Yahoo C List Fantasy NASCAR Preview – Pure Michigan 400
Kyle Larson – Kyle Larson made his first start at Michigan in June. He performed very well even though his race wasn’t incident free. On lap 7 he spun on the back straightaway and Martin Truex Jr. ran into the back of him which caused damage. The contact was actually helpful because it provided an aerodynamic advantage when his team cut away parts of his back bumper. Because of his early spin he was put in a position where he had to battle back for about half the race. Around lap 90 he got up to about 10th and he ran among the front runners for the rest of the afternoon minus low points in the pit cycle. In the second half of the race I would estimate his average running position would be around 8th. From about lap 105 to about 145 he consistently ran in the top five. When the checkered flag waved he finished 8th. This season on high-speed intermediate tracks Larson has been strong when he’s avoided trouble. At the two tracks I consider the most similar he’s had results of 2nd (Auto Club) and 12th (Kansas). Last season in the lower series at Michigan Larson finished 2nd. This week Kyle Larson should be your default Yahoo C List fantasy NASCAR pick. I would rank his fantasy potential among the top tier elite pick drivers.
Austin Dillon – Austin Dillon is a driver who burned fantasy racers in June. He was having a good race but with 12 laps to go he made his final pit stop and then the following lap he pitted again because he had a flat. Prior to him having that problem he was running within the top 5 through pit strategy. If he didn’t have that problem he likely would’ve cycled to a finish around 13th. When the checkered flag waved he finished 30th. It’s important to note that he did have a 13th place average running position and ran in the top fifteen in 88% percent of the laps. In 2013 Austin Dillon had a great season at Michigan. In August he drove the #14 car for Tony Stewart and finished 14th. His good result didn’t come easy because on lap 13 he spun and it dropped him down a lap. In spring 2013 he performed better. In that race he drove the #33 car which was RCR prepared. He qualified 7th, finished 11th and earned the 15th best driver rating. In June 2012 he made his first Michigan start and finished 24th. This season on high-speed intermediate tracks minus Michigan he’s scored the 15th most points and has a 16.5 average finish. It’s important to note he’s only finished in the top fifteen once and that was an 11th place finish at Michigan’s sister track Auto Club Speedway.
Recommended Reading – Michigan Top Tier Elite Picks, Michigan Front Runner Rankings, Michigan Mid Pack Predictions, Michigan Scouting Report, Who will win the Pure Michigan 400
Trevor Bayne – Although he’s a part-time driver Trevor Bayne is very familiar with Michigan. He’s raced in the last 7 straight events here. Over this stretch minus an engine failure in 2012 he has a 19.83 average finish and has had a result between 16th and 24th every race. Earlier this year he actually performed better than all the Roush drivers. In the race he started in 23rd, had an 18th place average running position and finished 19th. Also in the race he earned the 21st best driver rating. In 2013 at MIS Bayne had results of 21st and 15th. This season on high-speed intermediate tracks Bayne has been consistent. He’s been in four races at these venues and he’s finished 19th twice and 20th twice.
Danica Patrick – Danica Patrick does her best at tracks where she can just stand on the gas and Michigan falls into that mix. She’s raced here three times and by her standards she’s finished well every race. In all three races she’s finished on the lead lap. I doubt you can say that about her at any other venue. In June she had one of her better performances of the season. In the race she started in 27th, had a 22nd place average running position, earned the 22nd best driver rating and finished 17th. In June 2013 she finished 13th and earned the 21st best driver rating. Last August she finished 23rd. I think of Kansas as a mini-Michigan and with the new surface it’s even more similar. At that venue this season she finished 7th, had a 7th place average running position and earned the 10th best driver rating.
Justin Allgaier – Justin Allgaier’s performance in June was the surprise performance of the race. I don’t know where it came from but it was pretty good. In the race he started in 17th, had a 14th place average running position and finished 16th. Also in the race he earned the 15th best driver rating and ran in the top fifteen in 71% percent of the laps completed. At Michigan he has no other starts under his belt. Minus that performance things have been pretty dismal on this track type for him in 2014. In the six other races minus MIS he has a 30.0 average finish, 27.2 average running position and has run in the top fifteen in just 8% percent of the laps completed.
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