Chicagoland Geico 400 Fantasy NASCAR Confidence Ranking Picks
1. Matt Kenseth – Matt Kenseth is a driver who you can confidently make your fantasy pick for the Chicagoland Geico 400. This season on 1.5 mile tracks he’s consistently been the driver to beat. In the six races on tracks of this length he has three wins, the best driver rating, led the most laps and has a 7.0 average finish. Two out of his three wins on tracks of this length came at venues that are arguably the most similar to Chicagoland (Kansas and Las Vegas). At Chicago Kenseth has never visited victory lane. It should be noted he could’ve potentially won in 2006 but he was spun by Jeff Gordon while he was leading. In twelve races at Chicago he has a 12.8 average finish. Recently Chicagoland races haven’t gone smoothly for him. Last season his car lost a shock on the track and he was never competitive after that. In 2011 he won the pole, led 46 laps but ran out of gas on the last lap. With ten laps to go he was running in 2nd. Kenseth’s odds to win are currently listed at 6/1. One big confidence booster I have in him is that he recently tested here. On Sunday he’ll start in 10th. In practice the 20 car was quick. In Happy Hour he didn’t run ten consecutive laps but in practice #2 his ten lap average speed ranked as the second best.
2. Kasey Kahne – Kasey Kahne has been one of the strongest performers on 1.5 mile tracks this season. In the five races on tracks of this length minus Atlanta (problems early) he’s finished runner-up sixty percent of the time, has the best average finish (5.6), a 7.8 average running position and a worst result of 11th. Chicagoland has recently been a good track for Kahne. In the last four Chicagoland races his 6.0 average finish ranks as the best in the series for drivers who’ll be competing in the Geico 400. In the 2012 edition of the race at Chicagoland he was very strong. He finished 3rd, had a 3rd place average running position and earned the third best driver rating. On Sunday Kahne will be using the chassis he finished 3rd with at Indianapolis and 7th with at Michigan. His odds to win are currently listed at 7/1. On Sunday he’ll start in 4th. In practice today the 5 car was impressive. In Happy Hour he ran the most laps and had the best ten lap average speed.
Recommended Reading: Practice Notes, Practice Speeds, Big Board Speed Chart, Qualifying Results, Pit Stall Assignments, PROS Rankings, Chicagoland Recap Review
3. Joey Logano – Joey Logano should be taken very, very seriously in the Chicagoland Geico 400, especially since he’ll be starting on the pole. Since being part of Penske Racing he’s been a phenomenal performer on high-speed intermediate tracks. Minus the race at Kansas where he wrecked he has a 5.1 average finish in 2013. In the eight races on this track type minus Kansas he has 1 win, 6 top fives and 7 top tens. Also in these races he has a 9.5 average running position and has led 192 laps. His worst finish over these 8 races is 12th. In the last three races on this track type he has finishes of 2nd, 1st and 4th. This Sunday in the Chicagoland Geico 400 he’ll be using a brand new chassis. Also it should be noted that Penske Racing recently tested here. Last year at Chicagoland Joey Logano had a great race. He finished 7th, had a 7th place average running position and earned the 5th best driver rating. His other finishes at Chicagoland were all in the high teens. In Happy Hour Joey Logano had the 7th best 10 lap average.
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