Brad Keselowski 2014 Fantasy NASCAR Preview
2013 Stats: Points Finish 14th, 1 Pole, 1 Win, 9 Top Fives, 16 Top Tens, Average Running Position 12.8, Average Finish 14.9, Laps Led 476, Driver Rating 94.37
Strengths- Brad Keselowski is a versatile driver who’s capable of performing well on every track type. Another attribute of his is that he’s a consistent driver who does a good job avoiding trouble on the track.
Weaknesses- One concern about Keselowski is that when he gets into a slump watch out because it could sink your fantasy season.
NASCAR 2014 Printable Schedule
Intermediate Track Grade- A, I really liked how this team looked on intermediate tracks at the end of the 2013 season. From Michigan #2 onward they performed at a Top Tier Elite level. That doesn’t mean their results were always the best though. At Michigan Keselowski had a top 5 car but was bitten by fuel mileage. The next intermediate track visited was Atlanta. At that venue he was leading at the time of his engine failure. At Chicagoland he avoided trouble and finished 7th. At Dover he finished 37th because he had some sort of engine problem. The following week at Kansas he was a contender for the win. In that race he led 52 laps but finished 17th after running out of gas and having problems getting his car restarted. At Charlotte he drove the Blue Deuce to victory lane and got his first win of the season. At the next two intermediate tracks visited he finished 6th.
Flat Track Grade- A-, Brad Keselowski is a strong flat track driver. Last season he was very good on the shorter flat tracks. At those venues in 2013 only Jimmie Johnson scored more points than him. On the shorter flat tracks his average finish was 7.5 and he led 59 laps. At New Hampshire last fall he finished 11th. Prior to that he had four straight top six finishes. At Phoenix he also finished 11th in the fall. Prior to that he had three straight top six finishes.
On big flat tracks Brad Keselowski is also a strong performer. At Indy last season he finished 21st. In the two races prior to that he finished 9th twice and led 39 laps combined. At Pocono in August Keselowski finished 6th. In June he finished 16th but his car was better than that result. In the last five races at the Tricky Triangle Keselowski has 1 win, three top tens and a 9th place average finish.
Short Track Grade- A-, Brad Keselowski is a very good short track driver. His best short track is Bristol. He’s really taken to that venue in recent years. In the last five races there he has two wins and three top three finishes. In spring 2013 he had a strong showing. In that race he finished 3rd and led 62 laps. In the summer race he was involved in an accident and finished 30th.
At Martinsville he’s a quality dark horse pick. The strength of his car at that venue has been being good over long runs. Currently at Martinsville he has four straight top ten finishes. His Martinsville average finish is 10.4.
Richmond hasn’t been his best short track. At RIR he has two top tens (both in 2012) and a 20.1 average finish. In the fall Richmond race he had a strong car but faded as the race went on. In that race he finished 17th and led 142 laps. In the spring Richmond race he had all sorts of problems throughout the event.
Restrictor Plate Track Grade- A-, Brad Keselowski is a driver who should be taken very seriously at restrictor plate tracks. He’s a driver who’s very intelligent and isn’t afraid to push the issue.
At Talladega Keselowski is a two-time winner and has a 14.2 average finish. Last year he didn’t show very well at this venue. He was off his game but he essentially struggled across the board for much of last season. Prior to 2013 he had a 12.3 average finish and only had a result outside the top ten twice.
Last season Keselowski nearly won the season opening Daytona 500. He was leading late but a caution fell at a favorable time for Johnson that essentially cemented his victory by getting him in the preferred groove. When the checkered flag waved he finished 4th. In the July race at Daytona he finished 21st. In that event he ran well but was involved in late carnage on the track. In summer 2012 he finished 8th. Prior to that race he had a best finish of 15th and all of his other results were 22nd or worse.
Road Course Track Grade- A-, Brad Keselowski has come close to winning at Watkins Glen multiple times. He currently has three consecutive runner-up finishes. Last season he could’ve potentially won but during the final lap he choose to not get aggressive with Kyle Busch. Minus his first race at the Glen he’s never finished worse than 2nd.
Keselowski hasn’t been as successful at Infineon. Last season he finished 21st. In his next two most recent races he had results of 10th and 12th. In his 10th place result he had a top five run going but late in the race he had a run-in with Juan Pablo Montoya. Don’t underestimate Keselowski at Infineon because he could sneak into victory lane.
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