Daytona Coke Zero 400 Fantasy Yahoo! C List Preview
Michael Waltrip – Michael Waltrip is at his best on restrictor plate tracks. All four of his career wins have come on this type of venue. Last summer at Daytona Waltrip finished 9th in the #55. This season in the Daytona 500 he finished 22nd but it’s important to note he was in the #30 Swan Racing entry. At Talladega Waltrip has been quite successful recently. In the race earlier this season he finished 4th. Last year at Dega he was good in both races even though his finishes were poor. Last fall (Dega) he was making a hard charge for the lead at the end but was blocked causing the “The Big One” and in the spring race he led 21 laps.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. – Ricky Stenhouse Jr. has two starts at Daytona under his belt. In 2012 he finished 20th and this year he finished 12th. At Talladega this season he had a very good car. If the race ended when it rained he would’ve finished 2nd. When the race restarted and went to its conclusion he crossed the finish line in 13th. If you’re in an allocation league don’t use Stenhouse Jr. at Daytona. Other “Wild Card” drivers in his tier come into play on this type of venue.
David Ragan – David Ragan is a deep sleeper who’s a proven thing on restrictor plate tracks. Throughout his career this has been his best track type. Earlier this season he pulled off a shocker when he took the checkered flag on the last lap at Talladega. Ragan has also had success at Daytona. He won the July race in 2011 and had a very good chance to win that season’s Daytona 500 but he switched lanes to early during a late restart and got black flagged. In this years Daytona 500 Ragan wrecked with 63 laps to go and finished 35th.
AJ Allmendinger – At Daytona AJ Allmendinger will be driving the #51. From an allocation perspective I don’t think I would use him. I think he’ll have many more starts down the road where his value will be higher. Allmendinger has had some recent success at Daytona. In his last race here he finished 34th (2012 Daytona 500) but in his next two most recent races he finished 10th and 11th.
David Gilliland – David Gilliland is a quality restrictor plate track talent. During the height of his career at Yates Racing he had some good performances at Daytona. His most recent best finish here was a 3rd place finish in 2011. The main reason I think many people will flirt with the idea of picking him is his second place finish at Talladega earlier this season. Also at Talladega he’s been a consistent performer. In the last five races there he has 2 top tens and 4 top fifteens.
Danica Patrick – Danica Patrick’s best race of her Sprint Cup career came in the season opening Daytona 500. In the Great American Race she won the pole, led 5 laps, tied Jimmie Johnson for the best average running position (5th) and earned the second best driver rating. Should you expect Danica Patrick to have a repeat performance? No, you shouldn’t. One variable playing against her is that the track will be slicker and that will increase passing. In the Daytona 500 nobody could pass anyone and she started up front. She just rode in line and never made any moves. If she starts mid pack or worse avoid her.
Terry Labonte – If you want to pull a Hail Mary at Daytona consider Terry Labonte. Seriously. Nobodies going to pick him. The two-time champion has done a good job avoiding trouble here. He hasn’t finished worse than 30th since 2004. In the last 8 races at Daytona he has four finishes in the teens and four finishes in the twenties. In this years Daytona 500 he finished 26th.
Trevor Bayne – Trevor Bayne is many people’s forever Daytona sleeper pick courtesy of his 2011 victory. Since then he hasn’t even come close to repeating that performance. In his other Daytona races he has a 32.5 average finish and has failed to complete 212 laps. He’s performed slightly better at Talladega but not by much. I think his risk level is extremely high.
Casey Mears – Casey Mears hasn’t had any recent success at Daytona. In the last eight races here he has a best finish of 15th and has had a result of 25th or worse 75% percent of the time. In this years Daytona 500 he finished 29th. At Talladega earlier this season he finished 24th. I really don’t see any upside in picking him in the Coke Zero 400.
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