Watkins Glen Cheez-It 355 Fantasy NASCAR Top Tier Elite Picks

Kevin Harvick – Watkins Glen is a good track for Kevin Harvick. He’s a past champion who’s really excelled in Stewart-Haas Racing equipment. In the last two Watkins Glen races in SHR equipment he has the best driver rating, a 5th place average finish and a 9.5 average running position. Last year if Harvick had a little more fuel he would’ve reached victory lane. Instead he ran out on the last lap while leading which led to his 3rd place finish. Additionally in the race he earned the best driver rating and led the most laps (29). In 2014 he had a great car but he likely cost himself the race with an early self-inflicted mistake. In the race he started in 4th and on lap 2 he started falling back positions because a mock weight bean bag that was still in his car rolled under his floorboard. On lap #3 he pitted from 7th. That created a long afternoon for him. When the checkered flag waved he finished 7th and had a 14th place average running position. In 2008 Kevin Harvick raced his way to victory lane holding off Tony Stewart. This year at Sonoma Harvick finished 6th. (Yahoo A Driver)

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Kyle Busch – Kyle Busch is an elite performer at Watkins Glen and is arguably the best default fantasy NASCAR pick you can make. In his career at Watkins Glen he’s been to victory lane twice, has finished in the top five 45% percent of the time and has only twice finished outside the top ten. Performance wise he’s been good enough to have a couple more wins here. Last year he had a strong showing. He finished 2nd, earned the 2nd best driver rating and had a 6th place average running position. Throughout the event he was a consistent front runner. In 2014 Busch had a tough race that wasn’t incident free. He started in 19th and on lap 24 when he made his first pit stop he said his window brace broke and his car wouldn’t turn. Following his pit stop he was penalized for having equipment leave his pit box. Then just a few laps later on lap 27 in frustration he ran into Martin Truex Jr. and got serious damage to his chassis which led to his car going to the garage. As a result of his problems he finished 40th. Prior to that race he had a 8 consecutive top tens and a 5.0 average finish over that stretch. In 2013 he had a strong car and raced his way to victory lane. Additionally in that race he earned the best driver rating, had a 3rd place average running position and led 29 laps. In 2012 he had the car to beat but the track was oily and on the last lap he slowed down and was turned by Keselowski which led to him finishing 7th. Additionally in that race he earned the best driver rating and led 43 laps. In 2011 he also arguably had the best car but didn’t go to victory lane. In that race he started on the pole, led 49 laps and finished 3rd. In 2008 Busch got his first win at Watkins Glen. At Sonoma earlier this year Busch finished 7th. (Yahoo A Driver)

Joey Logano – Joey Logano solidified himself as an elite all around talent last August when he won at Watkins Glen. What made that win even more special is that he pulled off the weekend sweep having also won in the Xfinity Series. Currently at Watkins Glen Logano has three consecutive top tens. Over this stretch he has a 4.7 average finish, the 5th best driver rating and an 11.3 average running position. Last year Logano had a great car and raced his way to victory lane. He only led 1 lap but it was the most important. When Kevin Harvick ran out of fuel during the final lap he was able to take advantage of the situation. Additionally in the race it should be noted he earned the 3rd best driver rating and had a 9th place average running position. In 2014 he finished 6th despite having to overcome a pit penalty on lap 25 when his pit crew went over the wall to soon. In 2013 Logano had a pretty good race. He started in 9th, had an 11th place average running position, earned the 11th best driver rating and finished 7th. At Sonoma earlier this year Logano finished 3rd. (Yahoo A Driver)

Make sure you read the full spectrum of our 2016 Watkins Glen Fantasy NASCAR Rankings

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