New Hampshire Sylvania 300 Fantasy NASCAR Confidence Ranking Picks

1) Kevin Harvick (Starting – 2nd) (Odds To Win – 9/2)
What you need to know about him – Look for Kevin Harvick to race aggressively because of his points situation. He doesn’t need to win to advance, but he does need a top five. Fortunately for him that’s very doable. He’s an awesome performer at shorter-flat tracks and in July at New Hampshire I thought he had the best car (PROS Rankings). Currently at New Hampshire Harvick has back to back 3rd place finishes. On Sunday Harvick is starting in 2nd. This weekend he’s been one of the “stop watch standouts”. In practice #2 his ten lap average ranked as the best. In Happy Hour it ranked as the 7th best. Over really long runs he showed tremendous speed. His Happy Hour 15 lap average speed ranked as the 2nd best.
New Hampshire History – In July Kevin Harvick had a very strong performance at the “Magic Mile.” If Kyle Busch didn’t get his lucky break caution I thought Kevin Harvick would’ve won. When the checkered flag waved he finished 3rd, earned the 3rd best driver rating and led 59 laps. His strength in that race was running a little higher than others in the corners and being fast over long runs. Last fall he was also strong but was at a tire disadvantage at the end. In that race he earned the best driver rating, led the most laps (104), finished 3rd and earned the 3rd best driver rating. In July 2014 he was top five good but he had to pit late for fuel at the end and as a result he finished a very misleading 30th.
2015 Shorter Flat Track Success – This year at shorter-flat tracks Kevin Harvick has scored the most points, has a 5.0 average finish and a 5.5 average running position.
Momentum – In the last two races Kevin Harvick has finished outside the top ten.

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2) Brad Keselowski (Starting – 4th) (Odds To Win – 5/1)
What you need to know about him – Brad Keselowski has proven himself to be a great fantasy NASCAR pick at New Hampshire. He’s been very good here over a prolonged period of time and over the last 8 races he has the best driver rating, best average finish (4.8), second best average running position (7.8) and has led the second most laps (340). This year at shorter flat tracks he’s been a fantasy ace. One attribute you have to like about Keselowski is his momentum that you’ll read about below. On Sunday Keselowski is starting in 4th. That’s the same starting position Kyle Busch won from in July. In practice on Saturday Keselowski was fast and his ten lap average speeds ranked in the top six both practice sessions. In Happy Hour his 15 lap average speed ranked as the 4th best.
New Hampshire History – Brad Keselowski has been very successful at New Hampshire. Over the last three races he’s arguably been the strongest performer. Over this stretch he has a 3.3 average finish, 4.3 average running position, the best driver rating by a wide margin and has averaged leading 105 laps per race. In July he had a great car and I would contend it was the second best. In the race he led the most laps (100), finished 2nd, earned the 2nd best driver rating and had a 3rd place average running position. Last year nobody was better than him. Last fall he finished 7th and led 78 laps despite backing his car into the wall on lap 194. Also late in the race he was at a tire disadvantage. In July 2014 he had a dominate performance en route to victory lane. He led 138 laps, earned the best driver rating and had a 3rd place average running position.
2015 Shorter Flat Track Success – Brad Keselowski has been very strong at shorter-flat tracks this year. At these venues he has the best average running position (4.8) among drivers who competed in every race and a slightly underrated 8.3 average finish.
Momentum – Brad Keselowski has 10 straight top tens. Over this stretch his average finish is 6.0.

Further Recommended Reading – New Hampshire Post Practice Predictions (Another fantasy take), New Hampshire Speed Cheat Sheet, Happy Hour Notes, Happy Hour Speeds, Practice #2 Notes, Practice #2 Speeds, Scouting Report, PROS Rankings, New Hampshire Qualifying Results

3) Joey Logano (Starting – 8th) (Odds To Win – 7/1)
What you need to know about him – Joey Logano needs to be on your short list of contenders in the New Hampshire Sylvania 300. He’s the defending champion of this particular event and over the last three New Hampshire races he’s arguably been the strongest performer. This year at shorter-flat tracks Logano has scored the 2nd most points and in the last three races at these venues he’s finished 5th, 4th and 3rd. If that trend continues he’s looking pretty good on Sunday. In practice Logano’s car was good. He rolled through the center of the turns well and his respective ten lap averages ranked as the 6th and 8th best.
New Hampshire History – Joey Logano is a two-time winner at New Hampshire. He won his first race here and is the defending champion of this particular event. In July he had a strong showing. He finished 4th, earned the 4th best driver rating, had a 6th place average running position and led 12 laps. In last year’s Chase Logano had a strong showing but also benefited from being on new tires at the end. If he didn’t have new tires at the end he probably wouldn’t have won. In the race Logano earned the 2nd best driver rating, had a 3rd place average running position and led 43 laps. In summer 2014 he looked very strong but while he was running in 2nd Morgan Shepard who Joey Logano described as having the slowest car on the track wrecked him when he slid up the track.
2015 Shorter Flat Track Success – This year at shorter flat tracks Joey Logano is one of just two drivers who have finished in the top ten every race. Also at these venues he has a 5.0 average finish and a 5.3 average running position.
Momentum – Joey Logano has six straight top tens. Over this stretch he’s scored the most points and has a 3.7 average finish.