Michigan Quicken Loans 400 Fantasy NASCAR Top Tier Elite Picks

Kevin Harvick – Kevin Harvick will be a good fantasy NASCAR pick to win at Michigan. He’s a former champion and currently he has four straight runner-up finishes. On the new surface at Michigan he’s been an extremely strong performer. In the combined races on the new surface he has the best average finish (5.7), 2nd best average running position (9.5) and the 3rd best driver rating. Last August he had a phenomenal car and was a consistent front runner. In the race he finished 2nd, earned the 3rd best driver rating and had a 4th place average running position. In June 2014 he had the best car and earned the #1 position in the PROS Rankings. Also in the event he started on the pole, earned the best driver rating, led the most laps (63) and had a 4th place average running. The way he lost the race was through inferior pit strategy at the end. In the closing laps he had the fastest car on the track but when the checkered flag waved he finished 1.214 seconds behind Johnson. In 2013 he was good in both races. He didn’t lead any laps but he did finish 2nd twice. In August 2013 he started 15th, had a 6th place average running position and earned the 3rd best driver rating. In June 2013 Kevin Harvick was the runner-up to Greg Biffle. I wouldn’t say he was 2nd place good though. In the event he started in 21st, had a 10th place average running position and earned the 5th best driver rating. In 2012 on the new surface he had results of 16th and 10th. This season at high-speed intermediate tracks Harvick has been the driver to beat. In the six races on this track type he’s scored the most points and has a 3.0 average finish. (Yahoo A Driver)

[themify_box ]

Find out how you can get a free 2 month membership / 2 membership extension from the time of your expiration with a first time $10 deposit at DraftKings.

Want to be a better fantasy racer? Get the ifantasyrace advantage and read all of our full exclusive content. Join Now!

[/themify_box]

Martin Truex Jr. – Martin Truex Jr. should run well at Michigan. He’s been very successful at high-speed intermediate tracks this season and there’s no reason to believe that trend won’t continue. At Michigan last season he lacked success. Last August he’s a driver who got collected in the lap #26 “Big One”. The damage he was dealt sent him to the garage and caused him to finish 23 laps down in 36th. In the race he started in the rear of the field because he missed qualifying to be with his girlfriend who was going through health issues. At the time of the incident he was running south of 20th. Last June his afternoon went downhill quickly. On lap 7 Kyle Larson spun ahead of him and he ran into the back of the #42. From the contact he sustained nose damage and his car was never the same. At the time of the incident he was running around the mid-teens. After that point in the race he never ran higher than 35th. When the checkered flag waved he finished 37th, had a 38th place average running position and earned the 39th best driver rating. In the four Michigan races prior to that he ran well and had a 10.3 average finish, 11.8 average running position and the 6th best driver rating. In August 2013 he started in 17th, had a 17th place average running position and finished 16th. In the last 40 laps of that race he was a driver who ran between the mid-teens and the low twenties. In June 2013 he had his best performance since the repave.  He started in 13th, had a 7th place average running position, finished 3rd and earned the third best driver rating. In 2012 Truex had results of 10th and 11th. (Yahoo B Driver)

Further Recommended Reading – Michigan Front Runner Rankings, Michigan Mid Pack Predictions, Who will win at Michigan?, Fantasy NASCAR Scouting Report – Michigan

Kurt Busch – Kurt Busch was strong at Michigan last August and he had one of the best cars. His 31st place finish is highly misleading. With 23 laps to go while he was running in 2nd during a restart he got into the wall and got heavy damage. The next lap his tire popped and it brought out the final caution of the race. When the checkered flag waved he finished in 31st. Strength wise in the race he was easily top five good. Last June at MIS he ran well. He started 8th, had a 9th place average running position and finished 13th. Also in the event he led 16 laps and earned the 8th best driver rating. In the race he performed better than his result but his late pit strategy didn’t work out well for him at the end. Here’s his Yahoo Race Chart from that race to give you a better idea of how he ran. In August 2013 Kurt Busch looked strong. He started in 2nd, finished 3rd, had a 5th place average running position and led 43 laps. In June 2013 he qualified 2nd and led until the competition caution (21 laps). Shortly after the restart on lap #29 while he was running in 4th he spun and damaged the #78. At Michigan Kurt Busch has two wins and has finished in the top ten 32% percent of the time. In 50% percent of his starts he’s finished in the top twenty. One aspect you really have to like about Kurt Busch is how well he ran at Auto Club Speedway. That track is the sister track to Michigan and earlier this year at that venue he won the pole, earned the best driver rating, had a 2nd place average running position and led 65 laps. If the race would’ve ended without the late caution there’s no question he was going to win. Because of the late caution and the regrouped field he finished 3rd. (Yahoo B Driver)

Make sure you read the full spectrum of our Michigan Quicken Loans 400 Fantasy NASCAR Rankings

Top Tier Elite Picks > Front Runners Rankings > Mid Pack Predictions > Yahoo C List Preview