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We are at Phoenix Raceway this weekend! This is only a one-mile racetrack which happens to also be one of the shorter races on the schedule. So from a fantasy point of view, we need to factor that in when making our lineup decisions. As for fantasy sleepers, I would not go too deep into the pool. Drivers will be starting to go a lap down before lap 20. If Sunday's race start off with a long green flag run (not unheard of), the drivers in the 20s would be off-lead lap already. Also with difficulty of passing, I would try to stick to primary sleepers. I look at 4 things when determining legitimate sleepers: Starting position, recent track history, recent finishes on the season and practice results. Below I have listed some of the sleepers I like after watching practice and qualifying!
Ricky Stenhouse Jr - Stenhouse Jr haven't shown the speed I was hoping, but rarely does he in practice this season. Despite that, he have proven, he can finish inside the top 20 on a regular basis. He will roll off from the 19th starting position. Honestly I am not sure what to expect from Ricky Jr this weekend. But based on what I do know, I think he will have a opportunity to finish inside the top 20. Few things point this such as, he have never finished worse than 18th in 5 career starts at Phoenix. Or how the 17 car have ran throughout the chase or how throughout the season how he have ran on this type racetrack. When the checkers wave, I do believe Ricky will have that car still on the lead lap. Obviously I am putting a lot of faith in Ricky,so lets see if he pulls through or make me look like a fool.
Austin Dillon - Dillon was not not one of my primary sleeper on my radar on Wednesday, but I do now though. He was consistency fast in practice and qualified pretty decent for Sunday's race. Dillon haven't gotten the results this season, but he have been fast for good part of 2015 season. One of Dillon's best efforts this season was at Phoenix earlier this season where he finished 15th. With that said, I think he have improved a lot as a racecar driver since then. So I think he could finish inside the top 15 on Sunday once again. Based on practice, I would say that is a realistic outcome.
Aric Almirola - I really tough to choose from Casey Mears and Aric Almirola for this final spot. Both are very deserving of this spot, but in the end I went with the less riskier fantasy play. Aric have been very consistent throughout the 2015 season and have finished 18th or better in 6 of the 8 races in the chase. He wasn't anything special in practice, but that does not surprise me one bit honestly. A lot of these sleepers who I list don't usually show much in practice, but race very well. Aric seems to be one of the drivers who consistency improve during the race. I believe he will finish inside the top 18 when the checkers wave in Sunday's race.
Alright that's it for Sleepers this week at Phoenix. Check back next week as we wrap up the season in Homestead. I wish each and everyone of you the best this weekend in the desert!
Twitter - @Garryy12
We are at Phoenix Raceway this weekend! This is only a one-mile racetrack which happens to also be one of the shorter races on the schedule. So from a fantasy point of view, we need to factor that in when making our lineup decisions. As for fantasy sleepers, I would not go too deep into the pool. Drivers will be starting to go a lap down before lap 20. If Sunday's race start off with a long green flag run (not unheard of), the drivers in the 20s would be off-lead lap already. Also with difficulty of passing, I would try to stick to primary sleepers. I look at 4 things when determining legitimate sleepers: Starting position, recent track history, recent finishes on the season and practice results. Below I have listed some of the sleepers I like after watching practice and qualifying!
Ricky Stenhouse Jr - Stenhouse Jr haven't shown the speed I was hoping, but rarely does he in practice this season. Despite that, he have proven, he can finish inside the top 20 on a regular basis. He will roll off from the 19th starting position. Honestly I am not sure what to expect from Ricky Jr this weekend. But based on what I do know, I think he will have a opportunity to finish inside the top 20. Few things point this such as, he have never finished worse than 18th in 5 career starts at Phoenix. Or how the 17 car have ran throughout the chase or how throughout the season how he have ran on this type racetrack. When the checkers wave, I do believe Ricky will have that car still on the lead lap. Obviously I am putting a lot of faith in Ricky,so lets see if he pulls through or make me look like a fool.
Austin Dillon - Dillon was not not one of my primary sleeper on my radar on Wednesday, but I do now though. He was consistency fast in practice and qualified pretty decent for Sunday's race. Dillon haven't gotten the results this season, but he have been fast for good part of 2015 season. One of Dillon's best efforts this season was at Phoenix earlier this season where he finished 15th. With that said, I think he have improved a lot as a racecar driver since then. So I think he could finish inside the top 15 on Sunday once again. Based on practice, I would say that is a realistic outcome.
Aric Almirola - I really tough to choose from Casey Mears and Aric Almirola for this final spot. Both are very deserving of this spot, but in the end I went with the less riskier fantasy play. Aric have been very consistent throughout the 2015 season and have finished 18th or better in 6 of the 8 races in the chase. He wasn't anything special in practice, but that does not surprise me one bit honestly. A lot of these sleepers who I list don't usually show much in practice, but race very well. Aric seems to be one of the drivers who consistency improve during the race. I believe he will finish inside the top 18 when the checkers wave in Sunday's race.
Alright that's it for Sleepers this week at Phoenix. Check back next week as we wrap up the season in Homestead. I wish each and everyone of you the best this weekend in the desert!
Twitter - @Garryy12