Matt Kenseth 2017 Fantasy NASCAR Preview
Matt Kenseth 2016 Stats : Points Finish 5th, 2 Wins, 8 Top Fives, 19 Top Tens, 13.8 Average Finish, 10.2 Average Running Position, 948 Laps Led
Strengths – Look for Matt Kenseth’s best days to come at intermediate tracks, short tracks, shorter flat tracks and Indy.
Weaknesses – Matt Kenseth is a very good restrictor plate driver but he’s had a rough time at those venues in recent seasons.
NASCAR 2017 Printable Schedule
Track Type Fantasy Value Key = Elite > High > Medium High > Medium > Low
Intermediate Track Fantasy Value – Elite
Matt Kenseth has proven himself to be one of the premiere drivers at intermediate tracks. On a year to year basis he’s been an elite talent on this track type. In 5 of the last 6 years at intermediate tracks he’s finished in the top six in terms of points accumulated. Last year on this track type he scored the 5th most points and had a 10.5 average finish. If he didn’t have some bad luck early in the season when he ran really well at a few of these events he might’ve been able to challenge for the most points on this track type.
From a track type perspective you really have to like Matt Kenseth at these venues, 9 of his top 10 tracks based on average finish are on this track type.
In 2017 look for Matt Kenseth to have another strong season. New rules are coming into place and JGR thrives when it comes to adapting to changes.
Flat Track Fantasy Value – Elite
Matt Kenseth is one of premiere performers at flat tracks. He’s capable of winning at both the smaller flats, and the bigger flats. Between the two I like him more at the smaller flats. Last year at the smaller flat tracks nobody was better than him. He was a serious contender to win 3 of the 4 events.
New Hampshire might just be Kenseth’s best track right now. Over the last three events he has two wins and one 2nd place result. Last year he had results of 1st and 2nd. In 7 of the last 8 New Hampshire races he’s finished in the top ten.
At Phoenix he was a strong competitor last season. In the fall event if there wasn’t a late caution he would’ve raced his way to victory lane. In the spring event he finished 7th.
At Indy Matt Kenseth is perhaps the best driver who’s never been to victory lane. Currently he has four straight top 7 results. Last year he finished runner-up. In his career at Indy he’s finished in the top five 47% percent of the time, and in the top ten 65% percent of the time.
At Pocono he’s finished in the top ten in 3 of the last 4 races. Last August he finished 17th. Performance wise he was top ten good but the unconventional surprise ending burned him. In spring 2016 he finished 7th and led 31 laps. In August 2015 he raced his way to victory lane after he was able to stretch his fuel at the end.
Short Track Fantasy Value – Elite
Matt Kenseth is as good as they come at short tracks but last year he had some bad luck which led to him scoring the 20th most points. In the four prior seasons he scored between the 2nd to 8th most points on this track type. At all three short tracks he’s capable of winning.
At Richmond he’s been very strong. He’s a recent champion who’s finished in the top ten in 7 of the last 9 races. Last fall he was top five good but wrecked which led to his 38th place finish. In the spring he finished 7th. In fall 2015 he dominated the race and led 352 laps en route to victory lane.
At Martinsville he’s been top six good over the last 7 races. Last fall he finished 4th and led 176 laps. In the spring event he was 2nd place good but finished a misleading 15th after getting shuffled out of line during a late restart.
At Bristol he’s a great default fantasy option but he’s had misleading results over the last three events and has finished 36th or worse. It should be noted in all of those races he had top five potential. In his most recent incident free race he went to victory lane. Since Bristol was reconfigured I would argue he’s been the strongest performer in the series.
Plate Track Fantasy Value – High
I like Matt Kenseth at plate tracks and from a talent perspective I think he ranks as one of the best. Recently it seems like he has a hard time avoiding trouble.
At Daytona he’s a two-time Daytona 500 champion. Last year he came close to getting a third win but on the last lap while leading he made mistakes which led to him finishing 14th. In the summer Daytona race he wrecked and finished 28th. In five of the six Daytona races prior to 2016 he finished 20th or worse. Prior to his recent cold streak he was one of the best default fantasy options at Daytona.
At Talladega he’s finished 20th or worse in six of the last seven races. Last fall he raced with zero effort in “points racing mode” and finished 28th. In the spring race he was very competitive but finished 23rd after wrecking.
Road Course Track Fantasy Value – High
Road course racing isn’t Matt Kenseth’s forte, but he’s a steady performer on this track type. Don’t set the bar too high though if you consider picking him.
Watkins Glen has been his better road course. In 4 of the last 5 races at that venue he’s finished in the top ten. Last year he finished 10th. In the two prior seasons he had results of 4th and 9th. Since 2007 he’s only once finished outside the top 14.
At Sonoma he hasn’t been as good. In 3 of the last 4 races there he’s finished between 19th and 21st. In the one race he finished outside of that range he had top ten potential but wrecked. Last year he finished 20th.
