Kansas Fantasy NASCAR Mid Pack Predictions
Justin Haley
Kansas Fantasy Spin – Justin Haley has a Kansas track record you want to close your eyes at, but on Sunday I think he’s a high-teens driver who has upside. This spring at Vegas, Haley finished 8th but take note before the late caution came out he was running in 16th. Also for the afternoon, his Total Speed Ranking was the 15th best. In 2022 in terms of Total Speed Rankings at high-speed 1.5-mile tracks, Haley ranked 24th.
Kansas Track History – At Kansas, Justin Haley has finished 30th or worse in 3 of his 4 starts. That said, Haley had his best afternoon here last fall and finished 19th, so that’s a plus. Additionally, Haley had a 17.4 average running position and the 22nd best Total Speed Ranking. In spring 2022, Haley had a short race and finished 35th. During a caution around lap 35 he lost a tire (was around 22nd at that time), and then later around the lap 62 caution, there were flames under the #31 which marked the end of his race. In 2021 in the #77, Haley’s Kansas results were 30th and 39th.
Erik Jones
Kansas Fantasy Spin – At Kansas, I can’t say I’m too high on Erik Jones. He’s had quite a bit of success here at one point in his career, but he currently has five straight results of 20th of worse. Then when you pair that with his pair of 19th’s at the two high-speed intermediate tracks this year than its clear there’s better options out there. On Sunday, I’m going to view Jones as a high-teens driver at best.
Kansas Track History – Things have been quite bad for Erik Jones in recent Kansas races and over the last five he’s finished 20th or worse and has a 27.0 average finish. Last fall, Jones struggled and finished 29th. Additionally, Jones had a 22.9 average running position and the 30th best Total Speed Ranking. Last spring, Jones looked sporty and showed potential, but finished an asterisk mark 32nd. In the race, Jones finished 8th in Stage #1 (used some late pit strategy in Stage #1), but then his afternoon went south right after that. During the Stage #1 caution, Jones was penalized for pitting before pit road was open and at that time, he also had his long stop where he fell back 7-laps as his team tried desperately to get off his wheel. After that you could stick a fork in him. In 2021, Jones had clunker results of 25th and 29th.
Corey LaJoie
Kansas Fantasy Spin – At Kansas, I think viewing Corey LaJoie as a mid-twenties driver who has marginal upside is wise. LaJoie crashed last fall but in his five Kansas races prior to that his average finish was 23rd. This spring at Las Vegas, LaJoie finished 20th and had the 23rd best Total Speed Ranking. At Auto Club, the one other high-speed intermediate track visited this year, LaJoie had a great race and finished 14th.
Kansas Track History – At Kansas since 2019 minus last fall where he crashed, Corey LaJoie has a 23.6 average finish and he’s 7 for 7 at finishing between 19th to 28th. Last fall, LaJoie had a short race and crashed on lap 115 which marked the end of his race and led to his 33rd. On the very lap of his demise, Lajoie was running in 17th. Last spring, LaJoie had his best Kansas result and finished 19th. Additionally, LaJoie had a 24.4 average running position and the 30th best Total Speed Ranking. Attrition certainly helped him. In the four races prior to that, LaJoie’s Kansas results were 25th, 27th, 23rd and then 21st.
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