The Super Low Tier – Kansas
Justin Haley – Justin Haley will be graduating from the super low-tier in 2022, but for now, he’ll be fielding the most competitive car of this group on Sunday. At Texas last week, Haley crashed in the “Big One” like many others, but in the other four races at low-wear 1.5 mile tracks this year he’s finished between 28th to 32nd every race and has a 29.75 average finish. This spring at Kansas, Haley finished 30th.
Parker Kligerman – At Kansas, Parker Kligerman will be driving the #96. This is the ride that Daniel Suarez piloted in 2020. This team puts in more effort then others in this tier to be competitive, and over the last seven races it’s competed this season minus Daytona he’s finished between 19th to 26th. That said, I’ll note none of those races were at intermediate tracks.
BJ McLeod – BJ McLeod continues to be steady like a rock, and last week with his ability to avoid DNF’s he snuck in a 22nd at Texas. Attrition certainly benefitted him. In the other races at low-wear intermediates this year he’s finished between 28th to 33rd and has a 30.6 average finish. This spring at Kansas, McLeod finished 31st. On Sunday, look for him to be a high-twenties to low-thirties driver.
Cody Ware – At Kansas, Cody Ware will likely be one of the better super low-tier picks. I consider Kansas to be a mini-Michigan, and at that venue he finished 27th in August, which is a great result for this tier. This year at low-wear 1.5 mile tracks minus Texas and Kansas #1, Ware has a 31st place average finish.
Quin Houff – At Kansas, look for Quin Houff to be a low to mid-thirties driver. This year at low-wear intermediates, Houff has a 32.8 average finish, a 33.5 average running position and minus Kansas this spring (37th) he’s finished between 30th to 34th every race.
Joey Gase – At Kansas, all signs point towards Joey Gase finishing mid-thirties or worse. This year at high-speed intermediate tracks, he’s 6 for 6 at finishing 34th or worse.
Josh Bilicki – Josh Bilicki could give David Starr a run for his money as the worst driver of this tier. At Texas thanks to attrition he finished 26th, but in his other four races at low-wear 1.5 mile tracks this season he has results of 35th (Las Vegas #1), 35th (Charlotte) 36th (Las Vegas #2) and 39th (Kansas #1). On Sunday, unless something goofy happens, look for him to be no better then a mid 30’s driver.
Ryan Ellis – When you see the name Ryan Ellis, you’re probably thinking, perhaps there might be hope, he can’t be worse then some of the others! He might be! Ellis hasn’t been in a Cup race since 2016 and in 4 of his 5 starts he’s finished 37th or worse. On Sunday, he’ll be piloting the #15 which has typically been driven by James Davison and Landon Cassill this season. On Sunday, I’m going to view him as a mid 30’s driver.
Chad Finchum – At Kansas, Chad Finchum will be driving the #66. For reference, this means he’s piloting the car Timmy Hill typically drives and David Starr is his teammate. In 2021, Finchum has made one start and at Nashville where he drove this very car he completed 157 laps and finished 33rd. Look for Finchum to finish near the bottom of the field.
David Starr – At Kansas, look for David Starr to be a moving chicane and rank as the worst option among this tier. He just finished 23rd at Texas thanks to attrition, but take note he was 11 laps down. At Charlotte, the other 1.5 mile track he’s raced at this season he finished 31 laps down in 36th.
