Martinsville Goody’s Fast Relief 500: Fantasy NASCAR “Top Tier Elite” Picks
Denny Hamlin – In the last eight Martinsville races Hamlin has four wins and an average finish of 3.5. In these races he also has the best driver rating (124.1) and has led the most laps (943). If your fantasy league reward bonus points for leading laps Hamlin is the driver you want to pick. He’s led laps in nine of the last eleven races. Hamlin is one of a few drivers who’s capable of giving Hendrick Motorsports a run for its money at Martinsville. Last fall Hamlin finished 5th and posted the third best driver rating (120.7). Don’t bet against Hamlin in the Goody’s Fast Relief 500.
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Jimmie Johnson – In twenty races at Martinsville Jimmie Johnson has six wins and has only finished outside the top eleven once. His one finish lower was back in 2002 (first race). Last fall Jimmie Johnson would’ve won but Brian “Bumper Car” Vickers brought out a late caution that allowed Tony Stewart to take the lead on a late restart. Even though he didn’t win he still recorded the best driver rating (126.1) Jimmie Johnson will be a very popular pick by fantasy NASCAR experts to win the Goody’s Fast Relief 500 and their right for making him the favorite.
Kevin Harvick – Harvick is the defending champion of the spring race at Martinsville. Last fall he finished 4th. Since 2010 I would argue Kevin Harvick has been the best driver at Martinsville. In these four races he’s finished in the top four three times and in the other race he had problems (finished 35th), but not before he led 57 laps and recorded the 7th best driver rating. Just check out his Yahoo! race chart. Harvick won’t be as popular a pick as Jimmie Johnson or Denny Hamlin so if you want to get off sequence this week consider picking Harvick.
Kyle Busch – If you want to pick an elite driver at Martinsville that other people won’t pick take Kyle Busch. In the last five races at Martinsville he’s finished 4th or better three times. In his other two races there’s no question he had a good car under him. Last fall he finished 27th but he still had a 6th place average running position and led 126 laps (most in race). His other non top four finish was in the 2010 spring race when crashed out late. Check out his Yahoo! race chart from that race. He’s the real deal at Martinsville. Kyle Busch is my only Top Tier Elite driver who’s winless at NASCAR’s oldest track. He’s a great alternative to people picking the other big name drivers.
Jeff Gordon – Before Jimmie Johnson and Denny Hamlin started dominating Martinsville Jeff Gordon was lapping the competition. In 38 races at Martinsville Jeff Gordon has seven wins and thirty one top tens. Another impressive stat of Gordon’s at the paper clip is that he’s only finished lower than fifth once since 2004. Last fall Gordon finished 3rd and recorded the second highest driver rating (122.5). Look for Gordon to once again be strong in the Goody’s Fast Relief 500.
Make sure you read the full spectrum of ifantasyrace.com Goody’s Fast Relief 500 fantasy NASCAR rankings
Top Tier Elite > Front Runners > Mid Pack Projections > Drivers To Avoid
