Daytona 500 Fantasy NASCAR Mid Pack Predictions

Ryan Newman – Ryan Newman is a former Daytona 500 champion but I view him as a risky fantasy prospect. He’s not a fan of restrictor plate tracks and his lack of overall success isn’t exactly encouraging. Last season Newman had results of 22nd and 24th. In the 2014 Great American Race he started in 19th, had a 22nd place average running position, finished 22nd and earned the 26th best driver rating. In only 15.5% percent of the laps completed did he run in the top 15. In July 2014 he started in 20th but opted to drop to the back right away. At the end he’s a driver who got caught up in the carnage in the lap #98 wreck. In the event Newman really never made an effort  to race near the front. In the three races prior to 2014 he had 3 consecutive top tens with a 10th and two 5th place finishes. Before that three race top ten streak his next most recent top ten at Daytona was his 2008 win. In the 8 races between his top tens he had a best finish of 20th. In Newman’s career at Daytona he’s only finished in the top ten 23% percent of the time and in the top twenty 46% percent of the time. Last fall at Talladega Newman finished 5th. (Yahoo A Driver)

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Paul Menard – Daytona is a special track for RCR and they put extra emphasis into running well at this venue. Paul Menard certainly isn’t one of the more attractive fantasy options for the Daytona 500 but he shouldn’t be overlooked. In the 2014 “Great American Race” he was a consistent front runner for the first 120 laps. Unfortunately the race wasn’t incident free for him. On lap 145 he got collected in the “Big One” which relegated him to 32nd place finish. Before the wreck he likely had a single digit average running position and led 29 laps. In July 2014 at Daytona he started in 21st but elected to drop back early. That worked well for him because he dodged the first “Big One”. In the middle segment to the conclusion of the race he typically ran around the low to mid-teens. Late in the race on lap #98 he was involved in the “Big One” but his damage wasn’t severe and he was able to continue racing. When the checkered flag waved he escaped with a 16th place finish. The 2013 season was tough for him at Daytona and he had results of 21st and 43rd. Between the 2012 and 2011 season’s at Daytona he had a 9.3 average finish and the 7th best driver rating. In spring 2014 at Talladega Menard qualified 2nd and finished 6th. (Yahoo B Driver)

Recommended Reading – Daytona 500 Top Tier Elite Picks, Front Runner Rankings, Yahoo C List Preview, Daytona 500 Scouting Report, Who will win the Daytona 500, Printable 2015 Schedule With Start Times

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. – There’s not a lot of tracks you would want to consider picking Ricky Stenhouse Jr. at but if the venue involves a restrictor plate he should be on your radar. Since he’s been a full-time driver he’s been at this best at these venues and his track record is nearly spotless. His one blemish on this track type is from the race last July at Daytona. In that event he looked good but on lap #21 while he was leading the top groove he got collected in the “Big One”. Prior to that race on this track type since he’s been a full-time driver his restrictor plate average finish was 9.3. In the 2014 Daytona 500 he ran mid pack for much of the race but when the checkered flag waved he finished 7th. In the 2013 Daytona 500 he finished 12th and earned the 14th best driver rating. In July 2013 he was involved in the carnage at the end but still managed to finish 11th. In a pre-rookie year Daytona start in 2012 he finished 20th. Talladega has been friendly to him. In his three starts under his belt there his average finish is 8.7. (Yahoo B Driver)

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