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We are at Indianapolis Motor Speedway this weekend race in the Nascar Sprint Cup Series. They are debuting a new package for this race as well. The overall projective was to make better racing at Indianapolis, but based on practice I am not too sure that will be the case on Sunday. If anything it may make the racing even worse. As I have seen very few cars make passes in any of the practice sessions. If they did it took several laps to do so. Like I said I am not too high on this package making the racing any better. Of course the actual race will be the true test of the changes Nascar have made.
A:
1. Kevin Harvick - Honestly I am waiting for the 4 team to turn it up to the next level and go on a hot streak of wins. Like Jimmie Johnson's team, I think Kevin's team is also holding back and waiting for the chase to unload some of their faster equipment. Or they are just not as good as they were earlier in the season. Don't be fool though by my lack of enthusiasm towards him. Harvick was bad fast in practice and probably have one of the strongest cars on the long run.I think Harvick is a top 3 driver heading into Sunday race and should be considered one of the few major threats to legitimately have a chance to win.
My Overall Ranking: 1st
2. Jimmie Johnson - I debated weather to rank Johnson 2nd or 3rd. He looked solid in practice, but not really in love with him. A lot of that have to do with his performance since his last win at Dover. It tough to trust Johnson when his team doesn't have the pedal to the floor. However I find it very difficult to overlook his track record. Since 2006 (9 races), he have won nearly half of those races. While I don't think Johnson will win on Sunday, I also cannot dismiss him either as a potential top 5 fantasy pick as he usually can run up front. If there were downside in picking Johnson, then I would say it because he tend to be top 5 or bust at Indianapolis. Also think it important to mention that a Chevy have won 12 straight races here dating back to 2003.
My Overall Ranking: 2nd
3. Joey Logano - Truthfully I wasn't super impressed by Logano as I was expecting to him to to be better in practice, but he did qualify pretty well. So I guess one off-set the another, since track position will be very key for Sunday's race. Logano will roll off from 2nd and should be a top 5 to top 10 guy heading into Sunday's race. Honestly what I really love about Logano is how consistent he been this season. Since Dover, only once have he finished outside of the top 5. Which should tell you a lot about how reliable he is. I really like him as a fantasy pick. I have across the line in 3rd in my overall rankings.
My Overall Ranking: 3rd
4. Kyle Busch - Busch have on a roll lately and he is now at another strong racetrack. Personally I don't think he will make it 3 in a row after seeing 3 practice sessions. However I do think he is a top 5 guy after considering his track record, practice results and current monument. A lot of this ranking have to with his latest hot streak. As I always say ride the hot drivers in fantasy racing. In practice I say he was somewhere around 6th-9th place. However his upside gives him a top 5 outlook for Sunday race. Two things I really like about him: 1) He have finished 2nd in 2 of the past 3 races at Indy. 2) Kyle's team does a good job of adjusting on his car for the race and starts up front.
My Overall Ranking: 4th
5. Jeff Gordon - I debated who should get the final spot in this tier. I decided to go with Jeff Gordon. He wasn't bad in practice and starts deeper in the field than I would like. However I think he should be able to drive through the field quickly and contend for a top 10 finish. With Gordon past history, I think it very possible for him to contend for a potential top 5 finish. The one thing I really like is Gordon have turned into a consistent fantasy option in the recent weeks which makes it easy to start Gordon for 19th starting position. I have him across the line in 5th in my overall rankings. Realistically I think he will finish little worse than that like 6th or 7th on Sunday.
My Overall Ranking: 5th
Other Options - Brad Keselowski (6th) , Matt Kenseth (8th), Dale Jr (10th), Denny Hamlin (11th) and Ryan Newman (17th)
B:
1. Martin Truex Jr - Truex Jr said his car was really good on Friday. I will take a driver's word all day over practice results. Even though his lap times looked okay in every practice session. My big concern was he did not make any long runs (least from what I could see). He finished final practice in 5th and will roll off from 13th. So overall he showed the speed he been lacking the past few weekends. I think he get back on track this weekend at Indy. I would expect a top 10 or maybe a top 12 run from him, but beyond that is questionable for now.Honestly I am probably higher on him than most are, but hey that just me.
