Fantasy NASCAR Scouting Report – Texas

NOTE: This post is a recap of what happened in fall 2018 at Texas

Texas Top Ten Starters

1. Ryan Blaney
2. Clint Bowyer
3. Kevin Harvick
4. Aric Almirola
5. Brad Keselowski
6. Denny Hamlin
7. Kurt Busch
8. Joey Logano
9. William Byron
10. Kyle Busch

Texas Full Qualifying Results

Texas Pre-race Notes

• Aric Almirola started in the rear of the field because of an unapproved body modification
• Daniel Suarez started in the rear of the field because of an engine change
• William Byron started in the rear of the field after an inspection failure
• Matt DiBenedetto started in the rear of the field after a transmission change
• Chris Buescher started in the rear of the field because of an engine change
• Jimmie Johnson started in the rear of the field after an inspection failure
• Martin Truex Jr. started in the rear of the field because of an engine change

Prior to the race Kevin Harvick’s car was the talk of the garage.

Texas Fall 2018 Loop Data Box Score

Texas Fall 2018 Loop Data Speed Stats

Stage #1 Top Ten Finishers (Lap 85): 4,41,20,12,78,22,18,21,9,10

Stage #2 Top Ten Finishers (Lap 170): 4,12,78,2,22,10,20,41,19,9

Texas Race Notes

Ryan Blaney who won the pole selected to start in the high-line. He led the opening 32 laps.

Notable Moment: Denny Hamlin who started in 6th got high in the first turn after contact with Bowyer and he fell back rapidly in the running order. Hamlin got some damage to his car and now had a tire rub. On lap 6 he was back around 25th.

Notable Moment: On lap 10, Denny Hamlin came down pit road because of his early contact with Bowyer. A few laps after he initially pitted he came down pit road again and he was now 3 laps down back in the high-thirties.

Notable Moment: On lap 11, Clint Bowyer slowed on the track and then made an unexpected pit stop. He had a flat tire. This dropped him two laps down back to the high-thirties.

Running order on lap 21: 12,4,2,22,18,41,20,21,9,17 … 42,6,31,3,1,47,43,24,78,88 … 10,48,19,13,37,38,34,32,95,15 … 96,72,00,7,23,99,51,14,11,97

During the competition caution, Kevin Harvick got the lead off pit road and he then led the next 99 laps.

Race off pit road following the competition caution on lap 32 (first 5 drivers took two tires): 4,41,20,17,78,12,18,2,22,19

Notable Moment During the competition caution:

• Kyle Busch who was running in the top ten was caught speeding on pit road
• Brad Keselowski who was running in the top ten was caught was caught speeding on pit road.
• Michael McDowell was caught speeding on pit road

Running order on lap 41: 4,41,17,12,20,22,78,21,9,19 … 6,10,3,88,31,24,47,18,42,48 … 13,2,37,1,32,38,96,43,34,95 … 72,15,7,00,99,23,14,11,51,97

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. who was in 3rd on lap 47 really liked his car. He said it had good pace.

Running order on lap 56: 4,41,22,12,20,78,17,21,9,10 … 6,19,18,3,88,42,24,2,47,31 … 48,1,37,13,38,32,96,43,34,95 … 15,72,7,00,99,23,14,11,51,97

Running order on lap 72: 4,41,12,20,22,78,21,9,10,18 … 17,6,19,3,2,88,42,24,47,31

Stage #1 Top Ten Finishers (Lap 85): 4,41,20,12,78,22,18,21,9,10

Notable Moment: While Jimmie Johnson and William Byron were running around the high-teens on lap 97, Johnson got loose and William Byron ran into the back of him which did some damage to the front of his car.

Running order on lap 102: 4,22,41,12,20,78,12,2,10,9 … 19,88,17,3,13,37,42,6,1,47 … 21,38,31,24,43,48,95,32,14,34 … 96,11,15,00,7,99,23,51,72,97

Running order on lap 122: 4,22,41,12,78,20,2,10,18,9 … 88,19,17,3,21,13,37,6,1,42 … 24,43,48,31,47,38 (last driver on the lead lap),95,32,14 (two laps down),34 … 95,11 (three laps down),15,00,7,23,99,51,72,97

Around lap 130, green flag pit stops started. Pit stops right around this point allowed drivers to split the segment into two. This was a long running pit cycle because the tires are durable.

On lap 138, Martin Truex Jr. reported a vibration. He must made his green flag pit stop.

Notable Moment: Around lap 140, Kyle Busch made an unexpected pit stop under green because he thought he had a loose wheel. This dropped him from the top ten to two laps down in 29th.

Notable Moment: Around lap 155, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. got penalized when a tire left his pit box. It resulted in a pass through penalty which dropped him off the lead lap back to the low-twenties.

Running order on lap 160: 48(didn’t pit yet),4,12,78,2,22,10,20,41,19 … 9,42,3,21,24,88,43,37,1,6,13 … 17,31,32,47,43,38,18,95,14,34 … 96,11,15,23,7,00,99,51,97,72

Notable Moment: Clint Bowyer pitted with 5 laps to go in Stage #2 but he was penalized when his pit crew went over the wall too soon.

Stage #2 Top Ten Finishers (Lap 170): 4,12,78,2,22,10,20,41,19,9

During the Stage caution the Penske cars got the lead off pit road.