Daytona 500 – Yahoo C List Fantasy NASCAR Preview
Ty Dillon – Ty Dillon is an attractive Yahoo Fantasy NASCAR C List pick for the Daytona 500. At this time I only know of two races that he’s scheduled to race. In the Great American Race Ty Dillon will be driving the #33 RCR prepared Chevy. I expect him to have a fast competitive car. Richard Childress doesn’t hold back from giving his grandson’s his best. Last season Dillon participated in two races and finished in the twenties twice. Last year in the lower series at Daytona Dillon had results of 7th and 11th.
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Danica Patrick – If you’re looking to pick Danica Patrick at some point in the 2015 NASCAR season Daytona isn’t a bad option. She has five races under her belt at this venue and has two top tens, three top fifteens and two results of 38th or worse (accidents). In July 2014 at Daytona she came home with an 8th place finish. She ran pretty well and got lucky at the end. In the event she started in 29th and climbed her way up towards the top five just after lap 60. Around lap 85 while she was running in the top ten during a pit stop she overshoot her pit box which caused her to have a slow stop. As a result of her timely pit stop she dropped back to 29th. That was actually to her benefit because a few laps later a caution came out and then the “Big One” ensued near the front of the pack. Being near the back helped her avoid the heavy carnage. She did get some minor damage but much of the field was wiped out and only a few more laps were run under green before the rain fell. In the 2014 Daytona 500 she started deep in the field and drove up to the teens but on lap 145 she got caught up in a wreck which resulted in a 40th place finish. In the 2013 Daytona 500 she had one of the best races of her career. She started on the pole, earned the 2nd best driver rating, had a 5th place average running position, led 5 laps and finished 8th. In July 2013 she ran well. She earned the 13th best driver rating, finished 14th and had a 15th place average running position. She’s among the best default fantasy NASCAR picks at Daytona from the Yahoo C List group but it might not be the most wise decision picking her.
Recommended Reading – Daytona 500 Top Tier Elite Picks, Front Runner Rankings, Mid Pack Predictions, Daytona 500 Scouting Report, Who will win the Daytona 500, Printable 2015 Schedule With Start Times
Ryan Blaney – Ryan Blaney will be driving the #21 in the Daytona 500. The #21 is now Penske affiliated and I think he’ll have a stronger car than what Trevor Bayne had in recent years. In the Sprint Cup Series Blaney has two starts under his belt. Last fall he drove a third Penske car at Talladega and he did a pretty good job keeping his nose clean. In the race he started in 4th, led 15 laps, had a 16th place average running position and finished 22nd. From an allocation perspective I would shy away from him and focus on using him at high-speed intermediate tracks.
Michael Waltrip – Although he’s enjoying his retirement as a team owner and TV announcer Michael Waltrip always loves to race at restrictor plate tracks. On Sunday he’ll be driving the #55 in place of Brian Vickers who is out for health reasons. In his career he’s experienced most of his success on this track type. At Daytona Michael Waltrip is a three-time winner and has finished in the top ten 28% percent of the time. In 51% percent of his starts he’s finished in the top twenty. Last July Waltrip wasn’t competitive and was aided by the attrition to a 19th place finish. Performance wise if it wasn’t for the final “Big One” he likely would’ve finished around 30th. In the 2014 Daytona 500 he finished 41st after being involved in a wreck on lap 145. In summer 2013 and summer 2012 at Daytona he earned top ten finishes. Since July 2012 minus his wreck in last year’s Daytona 500 Waltrip has a 13.8 average finish.
David Ragan – David Ragan is a dark horse option who’s come up big in the past for fantasy racers at plate tracks. Both of his career victories have come on this track type. In July 2011 at this venue Ragan raced his way to victory lane. Since that win at Daytona he’s done nothing that would inspire confidence in picking him. In the six races since his win he has a 30.3 average finish and a 29.3 average running position. Last July at Daytona he ran well in the event. He started in 8th, led 7 laps early but was a driver who got caught up in the late “Big One”. For the first third of that event he was a consistent top ten performer. In the last two-thirds he looked like a teen’s driver until he got caught up in the final wreck. In last year’s Daytona 500 he ran towards the back for nearly his entire race and then on lap 89 he had transmission issues that sent him to the garage. In the 2013 Daytona 500 he was involved in an accident and finished 35th. In July 2013 he ran near the back for the entirety of the event and finished 22nd. His average running position was 32nd and he only ran in the top fifteen in 4.3% percent of the laps completed. At Talladega last season he finished in the thirties twice. Prior to 2014 at that venue he had four straight top tens including a win in spring 2013.
Landon Cassill – Landon Cassill was the sleeper pick on plate tracks last year that people were looking for. In 2014 at these venues he scored the 8th most points, had a 14.5 average result and finished in the top fifteen 75% percent of the time. Between the two plate tracks it should be noted he had more success at Talladega where he had results of 4th and 11th. Last July at Daytona Cassill was a driver who wrecked in the lap #98 “Big One” and as a result he finished 31st. In the 2014 Daytona 500 he had his all-time best result here and finished 12th. In his other starts he’s finished 22nd or worse every race. Overall at Daytona his average finish is 24.5.
David Gilliland – David Gilliland is one of those drivers who’s below the radar who could potentially sneak into a good result as he’s done in the past on this track type. It should be noted however that Daytona hasn’t been as friendly to him as Talladega. In four of the last five Daytona races he’s finished in the 30’s. Last July at Daytona he started on the pole, led 5 laps and ran pretty well for the first two-thirds of the event. In the last third he dropped back a little bit and typically ran in the mid-teens to mid-twenties. Late in the race during the lap #98 “Big One” he was involved in the carnage. In the 2014 Daytona 500 he was also involved in a wreck and finished 36th. In July 2013 Gilliland earned his most recent good result and finished 15th. His two results prior to that event were finishes of 31st and 38th. In the four combined races at plate tracks last year Gilliland had a 35.0 average finish.
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