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Notes -
1-JMac: JMac wasn't horrible , but didn't scream top 10 potential either. JMac starts just inside the top 10. So I expect a top 15 run , but that about it. Fall off too much on a long run on what I saw.
2-Brad Keselowski: Kes was pretty good overall. BK starts from 5th and should be able to finish there as well. He was solid on a long run. Didn't have the car to beat on Saturday nor Friday. He an 3rd - 7th place car in my opinion.
3-Austin Dillon: Dillon was impressive in every practice session. Which is saying a lot. Since Dillon barely ever looks great in practice. This is really bad for team 3 or really good for the competition.
4-Kevin Harvick: Harvick had the best car outside of Jeff Gordon on Saturday. Harvick seems thrilled about his chances on Sunday. Harvick qualified 6th on Friday. Posted the best lap on the opening session. Followed it up with another strong final practice in later morning.
5-Kasey Kahne: Kahne wasn't bad , but doesn't look top 10 based on practice. Kahne should be able to finish top 15 with being in HMS equipment. To me Kahne isn't a valid option. I would try to avoid using him.
10-Danica Patrick: Patrick was pretty bad in final practice. I was optimism about her after the morning session. Then she posted the 32nd fastest lap in final practice. A single fast lap isn't important , but a single slow fastest lap is alarming.
11-Denny Hamlin: Hamlin was not very good overall. None of the Gibbs cars were actually. Denny was the worst though. He wasn't as bad as June. Still enough to be noticed. Save Hamlin for Bristol.
14-Jeff Burton: Early Thursday evening , SHR announced that Jeff Burton will sub for Tony Stewart at Michigan. Burton qualified 27th and was overall okay. Not nothing to brag about though. He could finish inside the top 20 on Sunday based on final practice.
15-Clint Bowyer: Bowyer wasn't too bad. Probably top 10 at best. Not really realistic about his chances for a top 10 though. The Toyota cars struggled much more then the Chevy and Ford cars in race trim.
16-Greg Biffle: The Biff been fast all weekend. An top 10 isn't out of the question. At first glance , the biff looked awesome based on fastest lap times. Later in a run , the 16 seems to fall off. I noticed that in final practice.
18-Kyle Busch: Busch was just outside the top 10 in practice on Saturday. Rowdy haven't been competitive all weekend really. Like the other Toyota cars ,Rowdy seems to be off compared to the competition.
20-Matt Kenseth: Same as Busch.
22-Joey Logano: Logano have been good all weekend and will start 2nd on Sunday. JoLo have the third best car overall this weekend. Logano have at a legit shot a top 5. Gordon and Harvick were in their own zip code it seems. Logano still should make a nice option though.
24-Jeff Gordon: Gordon starts on the pole for Sunday race. He posted a blister fast lap late in qualifying. Gordon came back Saturday and posted some wicked fast laps in race trim. Posted the best lap in final practice.
27-Paul Menard: Menard was pretty good in every practice session. PM starts 7th for Sunday race. I didn't get to see him make a long run , but i suspect he didn't fall off too much. He will have a shot at a top 10.
31-Ryan Newman: Newman wasn't bad at all. He was the worst of the RCR cars which is unusual. Nevertheless he will have a shot a top 10. Realistically an top 15 is in order. I have him finishing 12th on Sunday.
42-Kyle Larson: Larson starts from just outside the top 12. Looks to be an top 10 option after being bad fast in final practice. Larson finished 8th earlier this season. He posted the best ten lap average in Saturday first session. Note only 3 drivers posted an ten lap average though.
48-Jimmie Johnson: Johnson is clearly testing and been testing since New Hampshire. With that being said , avoid Johnson if all possible. Johnson wasn't nothing special in practice either. At best an top 10 option. The golden rule with Johnson is: Only start him , if he look dominated.
55-Brain Vickers: Vickers starts 4th , but its unlikely for him to stay there. He didn't stand out in race trim. Fell off too much unfortunately. I have Vickers crossing the line at 17th.
88-Dale Jr: Dale starts outside the top 20. Clearly didn't post a strong qualifying lap. Doesn't have strong short run speed. Like his teammates , longer a run goes the fastest his car get. Dale jr should be a top 10 guy. But his poor starting position is against him. Back in June, no driver started outside of the top 15 and was able to finish inside the top 10.
99-Carl Edwards: Edwards starts 5th. Wasn't bad in race trim. Lost power steering during practice 1 on Saturday. Reported the problem was gone in final practice. Complained about being loose later in final practice.
Twitter - @JeffNathans
