Bristol Food City 500 Fantasy NASCAR Front Runner Rankings
Jamie McMurray – Jamie McMurray is a dark horse / sleeper pick who could prove to be a serious contender at Bristol. Since August 2009 minus the race last spring he has a 10.9 average finish and a 14.0 average running position. The main aspect I like about him is how well he ran last August. In that event his car had great balance and I would contend it might’ve been the best in the field. Also in that race his car could run the bottom line with speed and make passes while others could only run the top line. When the checkered flag waved he finished 8th, had a 7th place average running position, earned the 3rd best driver rating and led a race high 148 laps. The turning point for him in the race was when a caution came out on lap 432. At that time he was the leader and pitted but others choose not to pit. As a side effect of him losing positions in that manner he had to restart on the inside of row three and it cost him a few more positions when the green flag came out. In spring 2014 at Bristol McMurray had a good car. He had top ten potential but his day ended after he was involved in an accident with about 50 laps to go after Kevin Harvick’s engine blew up. At the time of the incident he was running around the top five. Prior to him wrecking I would estimate he likely had about an 8th place average running position. In August 2013 McMurray was mediocre. He started in 20th and finished 19th. Also in the race he had an 18th place average running position and earned the 22nd best driver rating. In March 2013 he had a strong performance. He started in 6th and finished 10th. His 10th place finish didn’t come easy. On lap 70 he was running in third but he got too high on the track and spun which dropped him back to the thirties. (Yahoo B Driver)
Kyle Larson – Kyle Larson is a driver who should be on your fantasy radar at Bristol. Last year he performed pretty well. Between the two races he had the 9th best driver rating, an 11.0 average finish and a 12.0 average running position. In August 2014 he started in the rear of the field and steadily climbed his way up through the field. By lap 100 he raced his way into the low twenties. Around lap 350 he raced his way up to 10th. During the caution on lap 432 he choose not to pit and stayed out which moved him up to 3rd. Over the remaining laps on older tires he fell back to his 12th place finish position. In spring 2014 he appeared to have a great car. He started in 20th, had a 7th place average running position and finished 10th. His car was very fast and he ran the high-line with the best of them. In the last two spring races in the Xfinity Series Kyle Larson has back to back 2nd place finishes. (Yahoo B Driver)
Further Recommended Reading – Top Tier Elite Picks, Mid Pack Predictions, Yahoo C List Preview, Bristol Scouting Report, Who will win at Bristol
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Paul Menard – Paul Menard is a driver who shouldn’t be overlooked at Bristol. He’s developed a knack at performing well here. In 5 of the last 6 races he’s finished in the top ten. Also over this stretch dating back to 2012 he has a 10.8 average finish and a 14.5 average running position. The only race he failed to finish in the top ten in this span was in March 2014. In that event he started in 28th and by lap 60 he drove up to the mid-teens. He ran around that range until about lap 275 when he got burned by a caution during the pit cycle. Because of when it fell it dropped him a few laps down. If that didn’t happen I think he likely would’ve finished around the low teens or better. When the checkered flag waved he finished 21st. Last August Menard had a solid race. He started in 17th and reached the top ten just before lap 200. The final caution on lap 432 was a big moment for him. He elected not to pit and as a result he moved up to 3rd. When the checkered flag waved he finished 9th, had a 14th place average running position and earned the 12th best driver rating. In August 2013 he had one of his best Bristol performances. He finished 6th, led 64 laps and earned the 9th best driver rating. In March 2013 he finished 9th, had an 11th place average running position and earned the 11th best driver rating. In 2012 he had a pair of 10th place finishes.
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