Auto Club Fantasy NASCAR Front Runner Rankings
Austin Dillon
Auto Club Bottom Line – Austin Dillon is a great mid-tier option at Auto Club. Dillon finished runner-up last year, and in 4 of the last 5 races at this worn-out west coast 2.0-mile oval he’s finished in the top 11. In 2022 at high-wear intermediates, Dillon was one of the best in the series and his 8.0 average finish ranked as the 2nd best. I view Homestead as the single most similar track, and Dillon finished 4th last fall despite starting in 32nd. In 2022 over all 13-races held at intermediate tracks, Dillon’s 13.0 average finish was tied for being the 5th best. Don’t look for Dillon to do anything flashy but I think you can pencil him in to come home with a solid result.
Auto Club Track History – Auto Club has been a great track for Austin Dillon. Dillon finished runner-up last year, and in 4 of the last 5 Auto Club races he’s finished in the top 11. Last year, Dillon started 16th and drove to the front when the money was on the line. Dillon never placed in the opening two Stages and had a 15.6 average running position. Dillon only ran in the top 10 over about the final 40 laps, and then over the final 20, he consistently ran in the top 4. In terms of Total Speed Rankings, Dillon ranked 18th, but take note over the final quarter of the race he ranked 6th for speed. In 2020 in the next most recent race, Dillon was a high-teens performer but finished 24th. He consistently ran among the mid to high-teens and was in 17th with just 10 laps to go, but something happened to him in the closing laps. In the race, Dillon had a 17.9 average running position, the 17th best Total Speed Ranking and was the 15th Fastest Driver Late In A Run. In the three Auto Club races prior to that, Dillon had a 10.3 average finish and had results of 10th (2019), 10th (2018), and 11th (2017).
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Brad Keselowski
Auto Club Bottom Line – If you’re looking to roll the dice at Auto Club, don’t overlook Brad Keselowski. The #6 was sporty last year at this 2.0-mile oval early in the season and was a legitimate top ten contender, and Auto Club has historically been a great track for him. To close out the 2022 season at high-wear intermediates, Keselowski finished 7th at Darlington #2 and 5th at Homestead, so there’s certainly reason for optimism. At Auto Club, I would view him as a teens driver who has potential to challenge for a top ten.
Auto Club Track History – Brad Keselowski has been a fantasy ace at Auto Club. He’s a past winner (2015) and in 6 of the last 7 races he’s finished in the top 10. Last year was the outlier and he finished an asterisk mark 27th, but he was a top ten contender. In the race, Keselowski started in the back, finished just outside the top ten in Stage #1, but then late in Stage #2 on lap 116 while running in 4th, he spun into the grass and brought out the caution. On lap 156 he rebounded back up to 9th, but then on lap 156 he was involved in a multi-car accident which didn’t damage the #6 too much, but it led to him having to get towed to pit road because of flat tires which doomed him to his poor result. In his four Auto Club races prior to that in the #2, Keselowski had results of 5th, 3rd, 4th and 2nd.
Bubba Wallace
Auto Club Bottom Line – Bubba Wallace has a bad track record at Auto Club, but I would view him as a dark horse. He didn’t run bad last year until trouble struck and closing out 2022 at high-speed intermediate tracks, Wallace showed a lot of speed. At Auto Club, I would view Wallace as a teens driver who might just be a factor for a top ten.
Auto Club Track History – Bubba Wallace certainly doesn’t have a standout track record at Auto Club with his best overall result being 19th, and his average finish over his four starts being 24th. Last year, Wallace finished 19th which marks his best result at Auto Club. In the race, Wallace started in the back for “unapproved adjustments”, had a 25.2 average running position, ranked 27th for Speed Late In A Run and had the 32nd best Total Speed Ranking. I’ll note, Wallace’s race wasn’t incident free. On lap 156 he was running in 15th, but then on lap 159 he was involved in a multi-car accident, but the damage wasn’t really that severe to the #23. In his three starts prior to that, Wallace had results of 27th (2020), 30th (2019) and 20th (2018).
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