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Talladega. The big one. The crapshoot. Whatever term you want to describe it with, this is one of the most unpredictable races of the season! Everyone have a different method of attacking Talladega! Most people depend on recent stats to select their lineups. Other will try to minimize the damage by sliding with the most popular fantasy picks. Then there guys like myself who get a thrill of selecting the worst-looking lineup and hope for complete carriage! One of the things I like about this type race is that everyone can wreck out and everyone can win! You are basically going into this race blind-folded. There nothing you can do to prepare for this race, other than stick to your gut.
If you are like me, then you are always looking for that one sleeper that could set you apart from rest of the pack. Obviously here it is much tougher to hit on a sleeper, but with a little luck it can be done. Here are some of the drivers I think are being overlooked and could be very valuable to risk-takers!
Let get started!
Sleepers -
Sam Hornish Jr - Hornish Jr is my gut call of the week! He probably won't make many roster this weekend and that why I love him. He have done a good job this season on keeping his car clean until the end at the restrictor plate tracks. If he didn't get wrecked at Daytona with 5 laps to go, he would have enter Talladega with 3 top 15 finishes instead of two. Not the only reason I like him though. The #9 car have had some decent luck recently in these plate races. The 9 car dating back to the 2013 season (Marcus Ambrose ran it in 2013 and 2014) have finished 19th or better in 8 of 11 races. Including 3 of the past 5 starts ending inside the top 10. The past two have came at Talladega for those that are wondering. Clearly I am compiling these stats from two different drivers, nevetheless I found that very interesting! Obviously it all about luck and if you are smart, then you would stay away from Sammy. But if you don't mind being risky, then Sammy is awaiting!
Casey Mears - Mears often overlooked at Talladega due to his lack of success like he have had at Daytona. Nevertheless anytime we come to a restrictor plate track, he have to be on your sleeper radar. Mears seems to be at his best at these venues and the 13 team probably put a little more effort in as well. Remember he finished 10th in this race just one year ago. There nothing that says Mears will deliver a quality finish, but at Talladega I think anyone and everyone will have a equal opportunity to score least a top 10. I don't expect many people to take a chance with him, so if you love playing the percentages then here a nice flier for you!
Cole Whitt: Who loves trends? Alright here is one everyone should love: Cole Whitt have improved his finishing position in every single start at Talladega. His recent finish was 13th back in May. Anyone else smell a top 10 in his future? I do. Alright trends are worthless at restrictor plates, but they are so fun to toy with. Once it go green, all bets are off and it become a game of luck. However Whitt have found ways to finish well at both Daytona and Talladega. Since last season starting at the Daytona 500 (7 races), he have finished 25th or better five times. His last three races at Talladega have ended like this: 13th, 15th and 21st. I can definitely get behind results like that!
Email - briggs_garry48@yahoo.com
Twitter - @Garryy12
Talladega. The big one. The crapshoot. Whatever term you want to describe it with, this is one of the most unpredictable races of the season! Everyone have a different method of attacking Talladega! Most people depend on recent stats to select their lineups. Other will try to minimize the damage by sliding with the most popular fantasy picks. Then there guys like myself who get a thrill of selecting the worst-looking lineup and hope for complete carriage! One of the things I like about this type race is that everyone can wreck out and everyone can win! You are basically going into this race blind-folded. There nothing you can do to prepare for this race, other than stick to your gut.
If you are like me, then you are always looking for that one sleeper that could set you apart from rest of the pack. Obviously here it is much tougher to hit on a sleeper, but with a little luck it can be done. Here are some of the drivers I think are being overlooked and could be very valuable to risk-takers!
Let get started!
Sleepers -
Sam Hornish Jr - Hornish Jr is my gut call of the week! He probably won't make many roster this weekend and that why I love him. He have done a good job this season on keeping his car clean until the end at the restrictor plate tracks. If he didn't get wrecked at Daytona with 5 laps to go, he would have enter Talladega with 3 top 15 finishes instead of two. Not the only reason I like him though. The #9 car have had some decent luck recently in these plate races. The 9 car dating back to the 2013 season (Marcus Ambrose ran it in 2013 and 2014) have finished 19th or better in 8 of 11 races. Including 3 of the past 5 starts ending inside the top 10. The past two have came at Talladega for those that are wondering. Clearly I am compiling these stats from two different drivers, nevetheless I found that very interesting! Obviously it all about luck and if you are smart, then you would stay away from Sammy. But if you don't mind being risky, then Sammy is awaiting!
Casey Mears - Mears often overlooked at Talladega due to his lack of success like he have had at Daytona. Nevertheless anytime we come to a restrictor plate track, he have to be on your sleeper radar. Mears seems to be at his best at these venues and the 13 team probably put a little more effort in as well. Remember he finished 10th in this race just one year ago. There nothing that says Mears will deliver a quality finish, but at Talladega I think anyone and everyone will have a equal opportunity to score least a top 10. I don't expect many people to take a chance with him, so if you love playing the percentages then here a nice flier for you!
Cole Whitt: Who loves trends? Alright here is one everyone should love: Cole Whitt have improved his finishing position in every single start at Talladega. His recent finish was 13th back in May. Anyone else smell a top 10 in his future? I do. Alright trends are worthless at restrictor plates, but they are so fun to toy with. Once it go green, all bets are off and it become a game of luck. However Whitt have found ways to finish well at both Daytona and Talladega. Since last season starting at the Daytona 500 (7 races), he have finished 25th or better five times. His last three races at Talladega have ended like this: 13th, 15th and 21st. I can definitely get behind results like that!
Email - briggs_garry48@yahoo.com
Twitter - @Garryy12
