Pure Michigan 400 Fantasy NASCAR Front Runner Rankings
Clint Bowyer –Clint Bowyer is the top ranked Fantasy NASCAR Front Runner Rankings driver for the Pure Michigan 400. Since Michigan was repaved he’s been the model of consistency. In the five races on the new surface he’s the only driver who’s finished in the top ten every race. Also over this stretch he has a 7.2 average finish, 13.0 average running position, led 20 laps and has the 9th best driver rating. In June he had a solid race. He started 11th, had an 11th place average running position, earned the 11th best driver rating and finished 10th. There was nothing spectacular about his performance, it was just another good afternoon for him. Last August at Michigan his race got off to a rough start. He started in 11th but on lap #2 he spun and brought out the first caution. He didn’t get any damage but he did lose all of his track position. It didn’t take him long to climb back towards the front. By lap 20 he was up to 18th. When the checkered flag waved he walked away with his best Michigan finish on new surface (5th) despite having an 18th place average running. In the other three races on the new surface he’s finished 7th every race. Last June he had to earn his 7th place finish the hard way. He started in 27th and when the green flag waved the traffic ahead of him bottled up and it led to early damage for the 15 car. For much of the event he ran near the tail end of the lead lap. His average running position was 20th and until the last caution he never really ran higher than 15th. In the last segment of the race he drove hard and earned his result. In August 2012 he led 19 laps and earned the 8th best driver rating. In June 2012 he earned the 6th best driver rating and had a 7th place average running position. In the two races prior to the repaving he finished 8th twice. This season on high-speed intermediate tracks he’s performed well but but he hasn’t always finished the best. (Yahoo A Driver)
Tony Stewart – (NOT RACING AT MICHIGAN, DON’T PICK HIM) Tony Stewart had a strong performance in June. He started in 26th but he raced up towards the front pretty quickly. By lap 15 he was already up to 13th. On lap 34 he was up to 8th. He performed well for much of the race but after the mid-point to about lap 165 he had balance issues because of a hole in his front fender. If he never had any issues I think he likely would’ve finished around 8th because he ran within a deviation of that for most of the event before he had problems. When the checkered flag waved he finished 11th. Last August Stewart missed this race due to injury and Austin Dillon finished 14th. In June 2013 Tony Stewart had a fast car. He had a 10th place average running position, earned the 11th best driver rating and finished 5th. In August 2012 Stewart had a short race. He lost a cylinder early and finished 32nd. In the first race on the new MIS surface he finished 2nd, earned the 3rd best driver rating, had a 5th place average running position and led 18 laps. Typically at Michigan as long as Tony Stewart avoids trouble he’s been a lock for a good result. Minus his engine problem in 2012 and crash in 2006 then he’s finished in the top twelve in 16 of the last 17 races. In the last three races on this track type Stewart has had results of 11th, 11th and 13th. Auto Club Speedway is the most similar track and in March he finished 5th at that venue. (Yahoo B Driver)
Recommended Reading – Michigan Top Tier Elite Picks, Michigan Mid Pack Predictions, Yahoo C List Fantasy NASCAR Preview, Michigan Scouting Report, Who will win the Pure Michigan 400
Kurt Busch – Kurt Busch had one of his better performances at Michigan in June. In the race he started 8th, had a 9th place average running position and finished 13th. Also in the event he led 16 laps and earned the 8th best driver rating. In the race he performed better than his result but his late pit strategy didn’t work out well for him at the end. His Yahoo Race Chart should give you a better idea about his level of competitiveness. Last season at Michigan Kurt Busch looked strong. In August he started in 2nd, finished 3rd, had a 5th place average running position and led 43 laps. In June 2013 he qualified 2nd and led until the competition caution (21 laps). Shortly after the restart on lap #29 while he was running in 4th he spun and damaged the #78. That led to his 35th place finish. In 2012 on the new surface he finished 30th twice. Kurt Busch has two wins at Michigan but it’s tough to call this a good track for him because he’s only finished in the top fifteen 48% percent of the time. For much of the season this team was horrible on this track type but I think their turning the corner. At the last high-speed intermediate visited he finished 12th. Auto Club Speedway is Michigan’s sister track and at that venue in March he finished 3rd. One advantage he has in this race compared to much of his competition is his Hendrick engine. In June six of the top eight finishers had one of these power plants. (Yahoo A Driver)
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