The Low Tier – Talladega
Michael McDowell – Since 2016 at plate tracks minus the race this spring at Talladga, Michael McDowell has a 13.2 average finish. I will note that much of his success over this stretch was at Daytona. This spring McDowell didn’t have a good race at Talladega and was caught up in a wreck that led to his 34th place finish. In October 2016 he had his second best Talladega race. In the event he earned the 13th driver rating, had a 15th place average running position and finished 16th. In spring 2016 he finished 21st. In the three races prior to that he finished 28th or worse. This year at Daytona McDowell has results of 4th and 15th. (Yahoo C Driver)
David Ragan – You can never count out David Ragan at plate tracks. He has two career wins on this track type and among the “low tier drivers” he’s perhaps the most capable of the bunch at sneaking in good finishes. In the last two plate races he’s finished in the top ten, you can only say that about two other drivers. This spring at Talladega Ragan was involved in accident but rebounded to finish 10th. Prior to the race this spring he was in a cold streak here having six straight results of 24th or worse. At Daytona in July Ragan finished 6th. (Yahoo C Driver)
Cole Whitt – Among low tier drivers Cole Whitt is perhaps the safest option. Since 2014 at Talladega he’s finished in the top 22 every race. Over these seven races he has a 17.5 average finish. In 4 of the last 5 Talladega races he’s finished in the teens. This spring he finished 16th. His four results prior to that were 18th, 22nd, 13th and 15th. (Yahoo C Driver)
Landon Cassill – Landon Cassill is a decent performer at Talladega when he avoids trouble. In his four lead lap finishes since 2014 he has an 11.75 average finish. That said in three of the races since 2014 he’s finished 29th or worse. This spring he had one of his poor results and finished 29th after having transmission issues. I will note he did run well at some segments of the race. Last fall at Talladega he was a low-twenties driver. When the checkered flag waved he finished 21st and had a 23rd place average running position. Last spring he started deep in the field in 32nd but dodged the late carnage and finished 11th. In 2015 he had a tough year at Talladega and had results of 34th and 39th. In 2014 he had results of 4th and 11th. (Yahoo C Driver)
Danica Patrick – At Talladega I would look for Danica Patrick to finish between 19th and 27th. In 6 of the last 7 races she’s finished within that range. This spring I thought she had a great chance to finish within that range again but her race wasn’t incident free and she was caught up in a wreck. Last fall at Talladega she was about a 20th place performer. When the checkered flag waved she finished 20th and had a 19th place average running position. Last spring she wrecked twice and the second time she totaled her car. Since the attrition rate was so high she escaped with a 24th place finish despite finishing 8 laps down. In fall 2015 it looked like she would finish around 18th but she was collected in the last lap carnage which led to her 27th place finish. In the three Talladega races prior to that she had results of 21st, 19th and 22nd. (Yahoo B Driver)
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