Pocono Axalta “We Paint Winners” 400 Fantasy NASCAR Top Tier Elite Picks

Dale Earnhardt Jr. – Since Pocono was repaved Dale Earnhardt Jr. belongs in the conversation for being the strongest performer. In the races on the new surface he’s finished in the top 8 in every race minus the August 2012 event where he had transmission issues. Minus that transmission plagued event he has a 3.6 average finish and 6.0 average running position (over this select group of races). Last year at Pocono Dale Earnhardt Jr. brought out the broom and swept the events at the “Tricky Triangle”. Last August he had a very strong showing. He earned the 2nd best driver rating, had a 7th place average running position and led 14 laps. The key moment for him in the race which won it for him was during the final round of pit stops. He did a splash and go that was under 3 seconds and Jeff Gordon who had the dominant car had a 13.1 second four tire pit stop. In June 2014 Dale Earnhardt Jr. raced his way to victory lane. After the race he admitted he didn’t have the best car but he was happy to win that way. In the race Keselowski had the race won but was overheating because of debris on his grille and when he tried to remove it he lost momentum and the lead. In the race Dale Earnhardt Jr. was extremely strong like his Hendrick horse powered teammates. He started 8th, had a 7th place average running position, earned the 2nd best driver rating and led 11 laps. In August 2014 he started mid-pack but by lap 40 he was in 7th. When the checkered flag waved he finished 5th and earned the 5th best driver rating. In June 2013 he had a great car. In that race he finished 3rd, had a 3rd place average running position and earned the 2nd best driver rating. In August 2012 he had a top three car but on lap #50 he had transmission problems and went to the garage. Before he had that issue I would estimate his average running position was around 2.5. In June 2012 he had one of the best cars but poor fuel mileage strategy cost him a chance at contending for the win. With about 35 laps to go he pitted from the lead. In that race he led 36 laps, had a 4th place average running position and finished 8th. Horsepower is crucial towards success at Pocono and currently Hendrick Motorsports is on a five race win steak. (Yahoo A Driver / DraftKings $12,200)

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Jeff Gordon – Pocono has been a great track for Jeff Gordon and he’ll be a good fantasy pick to win on Sunday. At the “Tricky Triangle” he’s the all-time wins leader (6 wins), has finished in the top five 43% percent of the time and has had a result in the top ten 70% percent of the time. In 82% percent of his starts he’s finished in the top fifteen. Last August Jeff Gordon hands down had the best car but his pit strategy at the end cost him the race. When it was time to make his final pit stop he did four tires and many of the drivers ahead of him either took two, did a splash and go or tried getting to the end without pitting. In the event Gordon earned the best driver rating, best PROS Ranking and had a 5th place average running position. Also in the event he paced the field for 63 laps and that pushed him into being the only driver who’s ever led +1000 laps at Pocono. In spring 2014 he had a great car. He started 5th, finished 8th, had a 7th place average running position and earned the 4th best driver rating. In the race I thought his car was better than his result. A few drivers beat him on pit strategy and he also had problems on restarts. On the lap 66 restart alone he lost four positions. If pit strategy didn’t come into play he likely would’ve finished in the top five. The strength of his car in the race was being good over long runs. In August 2013 Jeff Gordon finished runner-up to teammate Kasey Kahne. In that event he took the lead during a late restart only to lose it during the next restart. Also in that event he started in 22nd, had a 7th place average running position, led 7 laps, and earned the 2nd best driver rating. In June 2013 he had an off-race by his standards. He finished 12th and had a 14th place average running position. In August 2012 he got his most recent victory. In that race he was running in 5th but Johnson and Kenseth got together during a restart and he shot into the lead. Then the rain fell and the race never went back to green. (Yahoo A Driver / DraftKings $11,300)

Further Recommended Reading – Pocono Front Runner Rankings, Pocono Mid Pack Predictions, Pocono Scouting Report, Who will win at Pocono, Pocono Loop Data Box Score

Jimmie Johnson – Jimmie Johnson is always a strong competitor whenever the series visits Pocono. At this venue he’s a three-time champion and has finished in the top ten 65% percent of the time. He’s also been a fairly safe pick and has finished in the top fifteen 92% percent of the time. Last August Johnson had a dozy of a day. In the race he started in 17th and on lap 10 while he was running in that position he had a flat tire and as a result of his problem he dropped down a lap early. That wasn’t the last of the adversity he faced. On lap 113 after he bounced back and was running in 5th he got into the wall hard and as a result he immediately went to the garage. When the checkered flag waved he finished 37th. In June last season he had a solid race. He started in 20th but in 40 laps he raced his way into the top ten. Unfortunately his race wasn’t incident free. On lap 67 under caution while he was running in 5th he was spun on pit road. It wasn’t minor contact, it damaged his right front and knocked out the 48’s toe. Luckily Pocono is a big track so it allowed his team plenty of time to work on his car. After it was fixed his car wasn’t as good and Johnson said it was very tight. The 48 team can never be counted out and when the checkered flag waved he finished 6th. In the three Pocono races prior to that event Johnson was ranked #1 in the PROS Rankings every race. In August 2013 Johnson had a great car and if he avoided problems he could’ve gone to victory lane. In that race Johnson started on the pole, led 43 laps, earned the 9th best driver rating and finished 13th. Him being able to finish that well is amazing because on lap 76 while he was leading he had a tire go down on exit of a turn and he slapped the wall very hard. With 10 laps to go Johnson was in the low twenties but he made a late rally up to his 13th place finish. In June 2013 there’s no debate Johnson had the best car. In that race he started on the pole, finished first, had a first place average running position, earned a near perfect driver rating and led 80% percent of the laps. In August 2012 he came close to going to victory lane but he was denied at the end. What happened to him is that during a late restart while he was leading he had contact with Kenseth and spun. Right after he spun it started raining and as a result he finished 14th. In that event he started in 10th, had a 5th place average running position and led 45% percent of the laps. In the first race on the repaved surface he had a great car. He started in 24th and in just 40 laps he raced his way into the top five. Then during an early round of pit stops he was a driver who got busted for speeding on pit road. He bounced back from that and when the checkered flag waved he finished 4th. (Yahoo A Driver / DraftKings $13,400)

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