Richmond Federated Auto Parts 400 Fantasy Confidence Ranking Picks

1. Clint Bowyer – Clint Bowyer is a driver who you can confidently pick at Richmond for the Federated Auto Parts 400. Shorter flat tracks like Richmond are the venues where his fantasy value is the highest. Richmond has been a great track for Clint Bowyer throughout his career. He’s a two-time winner who most recently visited victory lane in last September’s race. Earlier this season he had an impressive performance. He finished 2nd, earned the 2nd best driver rating and led 113 laps. Another attribute I like about Clint Bowyer is the safety that picking him affords. At Richmond he has a 9.1 average finish and has had a result in the top seven in five of the last six races. Also on short tracks in general he would have 10 consecutive top ten finishes if he didn’t run out of gas in the closing laps at Bristol. In the Richmond Federated Auto Parts 400 Bowyer will be using a chassis he recently tested here. That test session could prove very meaningful because it was during the evening. Currently Clint Bowyer’s odds to win at Richmond are a very underestimated 12/1. In practice Clint Bowyer didn’t seem overly pleased with his car. I wouldn’t be concerned about that because that seems to be his normal sentiment on race weekends. His car is fast though and that’s what matters. In Happy Hour he had the third best 10 lap average. Clint Bowyer will start in 4th.

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2. Kurt Busch – Kurt Busch could contend in the Richmond Federated Auto Parts 400. Earlier this season he had a very good chance to go to victory lane. In April he led 38 laps, had a 5th place average running position and finished 9th. His result can largely be attributed to his final pit stop. From about lap 160 until the final caution I would estimate his average running position was about 2nd. In the 2005 Chase cutoff race he went to victory lane. Richmond has been somewhat of a tough track for Kurt Busch. In twenty-five races he has 8 top tens and has only had a result in the top fifteen 40% percent of the time. One fantasy attribute I like about Kurt Busch is that he’s performed well at similar tracks this year. At Phoenix he had top ten potential before he had problems and at New Hampshire he arguably had the best car until he was involved in a wreck. Today in practice Kurt Busch was happy with his car, especially in race trim. Kurt Busch will start on the outside of the front row in 2nd.

Recommended Reading : Richmond Starting Lineup, Practice #1 Notes (most important session this week), Practice #1 Speeds, Practice #2 Notes, Practice #2 Speeds, Big Board 10 Lap Speed Chart, PROS Rankings, Richmond Recap Review

3. Brad Keselowski – Desperate drivers do desperate things. That’s the mode Keselowski is in. He’s going for the “Hail Mary” in the Richmond Federated Auto Parts 400. There’s no conceivable way he can make  the Chase if he doesn’t win. Recently at Richmond Keselowski used one of his allocated test sessions so you should certainly expect him to come prepared. Earlier this season at Richmond he had a good car but he had a ton of problems. His final engine problem finally ended his evening. Last year at Richmond he had finishes of 7th and 9th. On Sunday he’ll be racing his New Hampshire chassis that finished 4th in June. At Phoenix this year he also finished 4th. In practice Keselowski was focused on race trim more than anybody. In practice #1 his ten lap average ranked as the 5th best and in Happy Hour he focused on race trim exclusively and had the best 10 lap average. Keselowski will start in 3rd.