Fantasy NASCAR Scouting Report – Sonoma

[themify_box ]NOTE: This post is a recap of what happened in 2015 at Sonoma[/themify_box]

Sonoma Qualifying Results

1. AJ Allmendinger
2. Kurt Busch
3. Matt Kenseth
4. Kyle Larson
5. Jeff Gordon
6. Clint Bowyer
7. Tony Stewart
8. Casey Mears
9. David Ragan
10. Brad Keselowski

Full Qualifying Results

Pre-Race Notes

Paul Menard started in the rear of the field for an engine change

Michael Annett started in the rear of the field for an engine change

Boris Said drove the #32

David Ragan drove the #55

Sonoma Race Notes

Kurt Busch jumped to an early lead and led the first 22 laps.

Carl Edwards had a good car and moved up a few positions in the running order early.

Kurt Busch had about a second lead 6 laps into the race.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. liked his car. He started 20th and was up 6 positions on lap 9

Running order on lap 9: 41,47,24,42,20,15,14,13,55,18 … 48,19,78,88,31,4,1,16,5,2 … 9,11,10,22,95,43,38,35,51,27 … 23,83,32,6,3,33,17,34,32,7 … 40,26,46

Notable Moment: On lap 9 Jamie McMurray had a tire going down and pitted the following lap.

On lap 11 while running around 20th Brad Keselowski radioed his team and said his car just falls off in the rear and spins its tires.

Running order on lap 15: 41,47,24,42,15,48,20,14,13,55 … 88,78,4,5,19,18,31,16,2,11 … 10,22,9,43,95,38,35,51,23,83 … 3,6,32,17

On lap 17 it was reported Harvick was extremely happy with his car. His car was one of the best over long runs.

Denny Hamlin’s team used a three pit stop strategy. He first pitted on lap 18.

Brad Keselowski didn’t like his car. He pitted on lap 22.

Running order on lap 21: 41,47,24,48,15,42,20,14,88,4 … 13,55,5,78,19,16,22,43,10,38

Notable Moment: On lap 22 while running in 21st David Gilliland crashed into a tire barrier. His car was totaled and he was done for the day.

Jimmie Johnson really liked his car at the time of his first pit stop.

Notable drivers who didn’t pit during the first caution were Clint Bowyer and Tony Stewart. They were the only two drivers who didn’t pit up to that point in the race. Kurt Busch who was the leader previously was in 10th after he pitted. Not because his stop was slow, it was because of strategy. Some drivers pitted before the first caution.

Running order on lap 28: 15,18,1,31,14,47,51,41,27,2 … 48,42,24,88,20,4,55,5,78,19 … 43,22,13,16,3,10,17,35,23,9 … 95,6,32,33,83,46,34,26,11,7

Big Moment: On lap 29 Martin Truex Jr. crashed into a tire barrier in turn 8 after contact with David Ragan. He was running in 19th at the time.

Running order on lap 36: 18,47,31,41,1,48,24,51,88,42,2 … 20,4,55,5,22,19,13,27,16 … 3,35,17,23,95,6,33,14,15,32 … 43,9,11,10

Ryan Newman was in 2nd on lap 38. His car was solid over long runs.

Kurt Busch’s car was very fast. On lap 40 he passed Kyle Busch for the lead. He had a tire advantage over the #18.

Notable Moment: On lap 44 Matt Kenseth had a flat tire and wasn’t close to pit road.

Running order on lap 44: 41,47,48,18,24,88,4,31,42,55 … 5,19,22,1,2,13,16,51,27,15 … 14,3,17,11,43,35,9,95,23,10 … 6,33,32,34,20

Running order on lap 53: 41,48,47,4,88,5,42,19,15,22 … 13,16,14,51,17,43,3,9,11,10 … 35,95,23,6,33,83,55,18,32

Kevin Harvick had a slow pit stop on lap 54 when when his car fell off the jack.