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Sleepers -
AJ Dinger - The Dinger was a popular sleeper back in April but he expereinced issues early in that race and was in the garage before halfway. However he does have sleeper potential! Shorter tracks have been where the 47 team have ran it best this season and that was pretty obvious heading into the season as well. Earlier this season, Dinger had a oil leak and caused him to finish dead last. Don't be fooled by his stats for the race. He was running in 9th place before having to go to the garage. Last season he was very strong here and had finishes of 9th and 11th. So not like the upside isn't there with him, for me it about can he finish? I don't know. If he can then, I believe he will have top 15 outlook. Heading into the practice, I think he's a top 20 fantasy option though.
Aric Almirola - Alright I am still on the Aric train, yeah I know he burned many of you few weeks ago at Kansas. However I think he get back on track this week though. The 43 team been very succesufl at getting quality finishes this season on the shorter flats. He have been a top 20 machine most of the season and I think it continue at Martinsville. Since joining RPM in the 43 car, he have gathered 4 top 12 finishes in his past 7 starts here. Not to mention in two of the past 3 races have ended inside the top 12. With finishes of 12th and 8th. He came home 12th back in April! Obviously it's hard to get behind him after these past two races, but I think the risk will be worth the reward.
Casey Mears - This is a deeper fantasy option, but Casey Mears is someone who I actually really like at Martinsville. He have ran very well this season and have turned up his game since Richmond. Yes seriously he been a excellent value lately in certain fantasy formats. Listen to some of these finishes recently: 21st (Richmond), 20th (Chicagoland), 18th (New Hampshire), 18th (Charlotte) and 23rd (Kansas). So how have he fair lately at Martinsville? Well let look at that now! Mears have finished 24th or better in 4 of the past 5 races at Martinsville. Even more impressive, he have finishes of 21st, 16th and 15th in that timeframe. His most recent race back in the spring? He finished 15th. In case you don't realize that is amazing value for a lower-tier driver in most formats. He could be a killer value in salary cap leagues. Low-budget driver with potential to finish around 20th. I will take that all day long!
Busts -
Kurt Busch - Why is Kurt Busch on this list? Well clearly he will have a great chance to finish well, but I think it takes a special talent to finish up front at Martinsville. Kurt however may not have that special talent. In his past 18 starts here, he only have two top 10 finishes and that alone should draw some red flags. If I had to guess, I would say this is one of his worst racetracks from a career point of view. He was good earlier this season at Martinsville, but he had a uneventfully day though. Led 21 laps, but he faded to mid pack after a penalty. After that, he could never quite find the front again. I am not going to tell you to leave him off your roster, but I am going to say know this is probably his worst track left on the schedule.
Jamie Mac - I needed a second bust and JMac fitted the profile. A bust describes a driver could be potentially disappoint. JMac have solid record here lately and that usually a good thing. However he have not ran that well in 2nd half of the 2015 season. So while most are expecting a top 10 finish from him on Sunday, I am on the other hand not. He only have one top 10 finish since Mid-June and that was at Dover. Since his 4th place effort there, he have finished 12th at New Hampshire, 20th at Kansas and 39th at Talladega. That's not a great trend to have as a fantasy option. Obviously you cannot really count Talladega, but still just not as high on him as everyone else. At best I see him as a top 15 option and with little upside. What makes me not like him much is limited upside. I am not going to write him off. Jamie, you go out and prove me wrong in practice. In fact, I encourage it!
Twitter - @Garryy12
Sleepers -
AJ Dinger - The Dinger was a popular sleeper back in April but he expereinced issues early in that race and was in the garage before halfway. However he does have sleeper potential! Shorter tracks have been where the 47 team have ran it best this season and that was pretty obvious heading into the season as well. Earlier this season, Dinger had a oil leak and caused him to finish dead last. Don't be fooled by his stats for the race. He was running in 9th place before having to go to the garage. Last season he was very strong here and had finishes of 9th and 11th. So not like the upside isn't there with him, for me it about can he finish? I don't know. If he can then, I believe he will have top 15 outlook. Heading into the practice, I think he's a top 20 fantasy option though.
Aric Almirola - Alright I am still on the Aric train, yeah I know he burned many of you few weeks ago at Kansas. However I think he get back on track this week though. The 43 team been very succesufl at getting quality finishes this season on the shorter flats. He have been a top 20 machine most of the season and I think it continue at Martinsville. Since joining RPM in the 43 car, he have gathered 4 top 12 finishes in his past 7 starts here. Not to mention in two of the past 3 races have ended inside the top 12. With finishes of 12th and 8th. He came home 12th back in April! Obviously it's hard to get behind him after these past two races, but I think the risk will be worth the reward.
Casey Mears - This is a deeper fantasy option, but Casey Mears is someone who I actually really like at Martinsville. He have ran very well this season and have turned up his game since Richmond. Yes seriously he been a excellent value lately in certain fantasy formats. Listen to some of these finishes recently: 21st (Richmond), 20th (Chicagoland), 18th (New Hampshire), 18th (Charlotte) and 23rd (Kansas). So how have he fair lately at Martinsville? Well let look at that now! Mears have finished 24th or better in 4 of the past 5 races at Martinsville. Even more impressive, he have finishes of 21st, 16th and 15th in that timeframe. His most recent race back in the spring? He finished 15th. In case you don't realize that is amazing value for a lower-tier driver in most formats. He could be a killer value in salary cap leagues. Low-budget driver with potential to finish around 20th. I will take that all day long!
Busts -
Kurt Busch - Why is Kurt Busch on this list? Well clearly he will have a great chance to finish well, but I think it takes a special talent to finish up front at Martinsville. Kurt however may not have that special talent. In his past 18 starts here, he only have two top 10 finishes and that alone should draw some red flags. If I had to guess, I would say this is one of his worst racetracks from a career point of view. He was good earlier this season at Martinsville, but he had a uneventfully day though. Led 21 laps, but he faded to mid pack after a penalty. After that, he could never quite find the front again. I am not going to tell you to leave him off your roster, but I am going to say know this is probably his worst track left on the schedule.
Jamie Mac - I needed a second bust and JMac fitted the profile. A bust describes a driver could be potentially disappoint. JMac have solid record here lately and that usually a good thing. However he have not ran that well in 2nd half of the 2015 season. So while most are expecting a top 10 finish from him on Sunday, I am on the other hand not. He only have one top 10 finish since Mid-June and that was at Dover. Since his 4th place effort there, he have finished 12th at New Hampshire, 20th at Kansas and 39th at Talladega. That's not a great trend to have as a fantasy option. Obviously you cannot really count Talladega, but still just not as high on him as everyone else. At best I see him as a top 15 option and with little upside. What makes me not like him much is limited upside. I am not going to write him off. Jamie, you go out and prove me wrong in practice. In fact, I encourage it!
Twitter - @Garryy12
