Talladega Geico 500 Fantasy NASCAR Mid Pack Predictions

Casey Mears – Casey Mears is a good sleeper / dark horse fantasy NASCAR pick at Talladega. Recently at restrictor plate tracks he’s performed very well. In 2014 on this track type he scored the 2nd most points and had a 9.5 average finish. Last year at Talladega he had a successful season. In October 2014 he ran towards the back during the opening segment but after that he started racing among the lead pack. From lap 140 to the end he typically ran between about 12th and 20th. During the final Green-White-Checker restart Casey Mears moved from about 15th to his eventual 10th place finish. It should be noted his 10th place finish was his first Talladega top ten since 2008. Last spring at Talladega Mears ran at the back of the pack for about two-thirds of the race. He never really made his move to the front until there was about 40 laps to go. Over the final 25 laps I would estimate he had an average running position of about 8th. When the checkered flag waved he finished 14th. Prior to 2014 at Talladega Mears had 8 straight results between 17th and 27th. At Daytona Mears has also been strong recently. Currently at that venue he has four straight top tens. In this year’s Daytona 500 Casey Mears ran towards the back for much of the race but when it was time to go he rallied up to a 6th place finish. (Yahoo B Driver)

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Kyle Larson – Last year at restrictor plate tracks Kyle Larson scored the 28th most points and had a 25.0 average finish. The good news is that between the two plate venues he’s performed better at Talladega. Last fall at Talladega he had the game changing moment of the race when he spun by himself exiting pit road with 14 laps remaining. Fortunately he didn’t get any damage from when it happened. In the event Kyle Larson ran pretty well and earned the 6th best driver rating and had a 15th place average running position. When the checkered flag waved he finished 17th. In May 2014 Kyle Larson made his first Sprint Cup start at Talladega. In the race he performed well. He started in 29th, had a 16th place average running position, finished 9th and earned the 6th best driver rating. Over the final 50 laps he was very strong and in that portion of the race I would estimate his average running position was around 5th. Also late in the race over the closing laps he was running in 4th but got shuffled back to 9th. Daytona is the other restrictor plate track on the schedule and at that venue he’s finished between 34th and 38th every race. (Yahoo B Driver)

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

Aric Almirola – If you’re looking to pick Aric Almirola at Talladega the spring race is the time to do it. Over the last three spring races among drivers who competed in every event he has the 2nd best average finish (11.7) and the 6th best driver rating. Last fall at Talladega he didn’t have a good race and was a victim in the lap 103 “Big One”. For much of the race before his issue he performed fairly well and ran a good amount of laps in the top 13. Last spring at Talladega he had a solid afternoon and walked away with a 13th place result. For much of the race he ran towards the back until about the final 40 laps. In fall 2013 at Talladega Aric Almirola was the pole winner. In that event he led 8 laps, had a 16th place average running position and finished 22nd. In spring 2013 Almirola got his only Talladega top ten. In that race he finished 10th and earned the 5th best driver rating. Recently at Daytona Almirola has performed well. In this season’s Daytona 500 he finished 15th and last summer at that venue he went to victory lane. (Yahoo B Driver)

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