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We are at Bristol baby! I absolutely love this track , one of three tracks I haven't ever attended a Cup race at. This is a special track. Its a short half mile layout , with very little move for error. There isn't a lot of racing room. Starting position and track position is huge here. What I like about Bristol is the unpredictable nature. Surviving is 1/2 the battle , trust me.
1-JMac: JMac is a nice option for Bristol. I don't trust him to deliver the product though. He actually been better then his 17.7 career average finish recently. Over the past 5 races ,JMac have complied 18.2 average finish , 2 Top 10s , 4 Top 10s , 10 laps led and 79.3 driver rating. Been inconsistent at short tracks (finish wise).
2-Brad Keselowski: Keselowski have been up and down lately. More specifically since his win at New Hampshire. Don't let that fool you though. He had a car capable of finishing inside the top 5 in just about every race. Bristol been a great track for him as well. Over the past 5 races here , BK have compiled an 15.0 average finish, 1 win , 2 top 5s , 2 Top 10s , 3 Top 20s , 334 laps led and 101.9 driver rating. He finished 14th in March. But was involved a minor wreck late in the event. In 9 career starts , BK holds 14.33 average finish , 2 wins , 3 top 5s , 3 Top 10s , 7 Top 20s , and 449 laps led. Since 2012 ,BK have posted an 14.1 average finish and 1 win on short tracks. That win came at Bristol by the wall.
3-Austin Dillon: Dillon finished 11th in March. Wasn't that good though. Was an 18th-25th place car most of the race. Was able to get some track position late to finish inside the top 15. Dillon is a much improved racer now with experience. He will have a top 20 car , with top 15 upside.
4-Kevin Harvick: Harvick should just call himself , "Mr. Runner up". I bet he finishes second on Saturday night. I will probably leave Harvick off my team this week. I want three starts for the chase. He was freaky fast back in March , until bad luck had to strike late. Over the past 5 races , KH have compiled 22.6 average finish , 3 top 20s , 35 laps led and 90.5 driver rating.
5-Kasey Kahne: Kahne is typically a popular pick at Bristol. But I will pass. Kahne is too inconsistent for my taste. In 2014 , Kahne have only 2 or 3 top 5s so far. Not exactly something I find comforting. Over the past 5 races here , KK have compiled 11.6 average finish , 1 win , 2 top 5s , 4 top 10s , 4 top 20s , 167 laps led and 96.7 driver rating.
10-Danica Patrick: Not really the ideal pick for Bristol. Patrick scares the hell out of on larger tracks. Short tracks could be a nightmare. But hey that just me. Honestly I might roll the dice with Danica this week in Yahoo. She finished 18th in March. Which is solid to me. Especially after starting deep in the field.
11-Denny Hamlin: Hamlin surprised me at Michigan , props to him for making me look stupid.The least I can do is rave on him about his stout Bristol record. Back in March , DH started on the pole and finished solidly in the top 10. Over the past 5 races here, DH have compiled 15.6 average finish , 1 win , 1 Top 5, 2 Top 10s , 3 Top 20s, 214 laps led , 2 poles , and 98.1 driver rating.
14-?: We really don't know who will be in the 14 car. The early speculation is Jeff Burton will pilot the 14 car. Honestly I think it will be someone else as Burton is semi retired. The big unknown is Smoke. Is Smoke ready to come back? If it was me , I would take the year off to clear my head. But that me. Smoke will come back , only when he feel its right.
15-Clint Bowyer: I don't trust Bowyer. He always good , but never great in 2014. And that the big problem. Bowyer a big time name , so most formats he useless. Because his average overall performances on a weekly basis aren't cutting it. In other words , he doesn't bring enough upside to warrant heavy consideration.
16-Greg Biffle: The Biff finished 10th at Michigan. Not a bad run overall. Bristol is another going track for Biff. Unfortunately he used to be good here. Biff struggled greatly here in March. Used a little pit strategy to get decent track position late. Over the past 5 races here , The Biff have compiled 12.8 average finish , 1 Top 10, 5 Top 20s , 82 laps led and 84.7 driver rating.
18-Kyle Busch: I cannot remember the last time I left Kyle off at Bristol. Don't think I ever have. Well there a first time for everything. Busch been horrible last three races. Its almosted like a script really. Busch so good at Bristol, but he cannot be trusted right now. Over the past 5 races here , Busch have compiled 16.0 average finish , 1 Top 5 , 2 Top 10s , 3 Top 20s , 129 laps led and 86.7 driver rating. In 19 career starts , Rowdy holds 10.8 average finish , 5 wins , 8 Top 5s , 12 Top 10s , 15 Top 20s and 1503 laps led. Busch finished outside the top 20 for only the fourth time in 19 attempts in March.
