Pure Michigan 400 Fantasy NASCAR Top Tier Elite Picks
Matt Kenseth – Matt Kenseth is a good pick to win the Pure Michigan 400. This season on fast high-speed intermediate tracks he’s been the driver to beat. On this sub track type in 2013 he leads the series in many important statistical categories. He has the best average finish (6.1), best average running position (5.9), best driver rating and perhaps most importantly he leads the series in wins (3). In June Kenseth had a strong race. He earned the 2nd best driver rating, finished 6th, and had a 6th place average running position. He could’ve perhaps finished even better but on a restart with 27 laps to go he fell from 3rd to about 13th. Michigan has historically been a great track for him. He has two wins, 12 top fives and 18 top tens. Last August at MIS Kenseth had a flat tire and finished 17th (was running in 10th when that happened). In the four prior Michigan races he had 3 top fives and 4 top tens. I expect many fantasy NASCAR experts to pick him to win the Pure Michigan 400. (Yahoo! A Driver)
Jimmie Johnson – In June Jimmie Johnson had the best car in the field. The stats line doesn’t tell that story but the eye test did. In the race he started in 17th but drove up into the lead on lap #65. Also in the race he led 18 laps and had a 9th place average running position. The race was far from trouble free for Johnson. While he was running in 2nd during a lap #81 restart Dale Earnhardt Jr. (leader) spun his tires and Jimmie Johnson hesitated and lost about 10 positions. Then later in the event after Dale Earnhardt Jr. blew up Chad Knaus called in Jimmie Johnson for four tires and almost everyone else took two. That got him deep in the field. He rallied back strong though. With 9 laps to go he drove all the way up to 2nd but with three laps to go he had a flat tire. As a result of that he finished 28th. Michigan has been an elusive track for Johnson. He’s lost a couple of races here in the closing laps. Last August was one of them. In August 2012 he was leading but with 5 laps but to go his engine blew up. In June 2012 he started in the rear of the field and drove up to a 5th place finish on the new surface. Look for Jimmie Johnson to have a strong showing in the Pure Michigan 400. Just take note that all bets are off in the last five laps. By my estimation he’s lost three races within the last five laps (two fuel related, one engine failure). (Yahoo! A Driver)
Kasey Kahne – Kasey Kahne had a very good car at Michigan in June. He started in 3rd, led 14 laps but while he was leading he had a blown tire and nailed the wall. As a result of that he finished 38th. Things like that happen in races so that’s why I recommend you check out our exclusive PROS Rankings (coming later this week so visit back soon). It projects who had the best car if the race played out conventionally. His PROS Ranking from June was 2nd to Jimmie Johnson. Last August Kahne was very good. He finished 3rd and earned the 2nd best driver rating. In the inaugural race on the new surface he was involved in an accident and finished 33rd. Michigan has been somewhat of a volatile track for him. He’s a former winner and has finished in the top five nearly 40% percent of the time, but he’s also finished outside the top twenty nearly 40% percent of the time. This season on high-speed intermediate tracks Kahne has been very strong. Minus his Michigan tire failure he has a 6.2 average finish and a 8.5 average running position. (Yahoo! A Driver)
Portions of this content are hidden. To view this ifantasyrace advantage content log in or join the site
Make sure you read the full spectrum of our Pure Michigan 400 Fantasy NASCAR Rankings
Top Tier Elite Picks > Front Runners Rankings > Mid Pack Predictions > C List
