How to make a fantasy pick at Richmond
In NASCAR you don\’t want to make a fantasy pick off just one variable. Every week there\’s multiple variables that you should consider when you go about making a fantasy pick. Some variables that you should study in terms of making a fantasy pick for Richmond are track history, practice, qualifying, recent performances at similar tracks and momentum.
Track History
Track history would be the first thing I would look for in a fantasy pick at Richmond. Richmond is a \”Skill Track\” where the driver is a difference maker. Some drivers are naturals at Richmond, and others aren\’t. In terms of studying track history you only really need to go back about about 3 years. When you study track history to fully understand it make sure you note \”asterisk mark\” finishes, and don\’t just accept a result at face value.
Richmond Schedule
Friday April 22
Practice #1 —> 11:00 – 12:25 PM
Qualifying —> 4:15 PM
Saturday April 23
Practice #2 —> 8:30 – 9:25 AM
Happy Hour —> 11:00 – 11:50 AM
Sunday April 24
Race —> 1:00 PM
Practice
When you select a driver at Richmond you want to make sure they practice well. This year the practice sessions should be more relevant compared to last year because Richmond is a planned day.
In practice #1 teams main agenda will be to get their car good for qualifying. A few drivers will practice in race trim to get a good baseline setup.
In practice #2 drivers will likely be checking ride heights and making their car comfortable. That practice session starts at 8:30 in the morning so it won\’t be the most relevant.
Happy Hour will be the main practice session you should focus on. In that practice drivers will show their hand and display what type of car they have for the race.
![\"Matt](\"http://ifantasyrace.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/matt-kenseth-nascar-sprint-cup-series-2013-richmond-1-friday-300x199.jpg\")
Qualifying
Starting up front at Richmond is important. The last three Richmond races have been won from starting positions 1,2 and 3. 6 of the last 9 Richmond races have been won from a starting position in the top 7.
Last fall at Richmond Matt Kenseth won from the second starting position. The top 3 finishers in that race started in the top 4. Five of the drivers who finished in the top ten that evening started in the top ten. The other five drivers who finished in the top ten started in the twenties. If your fantasy league rewards points based on position differential and a driver starts in the twenties don\’t be afraid to select that driver. Richmond is a \”skill track\” and good drivers can work their way up through traffic.
In spring 2015 Kurt Busch won from the third starting position. 7 of the top ten finishers in that race started in the top 11.
In fall 2014 Brad Keselowski won from the pole. 7 of the top 8 finishes in that race started in the top ten. That race had few cautions so starting up front was extremely important.
In NASCAR this year the amount of cautions is down which will make starting up front pretty important.
Similar Track Success
Richmond has two Similar Tracks. New Hampshire and Phoenix. Phoenix has been raced at earlier this year so go back and study how that race played out. If a driver really struggled at Phoenix you might want to think twice before you pick them for Richmond. I view Phoenix as reverse Richmond.
Momentum
Picking drivers with momentum is never a bad idea. It\’s a powerful force in fantasy NASCAR and its a better idea to pick drivers with it, then pick those who don\’t have it.
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