20-Matt Kenseth: Kenseth is one of those guys which never get much attention , unless he is dominating races. Kenseth will likely look average in practice and finish top 10 on Saturday. Back in March , MK had the car to beat. Unfortunately got damaged and finished 13th after leading the most laps. Over the past 5 races here , MK have compiled 15.2 average finish , 1 win , 2 Top 5s , 2 Top 10s , 3 Top 20s , 469 laps led and 111.9 driver rating. In 29 career starts , MK holds 12.5 average finish , 3 wins , 11 Top 5s, 18 Top 10s , 23 Top 20s and 1321 laps led.
22-Joey Logano: JoLo have gotten a second wind after struggling for a stench of races earlier this summer. Logano been fast since Indy. Zero finishes outside the top 6. Logano had a car to win in March , but lost power steering I think. I could be thinking of different race though. Anyhow JoLo been solid at Bristol lately. Over the past 5 here , JoLo have compiled 13.2 average finish , 1Top 5 , 2 Top 10s , 5 Top 20s , 152 laps led and 95.3 driver rating.
24-Jeff Gordon: I have two theories on Gordon. We are back in 1998 or Gordon found the fountain of youth. Either way I am loving the way he is pumping out the points for my fantasy teams. Gordon yet again is my early pick to win. Gordon been very stout in the Bristol summer races. He been solid in the past 5 races at Bristol. Which includes 17.2 , 1Top 10, 3 Top 10s , 3 Top 20s , 67 laps led, 1 DNF and 101.6 driver rating.
27-Paul Menard: How about some love for old Menard. He been unbelievable on Intermediate tracks (a lot of those coming). Unfortunately haven't been good at short tracks. His only top 10 came at Martinsville (10th finish) in 2014. Even though Menard holds 11.2 average finish and 4 Top 10s in the past 5 races.
31-Ryan Newman: Newman is quietly having a fantastic season. He isn't dominating , but he keep knocking off top 12 finishes. Back in March, Newman finish 16th. Should have finished better , but got a flat tire around halfway. Like his teammate (Menard) , Newman seems to excel on Intermediate racetracks. Short tracks remains a question mark still. As he have posted inconsistent results. Over the past 5 races here , Newman have compiled 18.4 average finish , 1Top 10 , 3 Top 20s , 0 laps led , 1 DNF and 75.5 driver rating.
42-Kyle Larson: Larson finished dead last at Michigan. Had to hurt if you started him. Nevertheless Larson finished 10th last time. Had much better car then that. Larson had a car capable of finishing Top 3. Unfortunately he lost track position on one of the final pit stops. Here or Atlanta been the racetracks I been circling as possible wins for the young rookie. Use him if got it. That my best advice in Yahoo.
48-Jimmie Johnson: Johnson been off lately. Things doesn't get any easier for the 6 time Cup Series Champ at Bristol. Bristol haven't been a good track for Double J. Over the past 5 races here , JJ have compiled 17.6 average finish , 1 Top 5 , 2 Top 10s , 3 Top 20s , 96 laps led and 85.6 driver rating. In 25 career starts , JJ holds 15.2 average finish , 2 wins , 7 Top 5s , 13 Top 10s , and 17 Top 20s.
55-Brain Vickers: Not high on Vickers. He is too inconsistent for my taste. He could finish in the top 10 on Saturday night , but I wouldn't count it. Vickers haven't proven he can translate solid practice into solid race results. Despite a solid record here , Vickers is questionable on short tracks in 2014. Inconsistent results make him a somewhat risky pick.
88-Dale Jr: Dale Jr wasn't very good here in March. Never truly contended for a win. Finished outside the top 20 in March. Dealt with a few issues which costed Dale Jr a few laps. Believe he had a tire go down. Over the past 5 races here , he have compiled 13.4 average finish , 2 Top 10s , 4 Top 20s , 47 laps led and 92.5 driver rating.
99-Carl Edwards: Edwards sucked it up at RFR. As I figured he would. As Jack is giving him lesser equipment lately. Especially since Biff haven't locked himself in the chase. Edwards won back in March, but won with some track position late in the race. Edwards is overrated. His 23.8 average finish , 1win , 1 Top 5 , 1 Top 10, 2 Top 20s , 242 laps led , 1 DNF and 79.7 driver rating over the past 5 races back that up. A driver rating is a true teller of a driver's overall performance.
*All stats from www.driveraverages.com/.
Twitter - @JeffNathans