Kansas Fantasy NASCAR Front Runner Rankings

Paul Menard – Since Kansas was reconfigured Paul Menard has been one of the better performers. In the combined races on the new surface he has a 9.2 average finish, 11.8 average running position and the 10th best driver rating. Also in the races on the new surface him and Jimmie Johnson are the only drivers who have four top ten finishes. Last fall he had a solid performance. He started 13th, earned the 14th best driver rating, had a 14th place average running position and finished 9th. Over the final 90 laps he typically ran between 8th and 11th. His one finish outside the top ten at Kansas since the reconfiguration came in spring 2014. In that event about the highest he got in the running order without help of pit cycles was in the low teens around the mid-point. In the race he finished 17th, had an 18th place average running position and earned the 20th best driver rating. In fall 2013 he had a solid performance. He started 8th, finished 7th, had a 6th place average running position and earned the 5th best driver rating. In spring 2013 he also had a good race. In that event he started in 12th, had a 13th place average running position, finished 10th and earned the 10th best driver rating. In fall 2012 in the first race on the new surface he had his best race at Kansas. He finished 3rd, led 6 laps and earned the 5th best driver rating. Even in the lower series he’s had success here. In the Nationwide Series in fall 2012 he led 110 laps but ran out of gas while going for the win. In fall 2013 in the lower series he finished runner-up. This year at high-speed intermediate tracks Menard has performed well. Texas is the most recent 1.5 mile venue visited and in that race he was a top five contender until he had problems. In the first three races on this track type in 2015 he scored the 8th most points and had a 9.7 average finish. (Yahoo B Driver)

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Kyle Larson – Kyle Larson has two quality races under his belt at Kansas. Last fall he was very impressive and finished runner-up. Late in the race he was very strong and I’m sure race winner Joey Logano was probably a little nervous. Much like his Top Tier Elite teammate his car carried good speed down the straightaways because he ran a little higher than others in the corners. In addition to finishing 2nd he also earned the 2nd best driver rating and had a 7th place average running position. Last spring he had a solid showing. He started 5th, finished 12th, had a 12th place average running position and earned the 13th best driver rating. This year at high-speed intermediate tracks he’s shown potential but he’s also had problems. On this track type he has one top ten and his other three finishes were either 25th or 26th. (Yahoo B Driver)

Recommended Reading – Top Tier Elite Picks, Mid Pack Predictions, Yahoo C List Preview, Kansas Scouting Report, Kansas Weekly Poll

Carl Edwards – Kansas is Carl Edwards home track and he’s experienced success here. At this venue he has a 10.1 average finish and has had a result in the top ten 73% percent of the time. Currently at Kansas he has three straight top 6 finishes. Last fall in his less than competitive car he squeezed out a 5th place finish. Performance wise he was probably about 10th place good at best. In that event he earned the 10th best driver rating and had a 13th place average running position. Last spring he had a good race. He started 4th, finished 6th, earned the 6th best driver rating and led 6 laps. Through the first 100 laps he was a driver who consistently ran in the top five but a caution during the pit cycle just after lap 100 trapped him back in the low twenties. From that point on he used pit strategy and had to race his way up to a 6th place finish. In fall 2013 he had a solid performance. He finished 5th, earned the 8th best driver rating and had an 11th place average running position. In spring 2013 Carl Edwards finished 17th but that result deserves an asterisk mark. What happened is that he was slightly out of sync with the field pit strategy wise and was burned by a caution just after he pitted. Prior to that incident he had run in the top five for much of the event. In spring 2013 he earned the 7th best driver rating, had a 7th place average running position and led 19 laps. In the first race on the new surface Edwards was also burned by a caution during the pit cycle. Then late in the race he was running around 10th but Sam Hornish Jr. brought out a caution and he was a borderline driver between those on old tires (him) and new tires (drivers who passed him late). When the checkered flag waved he finished 14th and earned the 14th best driver rating. This season at high-speed intermediate tracks he’s run well. Minus Las Vegas where he wrecked he’s finished between 10th and 13th every race. (Yahoo B Driver)

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