My Overall Ranking: 7th
2. Carl Edwards - I think you could rank Edwards anywhere among the top 5 spots in this tier. Really he usually too hard to get a read on. He didn't stand out much in practice, but that may be a good thing. Both times he finished inside the top 5 this season, he didn't show a lot of speed in practice. If the trend holds true, then Edwards could be a solid fantasy pick. Or if the trend doesn't hold true, then you pretty much just wasted a pick with Edwards. Take your pick. I have him across the line in 9th in my overall rankings. A lot of it has to do with him starting on the pole for Sunday's race though. I do like that he have some monument though.
My Overall Ranking: 9th
3. Kurt Busch - Busch was pretty good on Friday. Honestly I am not sure what to expect from Kurt this weekend. Sure he probably have a top 10 car, but Indy have been for a while one of his worst racetracks. However we could say the same thing about Michigan and he went to victory lane there in earlier this season. This season have been crazy to say the least. So writing off Kurt would be stupid. While I don't love, I think he is a solid fantasy pick. I have him across the line in 11th place in my overall rankings on Sunday. I think he can finishes 2-3 position of that ranking. So realistically anywhere from 8th-14th.
My Overall Ranking: 11th
4. Kyle Larson - Larson will roll off from 5th on Sunday, but I am not too high on the 42 car this weekend as I have been in the past. All season long he have showed speed in practce and qualifying, but come raceday he have dropped like a rock. Now that always haven't been the case, but I feel like his best chances to finish up front will be on the shorter tracks coming up like Richmond and Bristol. Maybe even Pocono since he have proven to run well there too. Anyhow I think Larson could possible be a top 10 finisher on Sunday, but I think it more realistic for him to finish somewhere in the teens.
My Overall Ranking: 12th
5. Kasey Kahne - I have mixed feelings about Kahne this weekend. While I think there a lot of potential with him , I also remember back to Kentucky when he screwed me over. Honestly it hard to trust Kahne after he burns you. Especially since he starting deep in the field on Sunday. Truthfully I want to trust him as looked real good in final practice in my opinion. However there always that voice in your head (the one you always try to not listen to) screaming to avoid him like a new cough. Based on practice, I say he is a top 10 or top 12 driver. The best possible outcome will be for Kasey to steady improve throughout the race and steal a finish close to the front. I have him across the line in 13th in my overall rankings.
My Overall Ranking: 13th
Other Options - Tony Stewart (14th), Jamie Mac (15th), Paul Menard (16th), Greg Biffle (17th) and Austin Dillon (19th(
C-
1. David Ragan - Ragan will start up front once again on Sunday. I think it very hard to overlook his starting position, especially with track position so huge this weekend. He looked solid in practice and should be able to finish somewhere around 15th on Sunday. Honestly I am not sure if he will race better than Ryan Blaney or Chase Elliott, but his starting position will likely give him the edge as of right now. I really like Ragan though. I am hoping he scores a top 10 finishes as he have ran so well lately. However I think it very unlikely for that outcome though.
My Overall Ranking: 18th
2. Chase Elliott - Elliott will roll off from outside the top 25, but I feel like he can drive through the field and contend for a top 20 finish. He have made 3 starts this season (Martinsville , Richmond and Charlotte). In 2 of the those 3 races, he have finished near the top 15. I am willing to bet he repeats that feat at Indianapolis. I think he finishes somewhere from 16th - 22nd. Long as he keeps his car clean, then he could possibly be the top scoring fantasy option in this tier. He looked among the best in this tier in practice.
My Overall Ranking: 20th
3. Ryan Blaney - I thought Blaney had the fastest car in this tier in practice, but it probably doesn't mean much starting so deep in the field. If he can move through the field, then I think he can finish well inside the top 15. The big debate was Elliott vs Blaney for me. I trust Elliott more (better equipment and more consistent driver), but I thought Balney was much quicker overall. I think those two will close to one another all day long in Sunday's race. I have Blaney across the line in 21st in my overall rankings.
My Overall Ranking: 21st
Other Options - Danica Patrick (23rd) and Brian Scott (26th)
Email - JeffNathan74@yahoo.com
Twitter - @JeffNathans
