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The Sprint Cup Series heads east to Kentucky. Kentucky is an 1.5 mile oval racetrack. This is arguably the most important type of track to consistently finish well at. Not only from a driver/team point of view, but a fantasy nascar side as well. Kentucky is race 17 of 36. Jimmie Johnson dominated last year until late in the event. Let get rolling!
1-Jamie Mac: Jamie haven't set the world on fire in 2014 (least on Intermediate tracks.) But he did finish 2nd here a season ago. Over the past two seasons , Jamie have an 8.5 average finish , 1 Top 5 , 1 Top 10, 0 laps led and 91.4 driver rating.
2-Brad Keselowski: Keselowski have been extremely strong at Intermediate tracks in 2014. But he have several misleading finishes as well. He actually been better then his overall average finish suggests in '14. Since 2012 , BK have put together an 17.0, 1 win , 1 Top 5, 1 Top 10, 68 laps led and 98.0 driver rating.
3-Austin Dillon: I got a really good feeling about Dillon this week. In his lone Cup start he finish 24th. Which is saying something because he have a better quality ride in 2014. I could see him knocking off an top 20 (if not more).
4-Kevin Harvick: Harvick is superman on Intermediate tracks in 2014. Remember Kenseth in 2013. He is exactly the same way. Harvick should be the guy to beat. His stats are solid too. Over past 2 races , Harvick holds an 10.5, 0 Top 5 , 1 Top 10, 0 laps led and 92.9 driver rating.
5-Kasey Kahne: Kahne is finally starting to look like an Hendrick driver in 2014. But isn't fantasy relevant. Even though hes have legitimate record here. He holds an 6.5 average finish , 1 Top 5, 1 Top 10, 0 laps led and 100.0 driver rating.
10-Danica Patrick: I don't hate using Danica (especially if starts are an issue in C.) Danica is honestly only good for a start save most weeks (at best). This Week is no difference. Expect an top 25 from her.
11-Denny Hamlin: Hamlin is an interesting option this week. Honestly he could finish in top 10 , easy as he could finish outside the top 20. I will give him consideration , but I might leave him off for a sleeper pick. Since 2012 , he holds an 19.0, 1 Top 5, 1 Top 10, 58 laps led and 104.4 driver rating.
14-Tony Stewart: Stewart is starting to catch fire. Which what a lot of us were hoping. Now it a reality. In Yahoo , we need to manage his starts well though. Pinpointing the best places to use him is the difficult part. Since 2012 at Kentucky, Smoke holds an 26.0 average finish (1 Top 20 -best finish 20th), 0 laps led and 57.7 driver rating.
16-Greg Biffle: I will keep it short and sweet. Don't force a Greg Biffle start. If you are in a allocation league, hold out to use him at Daytona and Talladega.
18-Kyle Busch: Lets be honest here..The JGR cars are down on power. You aren't gonna use all 9 starts with Kyle Busch and Matt Kenseth (like in 2013). But he is still a useable option (especially here). The speed isn't there , but that doesn't mean he cannot run top 10.
20-Matt Kenseth - Basically the same apply to Kenseth as Busch ^^
22-Joey Logano: JoLo have been extremely strong on similar tracks. So I expect him to be strong. Since 2012 at Kentucky , he holds an 13.0, 1 Top 5, 1 Top 10, 0 laps led and 90.4 driver rating. In his lone start with Penske at Kentucky , Joey finish 4th in 2013.
24-Jeff Gordon: Mr. Consistency himself. Gordon have been a machine in 2014. Top 10 after top 10. Last time Gordon finish worse then 8th was Talladega. The smart players probably have been riding Gordon in recent weeks. Gordon makes a good candidate this week (again). Since 2012 , he hold an 6.5 average finish , 1 Top 5, 2,Top 10s, 0 laps led and 100.1 driver rating.
27-Paul Menard: Menard is having a fantastic season. Cannot say enough about this guy. Two weeks ago , he knocked off his second Top 5 in 2014 (2 more then his two teammates combined -Ouch). Now he is primed as a sleeper candidate with less then stellar record at Kentucky. Since 2012 , he holds an 21.0, 1 Top 20 (best finish 12th), 0 laps led and 65.2 driver rating.
31-Ryan Newman: Newman have mixed results over his past two starts at Kentucky (much like his teammate Menard.) But Newman have great qualifying efforts in that span (6.0). Unfortunately his 24.0 average finish isn't so great. But he did finish 12th in that same span. There upside with Newman.
42-Kyle Larson: Larson is the most impressive rookie since Kyle Busch stormed on to the scene with Hendrick Motorsports. I mean this kid gonna be something special one day. That being said, it very important to manage your starts with him. The game best start savers probably have done a great job of that. For rest of us , things could be difficult down the road.
48-Jimmie Johnson: Johnson is probably the logically choice for your team. Especially after the run Double J is on. He dominated this race in 2013. Unfortunately Logano (or someone) got into Johnson and turned him late in the race. Since 2012 at Kentucky , Johnson holds 7.5, 2 Top 10s, 2 Top 5s, 203 laps led , and 129.0 driver rating.
88-Dale Jr: Dale Jr will be overlooked a lot this week (especially in Yahoo). I expect him to be in contention all weekend long. His record here is pretty stout (So are a lot of drivers though). Since 2012 at Kentucky , he holds an 8.0, 1 Top 5, 1 Top 10, 10 laps led and 97.0 driver rating.
99-Carl Edwards: A lot of us were burned by the Roush cars a few weeks ago. So I think it would be a good idea to step back for a few weeks and just observe. But selecting Edwards to your team isn't a horrible idea. He always find a way to front (somehow).
Okay that it. Hopefully everyone enjoys. Big thanks to my fellow writer Jeff Nathans (@JeffNathans) for letting to do the previews.
Thanks for reading ,
Michelle Rizzo
