Michigan Fantasy NASCAR Front Runner Rankings

Alex Bowman
Michigan Fantasy Spin – Alex Bowman is limping into Michigan having finished in the 30’s in 4 of the last 6 races, but don’t count him out from getting a good result. The #48 has been fast at high-speed intermediate tracks this year and for the season minus Auto Club where he was a top ten contender but crashed, his average finish is 6.7. In his incident free races on this track type in 2022, Bowman has results of 1st (Las Vegas), 9th (Kansas) and 10th (Charlotte). Over all four high-speed intermediate tracks visited this year, Bowman has the 6th best driver rating and the 9th best Total Speed Ranking.
Michigan Track History – Michigan hasn’t historically been a great track for Alex Bowman. Bowman had a pair of 10th’s in 2019, but all ten of his other results are 16th or worse, and that includes 6 others in Hendrick equipment. Last year, Bowman finished 16th, had a 12.9 average running position and had the 11th best Total Speed Ranking. Bowman just kind of fell back late. With 10 to go he was in 7th, and then with 6 to go he was in 11th. In 2020 race #2, Bowman didn’t have an incident free race and finished a clunker 36th. In the race he finished around the mid-teens in Stage #1, around the mid-teens in Stage#2, but then in the final Stage on lap 136 while he was running around the high-teens he had a flat tire and brought out the final caution of the race. In the race, Bowman had the 18th best Total Speed Ranking and a 19.8 average running position. In race #1 2020, Bowman was pretty good, but finished 21st. In the race he finished 7th in Stage #1, 8th in Stage #2, had the 8th best Total Speed Ranking and a 10.5 average running position. In the last Stage, he just sort of slowly faded back in the running order. In 2019 at MIS, Bowman had a pair of 10th’s and was one of five drivers who swept the top ten.

Austin Cindric
Michigan Fantasy Spin – At Michigan, I think Austin Cindric is a mid-teens driver who might be able to finish marginally better. This year at high-speed intermediate tracks minus Charlotte where he crashed early, Cindric has a 14.0 average finish and a 13.7 average running position. I view Kansas as the most similar track, and Cindric finished 11th there. Over all four High-speed intermediate track races this year, Cindric’s Total Speed Ranking ranks 15th.
Michigan Track History – Michigan hasn’t been kind to Austin Cindric and in the Xfinity series, he’s 3 for 3 at finishing outside the top ten. Last year in the lower series, Cindric started on the pole, won Stage #1, led 12 laps but then crashed and finished 37th. In 2019, Cindric finished 11th. In 2018 in his first start at MIS in the lower series, Cindric finished 7th in Stage #2 but had some sort of issue that led to his 23rd.

Austin Dillon
Michigan Fantasy Spin – At Michigan, look for Austin Dillon to have a solid showing. Dillon looked great last year at MIS and was a top five contender, and this year at high-speed intermediate tracks, he’s run well. In 2022 on this sub-track type, Dillon finished 2nd at Auto Club (not that good), 11th at Las Vegas, 13th at Kansas and then at Charlotte he was in the mix for the win at the end but then crashed and finished a clunker 22nd. In May at Michigan, Dillon took part in the Goodyear tire test. On Sunday, I’m going to view Dillon as about a 10th to 15th place driver.
Michigan Track History – Austin Dillon has been strong at Michigan, but he’s had a few recent Asterisk Mark results. Overall in 5 of the last 8 races here, he’s finished in the top 14. Last year, Dillon finished 36th, but you can disregard that result and “Performance Wise” he was a top five contender. In the race, Dillon finished 3rd in Stage #1, 6th in Stage #2 and then right after crossing the finish line in Stage #2 he wrecked after contact with Keselowski which led to his poor result. In 2020 #2, Dillon started in the rear of the field in a backup car and had to serve a pass thru penalty under green when the race started, but he came home 8th. Closing out the race, Dillon ran well and hovered around 10th. In race #1 2020, Dillon had a great chance to come home with a top ten, but he finished an asterisk mark 31st. On lap 150 Dillon was running in 10th, but then on lap 154 he was involved in a multi-car wreck that doomed his afternoon. In the race, Dillon had the 16th best Total Speed Ranking and a 16.8 average running position. In summer 2019, Dillon finished 13th.

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