Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 2016 Fantasy NASCAR Preview
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 2015 Stats: Points Finish 25th, 0 Wins, 1 Top Five, 3 Top Tens, Average Finish 24.3, Average Running Position 24.3, Laps Led 3, Driver Rating 62.28
Strengths – Look for Ricky Stenhouse Jr. to have his best days at plate tracks and shorter flat tracks. He’ll also get his fair share of solid finishes at intermediate tracks.
Weaknesses – Road courses and big flat tracks likely won’t be high points for him in 2016. Also it should be noted that Roush Fenway Racing has lacked speed against the competition over the last couple of years.
Track Type Fantasy Value Key = Elite > High > Moderate > Low
Intermediate Track Fantasy Value – Medium
Last year on intermediate tracks Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was solid as the season came to a close. In the six Chase races on this track type in 2015 he had a 15.8 average finish. During the regular season at these venues he wasn’t nearly as strong.
For the season on this track type Ricky Stenhouse Jr. had a 22.8 average finish. That tied him with Danica Patrick for the 23rd best in the series. In 2016 on good days on this track type I would look for him to be a mid-teens to mid-twenties performer.
2016 Printable PDF NASCAR Schedule
Flat Track Fantasy Value – Medium
On this track type I like Ricky Stenhouse Jr. more at shorter flat tracks. At those venues he’s proven himself capable of coming home with a teens finish. Last year in three of the four races at shorter flat tracks he finished between 12th and 17th. In his one finish outside that range he was involved in an accident. His best shorter flat track is Phoenix. He finished 41st last fall after wrecking but in the five events prior to that he finished between 12th and 18th. At New Hampshire last year he finished 13th and 17th.
Big flat tracks haven’t been good venues for him. Last year at those venues he finished 35th, 41st and 42nd. At Pocono his average finish is 29.3 and at Indy his average finish is 28.0.
Short Track Fantasy Value – Low
Short tracks weren’t good venues for Roush Fenway Racing last year. Stenhouse Jr. only had one good finish and it came through attrition.
His best short track is Bristol. In three of the last four races at that venue he’s finished in the top ten. Last summer he finished 21st. In the three races prior to that he finished 2nd, 4th and 6th. Two of those good results came in super high attrition events.
No good will come from picking him at Martinsville. His average finish there is 31.7. In three of the last four races there he’s finished 39th or worse.
At Richmond his average finish is 22.3. Last fall he finished 16th. In the three races prior to that he finished 26th or worse.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Fantasy NASCAR Portal
Restrictor Plate Track Fantasy Value – High
If you’re looking to pick Ricky Stenhouse Jr. the best chance for success will come at plate tracks. He’s proven himself to be a good plate racer. Last year on this track type he had a tough season. He finished 9th in the Talladega fall race and in the other three events he finished between 19th and 29th.
In 2014 on this track type he participated in three races and finished in the top ten twice. In the one race he didn’t finish in the top ten he wrecked while running well.
In 2013 on this track type he scored the 3rd most points in the series.
Road Course Track Fantasy Value – Low
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. won’t be confused for a road course ringer anytime soon. The best case scenario for him on this track type is a result around the high-teens to low-twenties.
Last year at Watkins Glen Stenhouse Jr. finished 34th. In the two Watkins Glen races prior to that he finished 18th and 20th. His overall Watkins Glen average finish is 24.0.
At Sonoma last year Stenhouse Jr. finished 20th which marks his best result at that serpentine track. His other two finishes are 27th and 31st.
