Phoenix Quicken Loans Race For Heroes 500 Fantasy NASCAR Mid Pack Predictions

Aric Almirola – Aric Almirola has been a consistent driver at Phoenix on the current configuration. In the last five races he’s finished between 12th and 19th every race. That should help make his fantasy value clear. Also in the last five races he has a 15.4 average finish and a 14.8 average running position. This spring at Phoenix he performed relatively well. He started in 9th, had an 11th place average running position, earned the 12th best driver rating and finished 15th. In the race he performed better than his 15th place result and I think his 11th place average running position does a better job portraying his level of competitiveness. Last fall at Phoenix he finished 19th and had a 20th place average running position. His next three Phoenix results prior to that race were 15th, 16th and 12th. This season on shorter flat tracks he’s had sleeper potential. In the five races on shorter flat tracks he’s scored the 11th most points and has a 14.2 average finish. In the last two races on this sub-track type he’s had results of 6th (New Hampshire) and 10th (Richmond). (Yahoo B Driver)

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Martin Truex Jr. – At Phoenix since the track reconfiguration he’s either finished in the top ten or he’s finished very poorly. There’s been little ground on his resume between the two extremes recently. This spring at Phoenix he didn’t perform well. He started 27th, had a 21st place average running position, finished 22nd and earned the 23rd best driver rating. His last stats line does a really good job portraying his level of competitiveness because he just wasn’t good. Last fall Truex Jr. had a competitive race and started in 10th, had the 10th best driver rating and finished 8th. In the two Phoenix races prior to that he had equipment which failed him which led to results of 36th and 43rd. In spring 2012 he looked good finishing 7th and leading 29 laps. This season on shorter flat tracks he’s shown potential at times getting a 10th place result at Richmond and a pair of 12th place finishes at New Hampshire. For the season on this track type he’s scored the 15th most points and has a 16.2 average finish. (Yahoo B Driver)

Further Recommended Reading – Top Tier Elite Picks, Front Runner Rankings, Who will win at Phoenix, Phoenix Scouting Report

Greg Biffle – Greg Biffle has been a relatively safe option at Phoenix because he hasn’t had a result worse than 17th on the new configuration. In the combined races on the new surface he has an 11.7 average finish, 15.5 average running position and the 17th best driver rating. This spring he didn’t have the type of day he was looking for. In the race he started in 6th, had a 14th place average running position and finished 17th. Last fall he put forth a notable effort. He qualified 18th but had to start in the back due to a transmission change. In the race he had a good car and didn’t stay back for long. On lap 23 he was already up to 25th. When the checkered flag waved he finished 13th, had a 14th place average running position and earned the 14th best driver rating. In the spring race at Phoenix in 2013 he started in 17th, finished 17th and led 39 laps.  I would encourage you to overlook his lap led total because that’s the product of being out of sync with the field by means of pit strategy. His 13th place average running position is a pretty good indicator as to how good the 16 car was. In 2012 at Phoenix Biffle had results of 7th and 3rd. In the first race on the current configuration he finished 13th. This season on shorter flat tracks Biffle has been a mid-teens to high-teens performer. In all five races on this sub-track type he’s finished between 15th and 19th. (Yahoo B Driver)

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