Las Vegas Kobalt Tools 400 Fantasy NASCAR Confidence Ranking Picks

1) Brad Keselowski – Brad Keselowski is a good fantasy NASCAR pick for the Las Vegas Kobalt Tools 400. In the last five Vegas races there have been five different winners. On Sunday Keselowski could easily make it six different winners in the last six years. Brad Keselowski will be unloading a new chassis this week. I expect his car will be very strong. From what we’ve seen on the track this season it’s clear Penske Racing has done their home work this off-season. Also it’s important to note his crew chief Paul Wolfe is back at the track this week. In practice Brad Keselowski had a good car. Chad Knaus told Jimmie Johnson that the only car quicker than the 48 was the 2. I don’t think Chad Knaus would say that if he didn’t mean it. In Happy Hour Keselowski had the 4th best 10 lap average. Late in 2013 on high-speed intermediate tracks the #2 team was one of the strongest in the series. In Chase races at 1.5 mile tracks minus Kansas (pit road fuel problems) he had 1 win and a 5.0 average finish. Last year at Las Vegas Brad Keselowski had a great car. He finished 3rd, had a 5th place average running position, earned the 5th best driver rating and led 12 laps. Prior to last season Keselowski didn’t have success here. In his first four races he had a 30.5 average finish. On Sunday Keselowski will start on the front row alongside teammate Joey Logano.

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2) Jimmie Johnson – Jimmie Johnson is the odds on favorite to win the Las Vegas Kobalt Tools 400. Currently his odds to win are listed at 7/1. On Sunday Johnson will start in 5th. This race has been won from a top five starting position 18.7% percent of the time. The chassis he’ll be piloting is the one he drove to a 6th place finish at Kansas last season. That track has variable banking like Las Vegas but the grip level is much higher. In practice this weekend Johnson looked very strong. He had the best 10 lap average in Happy Hour and the second best 10 lap average in Practice # 2. Chad Knaus also thought the 48 car was fast so watch out. Las Vegas has been a good track for Johnson. He’s a four-time winner and has finished in the top five 42% percent of the time. Last season at Vegas Johnson had a very strong car. He had a 3rd place average running position, finished 6th and led the second most laps (66). His driver rating ranked as the second best for the event. In 2012 Johnson started in the rear of the field at Vegas. He didn’t stay back for long though. In just 99 laps he raced his way up to the lead. The only driver who could stand in his way was Tony Stewart. The main difference between him and Smoke was that Stewart was much better on restarts. As a result Johnson finished 2nd and earned the 3rd best driver rating. At the end of last season Johnson was the driver to beat on 1.5 mile tracks. In the Chase at these venues he had 1 win, a 5.0 average finish, the best driver rating, the best average running position, led the most laps, and finished in the top ten every race.

Recommended Reading: Post Practice Predictions (another post Happy Hour take), Big Board 10 Lap Average Speed Chart, Practice Notes, Practice Speeds, Qualifying Results, PROS Rankings, Chassis Selections, Las Vegas Odds To Win, Pit Stall Selections

3) Joey Logano – Joey Logano isn’t the odds makers favorite for the Las Vegas Kobalt Tools 400 but I like his chances. The Fords from Penske Racing have been very fast this season and I don’t think that will change on Sunday. In 2013 on high-speed intermediate tracks Joey Logano was one of the best drivers in the series. To a degree I think he was below many people’s radar because of the year Matt Kenseth had. On this sub track type last season he scored the 3rd most points. At Las Vegas Logano has 1 top ten and a 14.0 average finish. In 80% percent of his Sin City starts he’s had a result in the top 16. Last season he finished 12th. On Sunday Joey Logano will be piloting a new #22 chassis. He’ll be starting the race on the pole. This race has “technically” been won from the pole once but never from the first starting position. In Happy Hour Logano had the 8th best 10 lap average. Look for Joey Logano to be in the mix for the win in the Las Vegas Kobalt Tools 400.