Fantasy NASCAR Scouting Report – Charlotte

NOTE: This post is a recap of what happened last fall at Charlotte

Charlotte Top Ten Starters

1. Denny Hamlin
2. Matt Kenseth
3. Kevin Harvick
4. Kyle Busch
5. Clint Bowyer
6. Brad Keselowski
7. Chase Elliott
8. Kurt Busch
9. Kasey Kahne
10. Kyle Larson

Charlotte Full Starting Lineup

Charlotte Pre-race Notes

Stage #1 Top Ten Finishers (Lap 88): 4,24,1,42,18,11,20,41,19,48

Stage #2 Top Ten Finishers (Lap 176): 4,24,20,78,41,11,42,48,21,1

Charlotte Race Notes

Denny Hamlin who started on the pole selected the low-line and led the opening 40 laps.

Running order on lap 10: 11,4,24,20,14,18,5,1,2,19 … 41,42,3,78,31,47,21,10,48,95 … 17,88,27,43,37,22,77,13,6,32 … 38,34,72,15,55,23,83,66,51,33

On lap 12, Kevin Harvick was right on Denny Hamlin’s heels and was trying to pass him.

Running order on lap 24: 11,4,24,20,18,1,14,42,5,78 … 2,31,41,3,48,19,47,10,17,95 … 21,77,88,27,43,37,22,6,13,38 … 32,34,72

On lap 35 the competition caution came out. 32 drivers were on the lead lap at the time.

Notable Moment: During the competition caution while coming down pit road Kyle Larson couldn’t find his pit box and as a result he never pitted. He then pitted the following lap to get back in sync with the field. Prior to his problem he was running in 8th. When the race restarted he was about 30th.

On lap 41 during the restart Chase Elliott took the lead.

Running order on lap 42: 24,4,11,1,20,48,18,78,19,3 … 14,47,41,5,31,95,27,2,21,17 … 10,6,13,88,43,42,77,37,22,38 … 32,34

Big Moment: On lap 44 Ryan Newman and Clint Bowyer wrecked. It marked the end of the race for Newman. He was running just outside the top ten at the time. Clint Bowyer got a good amount of damage but he was able to continue.

Running order on lap 58: 4,24,1,18,11,20,19,3,41,78 … 42,5,48,47,2,21,17,27,13,88 … 95,43,10,37,6,38,34,14,32,72 … 22

Running order on lap 76: 4,24,1,18,42,11,20,41,19,48 … 5,78,3,2,47,21,43,88,17,13 …. 37,27,95,10,14,6,38,34,72,32 … 22

On lap 80 Erik Jones was two laps down. He ended up finishing on the lead lap so I’ll speculate his issue was an announced pit stop likely during a commercial break or something.

Stage #1 Top Ten Finishers (Lap 88): 4,24,1,42,18,11,20,41,19,48

Race off pit road following the Stage #1 caution: 1,18,4,42,20,24,48,19,11,41

On lap 100 Kyle Busch took the lead.

Running order on lap 101: 18,4,42,1,24,20,48,41,11,3 … 19,78,2,21,43,47,27,88,37,17 … 13,5,6,95,10,38,72,34,32,22 … 14,77

Running order on lap 116: 18,4,42,24,20,41,1,48,11,78 … 3,21,2,19,43,5,17,27,88,47 … 13,6,95,37,10,72,38,34,32,22 … 77,14

Notable Moment: While running in 23rd on lap 117 Michael McDowell spun and didn’t hit anything. Joey Logano got the free pass at this time and got back on the lead lap.

Notable Moment: On lap 124 Kasey Kahne made an unexpected pit stop and came to pit road. This dropped him from the mid-teens to about 30th.

Running order on lap 130: 4,18,20,42,24,48,41,78,21,1 …. 11,2,19,3,6,88,43,47,17,37 … 13,38,10,27,34,72,32,22,77,5 … 23,55,14

Big Moment: On lap 137 while running in 2nd Kyle Busch got into the wall hard. This brought out a caution. Busch had a long pit stop to make repairs and it dropped him a lap down.

Running order on lap 149: 4,24,20,78,42,11,41,48,21,1 … 17,3,43,2,47,37,27,6,10,5 … 13,88,38,34,19,72,32,22,77,23 … 18,14

Around lap 160 Kyle Busch went a second lap down. He was in 32nd at the time.

Running order on lap 164: 4,24,20,78,41,42,11,48,21,1 … 17,3,43,2,27,47,37,6,88,13 … 5,19,10,38,34,32,22,77,72,14 … 23,18

Around lap 170 Gray Gaulding made an unexpected pit stop.

Running order with 2 laps to go in Stage #2: 4,24,20,78,41,11,42,48,21,1 … 17,3,2,43,27,47,37,13,5,19 … 88,6,10,38,34,32,22,77,14,23 … 18

Stage #2 Top Ten Finishers (Lap 176): 4,24,20,78,41,11,42,48,21,1