Road America Fantasy NASCAR Mid Pack Predictions

Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
Road America Fantasy Spin – Ricky Stenhouse Jr. finished well last year at Road America, but he’s a hard to trust driver, and I would view him as a risky high-teens to mid-twenties driver. This year at road courses, Stenhouse had drivetrain problems at COTA (finished 37th) and at Sonoma he struggled and finished 25th. Between the combined events his Total Speed Ranking ranks 30th. Last year at road courses minus Sonoma where he had an engine failure, Stenhouse Jr. had a 17.2 average finish and a 21.6 average running position.
Road America Track History – Last year at Road America, Stenhouse never posted a qualifying lap but came home 12th when the checkered flag waved. In the race, Stenhouse was at his best at the end and over the final segment, he fielded the 13th fastest car on the track. In the three segments prior to that, the #47 car ranked 24th or lower. In terms of speed late in a run, Stenhouse ranked 15th and his Green Flag Speed was the 19th best. I’ll note, on lap 57 he was in 17th, so he advanced up 5 positions over the final 5 laps.

Bubba Wallace
Road America Fantasy Spin – Road Course racing has never been a strong suite for Bubba Wallace, and I would just brace for a result in the 20’s. This year on this track type, Wallace has had an engine failure, and he’s lost a tire, so things haven’t exactly gone well for him in the Next Gen car at these venues. In terms of 2022 Track Type Total Speed Rankings, Wallace ranks 24th. In 2021 at road courses minus COTA where he crashed, Wallace had a 19.0 average finish and a 23.5 average running position. At Road America, I would view Wallace as a 20’s performer and hope for the best.
Road America Track History – Last year at Road America, Bubba Wallace started in the back because of a transmission change and when the checkered flag waved he finished 24th. Additionally, Wallace had a 22.4 average running position, had the 28th best Total Speed Ranking, the 29th best Green Flag Speed and was the 30th Fastest Driver Late In A Run.

Harrison Burton
Road America Fantasy Spin – At Road America, I would view Burton as a high-teens to mid-twenties driver, which is his weekly baseline level of performance. This year at road courses, Burton has results of 17th (COTA) and 28th (Sonoma), and between the combined events his Total Speed Ranking is the 26th best.
Road America Track History –In the Xfinity series at Road America, Burton has two races on his resume. Last year in the lower series, Burton started 10th and then finished 5th. In 2020 he started 3rd, but then finished 16th.