Fantasy NASCAR Asterisk Mark Report – COTA

Kyle Busch – Last year at COTA, Kyle Busch finished 10th, but there’s no question he had one of the best cars. In the race, Busch had a 6.8 average running position (2nd best), led the 2nd most laps (12), had the 4th best driver rating and was running in 3rd on lap 52 before he ducked down pit road for fuel since he was 2 laps short of the schedule distance. Then the next lap, the race ended because of hazardous conditions.

Kurt Busch – Last year at COTA, Kurt Busch had a fast car, but he finished a clunker 27th after having a major off-roading moment, which was then followed by NASCAR throwing the race ending caution the next lap since conditions deteriorated. In the race, Busch finished 3rd in Stage #1, around the mid-teens in Stage #2 and was running in 12th on lap 52, which was the very lap he went off-roading.

Martin Truex Jr. – Martin Truex Jr. is an elite performer at road courses, but last year at COTA we simply didn’t see the best of him and while he was back in traffic in 27th, he crashed in spectacular fashion which doomed him to a 35th place finish. Truex started the race on rain tires and led 3 laps early, but once he had to pit and lost his track position, he drove ultra-conservatively and his race still ended early.

Christopher Bell – Last year at COTA, I think Christopher Bell was a top ten contender, but he also had a short afternoon after crashing on lap 19 in the rain. In the race, Bell finished just outside the top ten in Stage #1 and was running in 10th on lap 18 which was just before his demise.