AJ Allmendinger 2017 Fantasy NASCAR Preview
![\"Image](\"http://ifantasyrace.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/allmendinger_aj_nscs_car_2016-300x200.jpg\")
AJ Allmendinger 2016 Stats : Points Finish 19th, 0 Wins, 2 Top Fives, 9 Top Tens, 17.8 Average Finish,19.7 Average Running Position, 29 Laps Led
Strengths – Look for AJ Allmendinger to be at his best at road courses, short tracks and have notable dark horse fantasy value at intermediate tracks from time to time.
Weaknesses – I would shy away from picking him at flat tracks and plate tracks.
Read all 28 of our NASCAR driver previews
Track Type Fantasy Value Key = Elite > High > Medium High > Medium > Low
Intermediate Track Fantasy Value – Medium High
AJ Allmendinger is a driver who has solid dark horse fantasy NASCAR potential from time to time at intermediate tracks. Late in 2016 when his team started to get new RCR chassis\’s they were really able to crank up the speed. If they can continue to get RCR\’s \”good stuff\” then he\’ll have some real fantasy value on this track type on occasion.
In 2016 on this track type going back to Michigan #2 minus Charlotte #2 where he ran well but wrecked he had a 15.3 average finish.
Flat Track Fantasy Value – Medium
Flat tracks aren\’t an area of strength for AJ Allmendinger. Over the last three seasons he\’s accumulated between the 20th to 22nd most points on this track type. I will note that at the shorter flat tracks I think he has some dark horse fantasy value, but he really hasn\’t delivered on his potential recently.
Last year at flat tracks he was pretty consistent. Outside of Indy where he had overheating problems he finished between 14th and 21st every race.
At Phoenix you can probably expect him to finish in the teens. In 4 of the last 5 races in the desert he\’s finished between 16th or 17th. Last year he finished 17th both races.
At New Hampshire, just like Phoenix last year his result in the first race matched his result in the second race. In both events he finished 21st. Over the last 8 New Hampshire races he has six results between 18th and 22nd.
Pocono was his best flat track in 2016. Last season he had results of 14th and 16th.
Last year at Indy he had overheating problems and finished 38th. In the four Indy races prior to that he had a result between 18th and 23rd.
Short Track Fantasy Value – High
I would describe AJ Allmendinger as a very low \”High\” level talent at short tracks. At all three venues he\’s capable of sneaking in a good result, but that doesn\’t mean it\’s a given. Last year on this track type he scored the 12th most points and had a 14.2 average finish.
Martinsville is by far his best short track. Outside of Watkins Glen it\’s arguably his next best track. In 5 of the last 6 races there he\’s finished in the top 11. The one race he finished outside of that range he was top ten good but had problems under his hood. Last year he had results of 2nd and 10th.
At Richmond I think he has sleeper value despite his lack of recent success. In 4 of the last 5 RIR races he\’s finished in the twenties. In the seven races prior to his \”cold streak\” he had an 11th place average finish.
At Bristol he had results of 9th and 19th last season. In 6 of the last 9 races at Thunder Valley he\’s finished between 9th and 19th.
Plate Track Fantasy Value – Medium High
AJ Allmendinger was a solid competitor at plate tracks in 2016. He scored the 11th most points and over the last three races he finished between 10th and 14th. Although he had a strong season he\’s certainly not a driver you can pick with any level of conviction based on his overall track record.
If I had to pick him at a plate track I would feel more comfortable selecting him at Talladega. Last year he had results of 10th and 14th. Beyond his 10th last fall he only has one other top ten to his name there and his top twenty finish percentage is 50%. His overall average finish is 22.2.
Daytona hasn\’t been a great track for him. His average finish is 24.3 and statistically it ranks as his 22nd best track. Last summer he finished 13th, in the seven races prior to that he finished 21st or worse.
Road Course Track Fantasy Value – Elite
AJ Allmendinger is an elite talent at road courses. In terms of talent on this track type he ranks as one of the best in the series.
Between the two road courses Watkins Glen is his better track. It\’s home to his best average finish (9.4) among the 23 tracks on the schedule. If you can only pick him once, that\’s the place to select him. He\’s a recent champion and has finished in the top ten in 5 of the last 6 races. Last year he finished 4th.
At Sonoma for whatever reason he hasn\’t been quite as strong. In all of his incident free races at that track he\’s finished between 7th and 14th. Last year he finished 14th. In the two Sonoma races prior to that he had problems and finished 37th. One strong suite of his at Sonoma is his qualifying prowess. In the last three Sonoma races he\’s started 2nd or better.
