Sprint Showdown Fantasy NASCAR Contenders

Martin Truex Jr. – Martin Truex Jr. should be the prohibitive favorite to win the Sprint Showdown. He’s a previous winner of the event (2010) and #56 team is clearly the cream of the crop in this preliminary race. This season on 1.5 mile tracks like Charlotte Truex Jr. has been very good. The only driver who’s scored more points than him on this type of venue is Matt Kenseth. In these three races he has a 4.7 average finish (tied for best), 5.7 average running position (second best) and has led 188 laps (third most). Last season at Charlotte Truex Jr. finished 10th and 12th. One aspect that’s important to keep in mind this weekend is that the Sprint Showdown is a short race. That makes qualifying very important and in the 1.5 mile track races this season he has a 7.7 average stating position. That ranks as the second best in the series among drivers who completed in all three races. I predict Martin Truex Jr. will win the Sprint Showdown. The only thing that can keep him out of victory lane is poor pit strategy.

Aric Almirola – In the Sprint Showdown I believe Aric Almirola is capable of giving Martin Truex Jr. a run for his money. The #43 team has been very strong recently and that will go a long way in this race. One particular race that peaks my interest in him this season is Texas. That track is similar to Charlotte and in that race he qualified third and finished 7th. Kansas is the most recent 1.5 mile track visited and in that race he finished 8th. Last year Almirola made his first two starts at Charlotte. In the Coca Cola 600 he won the pole (very important in short races) and finished 16th. In the fall race he finished 12th.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. – Ricky Stenhouse Jr. could easily find himself in victory lane in the Sprint Showdown. He didn’t show much muscle at the start of the season but he’s shown potential recently. At the last 1.5 mile track visited Stenhouse was impressive. At Kansas he started in 3rd, led 26 laps and finished 11th. If he wasn’t burned by a caution he would’ve finished better. In 2011 Stenhouse Jr. competed in the Coca Cola 600 and finished 11th.