great drafting partner for Kurt Busch last season. Together this duo was a formidable threat. His finishes weren’t always the best but that’s the nature of plate racing. Smith only had a driver rating higher than 100 twice last season and they both came at plate tracks.
Short Track Grade- C+,Smith is right around a 20th place driver at short tracks. His 2011 average finish on this track type was 19.8 and in four out of the six races he finished in the 17th to 22nd range. His two best short track finishes were both at Richmond (13th and 17th).
Road Course Track Grade- C+, Last season Regan Smith had career best finishes at both road courses. Unfortunately finishes of 16th and 23rd aren’t how you win fantasy leagues.
How to use Regan Smith from a Fantasy NASCAR Perspective in 2012? I would focus on using Regan Smith at plate tracks
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