Watkins Glen CHEEZ-IT 355 Fantasy NASCAR Front Runner Rankings

Jeff Gordon – Jeff Gordon is the all-time winningest driver on road courses in NASCAR history but he’s not a safe fantasy NASCAR pick for the Watkins Glen CHEEZ-IT 355. He’s won here four times with his most recent being in 2001. Since then he has a best finish of 9th and has had a result outside the top twenty 58.3% percent of the time. Last year he had a disappointing race. He started in 28th and on lap 14 while he was running in 28th he got into the wall hard nose first. That damage sent him to the garage for several laps and relegated him to a 36th place finish. In 2012 he had about a 10th place car but he spun on his own in the last corner of the last lap. That mistake led to his 21st place finish. Jeff Gordon has lots of momentum and I would say this season is pretty similar to 2007 for him. In that race at Watkins Glen he started on the pole, led 51 laps and finished 9^th after wheel hopping while leading with 2 laps to go. At Sonoma this season Jeff Gordon had a strong car and finished runner-up. Between the two road courses there’s a clear night and day difference in terms of his level of performance. (Yahoo A Driver)

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Tony Stewart – From a career perspective Watkins Glen is arguably Tony Stewart’s best track. He’s won here five times and has a 7.9 average finish. Last year at Watkins Glen Tony Stewart missed the race due to injury. In his place Max Papis drove the #14. For the most part I would say he had a solid performance. He finished 15th and recovered from a spin on lap 43 that dropped him down to 33rd. In 2012 Tony Stewart had a very good car so don’t be fooled by his 19th place finish. In that race he started in 7th but during his first pit stop he had a penalty which dropped him back in the running order. That wasn’t a problem for him because he was able to move up through the field better than anyone. On lap #30 he was back in 25th but by lap #39 he moved up to 13th. Following the third caution he moved all the way up to 2nd. Then with 20 laps to go he spun on his own pancaking the rear of the #14. When the checkered flag waved he finished 19th. In 2011 he had his worst finish ever and crossed the line in 27th. In that race he was running in the top ten on the final lap but got to aggressive and took himself out. When it comes to qualifying he’s been an ace here. His average starting position is 6.3. (Yahoo B Driver)

Recommended Reading – Watkins Glen Top Tier Elite Picks, Watkins Glen Mid Pack Predictions, Yahoo C List Fantasy NASCAR Preview, Watkins Glen Scouting Report, Who will win the Watkins Glen CHEEZ-IT 355

Dale Earnhardt Jr. – At Sonoma in June Dale Earnhardt Jr. did what many people thought was impossible. That was finishing in the top ten. Prior to that race he never had a result in the top ten there. When the checkered flag waved he finished 3rd and earned the 5th best driver rating. At Watkins Glen he’s finished in the top ten three times but his last was in 2005. Since then he has a best finish of 15th and has finished south of 22nd in 6 of the 8 races. Last year at Watkins Glen he was having a low teen’s performance but he got caught up in the carnage of the Kasey Kahne wreck. In the last segment of the race following the Almirola caution he ran 14th or better until the wreck with 9 laps to go. In 2012 he performed much better than his 28th place finish. With 7 laps to go he was running in 10th but spun. Then to ensure an even worse finish he came in and pitted with 5 to go. (Yahoo A Driver)

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