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It was nice to get a off-week in between races, but it back to business as usually with the series heading all the way back to the West Coast. I love Sonoma, it is a unique racetrack and have a special feel to it. Not only does it takes skill to run well here, it takes nearly a mistake-free race by the pit crews. Often the winner isn't who have the best car, but who has the most luck in the fuel mileage department. Also remember, this is one of the shortest races of the season (at only 219 miles - nearly 200 miles shorter than the typical 400 milers). So teams will be crunching numbers before the green flag even waves. So how do you attack a team with all of these factors? Great question and honestly I don't think there a right answer to that. Personally take a track history strongly into consideration. Really that is the only thing we go on, until practice on Friday. Honestly of the two road courses, I think this is one you want the your fantasy picks to be great road course racers. The skillful driver on this type of track seems to be rewarded more than at the Glenn.
Also don't forget for smaller team's driver like AJ Dinger and Clint Bowyer, etc this will be one of their best chances at victory lane this season! This is my current homestate racetrack, I am excited about this weekend's race. Let's roll and remember to check back later in the week, in case there is any changes in my picks!
Yahoo -
A:
Start - Jimmie Johnson (6)
Bench - Kurt Busch (9)
Reasons - I feel like Kurt and Jimmie will both finish inside the top 5, so I am going with Jimmie because I feel like getting off-sequence against the majority. Almost everyone will have Kurt as their starter, so why not? Especially since they are both almost locks to finish up front. Hoping for Kurt to mess up though.
B:
Start - AJ Dinger (8), Kyle Larson (6)
Bench - Clint Bowyer (8), Kasey Kahne (7)
Reasons - Tough decisions this week and honestly I still don't know if these are the right calls. Oh well, I guess I will let lady luck decide that as any other week. I wanted to bench the 47 of Dinger to get off-sequence, but felt better about doing my off-sequence pick in A though. So I am sticking with the 47 of Dinger, as he will be a threat to lead some laps and finish least inside the top 10. So who do I pair him with? Couple good choices actually! I like Clint Bowyer, but I won't really trust him too much though. Even with his track record as impressive as it is. Kasey loves Sonoma, but same as Bowyer I have hard time trusting him. So I am going with Kyle Larson! I think Larson could go to victory lane and I don't want to miss it either.
C:
Start - Michael McDowell (9)
Bench - Chase Elliott (5)
Reasons - I didn't get around to making the Ragan/Elliott swap, but wouldn't have mattered anyways though. I was going to use McDowell either way. Elliott will be okay on Saturday, but I am not going to waste a start here on him though. McDowell will deliever a top 25 finish and I am okay with that. As I don't think anyone will finish overly well in this grouping tier.
Fantasy Live - 78,19,15,47 and 14
Sleeper - Kyle Larson
Winner - Kurt Busch
Twitter - @MattAleza
It was nice to get a off-week in between races, but it back to business as usually with the series heading all the way back to the West Coast. I love Sonoma, it is a unique racetrack and have a special feel to it. Not only does it takes skill to run well here, it takes nearly a mistake-free race by the pit crews. Often the winner isn't who have the best car, but who has the most luck in the fuel mileage department. Also remember, this is one of the shortest races of the season (at only 219 miles - nearly 200 miles shorter than the typical 400 milers). So teams will be crunching numbers before the green flag even waves. So how do you attack a team with all of these factors? Great question and honestly I don't think there a right answer to that. Personally take a track history strongly into consideration. Really that is the only thing we go on, until practice on Friday. Honestly of the two road courses, I think this is one you want the your fantasy picks to be great road course racers. The skillful driver on this type of track seems to be rewarded more than at the Glenn.
Also don't forget for smaller team's driver like AJ Dinger and Clint Bowyer, etc this will be one of their best chances at victory lane this season! This is my current homestate racetrack, I am excited about this weekend's race. Let's roll and remember to check back later in the week, in case there is any changes in my picks!
Yahoo -
A:
Start - Jimmie Johnson (6)
Bench - Kurt Busch (9)
Reasons - I feel like Kurt and Jimmie will both finish inside the top 5, so I am going with Jimmie because I feel like getting off-sequence against the majority. Almost everyone will have Kurt as their starter, so why not? Especially since they are both almost locks to finish up front. Hoping for Kurt to mess up though.
B:
Start - AJ Dinger (8), Kyle Larson (6)
Bench - Clint Bowyer (8), Kasey Kahne (7)
Reasons - Tough decisions this week and honestly I still don't know if these are the right calls. Oh well, I guess I will let lady luck decide that as any other week. I wanted to bench the 47 of Dinger to get off-sequence, but felt better about doing my off-sequence pick in A though. So I am sticking with the 47 of Dinger, as he will be a threat to lead some laps and finish least inside the top 10. So who do I pair him with? Couple good choices actually! I like Clint Bowyer, but I won't really trust him too much though. Even with his track record as impressive as it is. Kasey loves Sonoma, but same as Bowyer I have hard time trusting him. So I am going with Kyle Larson! I think Larson could go to victory lane and I don't want to miss it either.
C:
Start - Michael McDowell (9)
Bench - Chase Elliott (5)
Reasons - I didn't get around to making the Ragan/Elliott swap, but wouldn't have mattered anyways though. I was going to use McDowell either way. Elliott will be okay on Saturday, but I am not going to waste a start here on him though. McDowell will deliever a top 25 finish and I am okay with that. As I don't think anyone will finish overly well in this grouping tier.
Fantasy Live - 78,19,15,47 and 14
Sleeper - Kyle Larson
Winner - Kurt Busch
Twitter - @MattAleza
