Post Practice Fantasy NASCAR Predictions: Atlanta- Advocare 500
Another weekend, another night race at an awesome race track. It’s a shame we only come to Atlanta once a year, this is a driver’s track. It’s described as slick, worn out, aged, and allows racing up high and around the bottom. Practice one was on Friday, where most of the drivers were in qualifying trim to prepare for Friday’s qualifying session. On Saturday, the first practice session was in the heat of the day, not too valuable for predicting a night race. Happy Hour was much cooler and around the time the race will start, so it was much more beneficial in determining the fast guys this weekend. Track position shouldn’t mean too much here. The cream rises to the top and the fast cars will make their way to the front. The winner of this race might just be the one with the freshest tires, as tire fall off is huge this weekend.
Recommended Reading : Happy Hour Notes, Happy Hour Speeds, Big Board 10 Lap Average Speed Chart, Practice #2 Notes, Practice #2 Speeds, Qualifying Results,
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Final Top 15 Ranking For The ADVOCARE 500:
11. Brad Keselowski- Starts 23rd Yahoo! A Group
**Risk Factor: Medium Risk**
Brad may race his way into the Chase this year. However, he just doesn’t look like the same driver who won the Championship last year, something is missing. His teammate, Joey Logano, has simply had better cars than him most weeks. Keselowski tested here though and looks poised to run near the top 10 this week. He doesn’t need a win to make the Chase, but it sure wouldn’t hurt. He was the car to beat in Friday’s practice, but cooled off in Happy Hour and was 10th quick. I’d like his chances to win a lot more if he qualified a bit better.
12. Martin Truex Jr.- Starts 7th Yahoo! B Group
**Risk Factor: High Risk**
Martin is racing for his Chase life and he has a broken wrist. Not exactly an ideal situation for him and the 56 team. The car is plenty fast and the driver knows how to get around Atlanta though. That comes with risk though, as Scott Speed will be on standby in case Truex can’t finish the race. I don’t think the reward is worth the risk quite frankly. I also don’t think you’ll see Martin get out of the car though.
13. Denny Hamlin: Starts in the rear due to an engine change Yahoo! A Group
**Risk Factor: High Risk**
Denny loves this track and a softer tire is right up his alley. It’s too bad he has to start from the rear because he qualified fourth. Hamlin has a great long run car this weekend and still should finish solidly in the top 15. He’s the defending race winner of the Advocare 500. He also ranked seventh in terms of 10 lap runs in Happy Hour. In a season of disappointments it would be nice to see him have a solid run.
14. Kurt Busch: Starts 32nd Yahoo! B Group
**Risk Factor: High Risk**
The 78 car has looked off ever since they unloaded this week. I really expected them to be blazing fast this week, but that just isn’t the case. Busch has won here three times and on talent alone should be able to knock out a top 15 assuming he doesn’t wreck. This team is still racing for a spot in the Chase, so they have plenty of reason to race well this week.
15. Greg Biffle: Starts 24th Yahoo! B Group
**Risk Factor: Medium Risk**
Speaking of teams with plenty to race for, how about the 16 team? Man were they bad in practice though, all of them. The 16 team was fittingly 16th in Happy Hour. They’ll need to back into a top 10 like they did last week at Bristol, otherwise they’ll finish top 15. With only two more races until the Chase, can this team actually hang onto a Chase berth? They also have a win on their side so they’ll probably make it. This should be a great track for Greg, as he’s finished top 10 nine times in 18 races. This team didn’t make any long runs in practice, as they were searching for speed.
A Few Words About Other Drivers:
Juan Pablo Montoya once again is fast and looks to impress potential suitors for his talents next year. Atlanta is his best 1.5-mile track and he should be fast. Juan was surprisingly fourth in Happy Hour. Brian Vickers has a new crew chief and now starts from the rear. He still could have a decent night. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. won his first pole and looks decent in race trim finishing 12th quickest in Happy Hour. However, they didn’t make any 10 lap runs or longer in that session.
