Kurt Busch 2020 Fantasy NASCAR Preview
Kurt Busch 2019 Stats: Points Finish 13th, 1 Win, 6 Top Fives, 18 Top Tens, 13.1 Average Finish, 12.7 Average Running Position, 212 Laps Led, 87.92 Driver Rating
Strengths:
Kurt Busch is one of the most versatile drivers in NASCAR and he’s capable of performing well on any given Sunday. On a weekly basis this upcoming season he should be viewed as a top ten contender.
In 2020, I would look for Busch to be at his best at intermediate tracks, road courses and short tracks.
Weaknesses:
Kurt Busch doesn’t have any glaring weakness, but he did underperform at flat tracks last season.
Kurt Busch has been a full-time driver since 2001 and he’s also now the big 4-0, so “Father Time” is a concern. It catches up to everybody, and he’s certainly not immune. I don’t know if it will catchup to him this year, but its certainly poised to creep up on him.
Intermediate Track Fantasy Value – B+
Kurt Busch is a strong performer at intermediate tracks who should always be high on your radar. In 2019 on this track type he won at Kentucky, finished in the top five 29% percent of the time, in the top ten 65% percent of the time and minus races where he had trouble he almost always finished 13th or better. You have to love that level of fantasy production.
In 2020, I would look for Kurt Busch to be a top ten contender on a weekly basis and get a handful of top fives at intermediate tracks this upcoming season.
Flat Track Fantasy Value – B+
Kurt Busch is a strong performer at flat tracks, but he had some clunker performances last year.
In 2019 at the bigger flat tracks, Busch had a tough season. He finished 11th at Pocono #1, but in the two other races he finished 27th or worse. At Indy, Busch has results all across the board in recent seasons. He had problems and finished 30th last year, but in the four races prior to that he had results of 6th, 29th 16th and 8th. In 2019 at Pocono, he finished 27th last summer and 11th last spring. In 6 of the last 8 races there he’s finished in the top 13.
Last year at shorter-flat tracks over the five combined races, Busch only had 1 top ten, a 13.0 average finish and a 10.4 average running position. His best shorter-flat track in 2019 was Phoenix and at that venue he had results of 7th and 11th. At New Hampshire which is only visited once he finished 18th. You’ll read more about him below in terms of how Richmond has fared in “Short Track Fantasy Value.”
Short Track Fantasy Value – A-
Kurt Busch is an accomplished short track racer who’ll be a top ten contender at all three venues. In 2019 on this track type he had 1 top five, 3 top tens and only had one result lower than 12th. Over the combined events he had a 9.7 average finish and an 11.7 average running position.
The short track where I like Busch the most is Bristol. He won there in summer 2018 and last year he swept the top ten with results of 2nd and 9th. Over those three races his average finish is 4th.
At Richmond, Busch has been solid and since 2016 he only has two results lower than 11th. Unfortunately, those two results lower than 11th were the last two fall races and in both events he finished 18th. In the last two spring Richmond races he’s finished 11th.
At Martinsville, Busch has run well in recent races and over the last four he has an 8.75 average finish. Last year, Busch had results of 6th and 12th. In 2018 he finished 6th and 11th. His two 6th place finishes were in the fall events. I’ll note historically, Martinsville has been one of the last places I would want to pick him but his fortunes appear to have changed.
Superspeedway Fantasy Value – A-
Kurt Busch is a strong superspeedway performer who should be high on your fantasy NASCAR radar at both venues (Daytona and Talladega). Last year in his two incident free races on this track type he finished in the top ten, in the two he didn’t he crashed. In 2020, I’m going to view Busch as a solid top ten contender and accept the risk.
At Daytona, Busch won the 2017 Daytona 500 but in the four races after that he wrecked. Last summer his bad luck streak kind of ended and he finished 10th. I’ll note if Busch wasn’t suckered into pitting at the end by NASCAR officiating, he would’ve won.
At Talladega, Busch led 16 laps and crashed last fall which led to a 28th place finish. In spring 2019 he finished 16th. In fall 2018 back in his old ride, Busch led 108 laps and had a great chance to win if he didn’t stumble on fuel during the last lap (finished 14th). In spring 2018 he finished 2nd. In the four races prior to that he finished in the top ten.
Road Course Fantasy Value – A-
Kurt Busch is a strong performer at road courses who ranks as one of the better performers in the series. Over the last ten races on this track type he has a 9.7 average finish, 7 results in the top ten, and he’s only had one result outside the top fifteen.
Sonoma has been a great track for Busch. He finished 13th last year, and in the four races prior to that he finished in the top ten. Since 2011 at that west coast track he’s finished in the top 13 every race and has a 6.4 average finish.
Watkins Glen is also a great road course for Busch and since 2013 he’s finished in the top 11 every race and has a 7.6 average finish. Last year he finished 10th, in the two previous races he had results of 9th and 6th.
At the Charlotte Roval, Busch finished 20th last year, but in 2018 he started on the pole and finished 5th.
