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Driver Name: Kyle Larson
Car #: 42
Make: Chevy
Season Debut: 2014 (First-Full Season)
Number of Championships: 0
# of Career Starts: 111
# of Career Poles: 1
# of Career Wins: 1
# of Career Top 5s: 20
# of Career Top 10s: 42
# of Career DNFs: 13
# of Career laps led: 548
Career Average Finish: 16.5
Career Average Start: 15.3
# of 2016 Wins: 1
# of 2016 Top 5s: 10
# of 2016 Top 10s: 15
# of 2016 Poles: 0
# of 2016 DNFs: 2
# of 2016 laps led: 379
2016 Average Finish: 14.7
2016 Average Start: 15.6
2016 Fantasy Recap - Kyle Larson had his breakout season in the Cup Series in 2016, as he finally went to victory lane. That was arguably the most popular win of the 2016 season. Larson in his first two seasons was heavily criticized for not winning enough or contending up front. In 2016, he had his share of disappointment. But he made some major progress as well. Larson showed he is a well-around driver. He didn't really consistently run well on any specific type of track, but proved he can run well at every type of track. The consistency and finishing is his issue though. I think Larson is well ahead of the learning curve as a driver, what he accomplished in 2016 was pretty impressive. He improved in everything really. This was after just 2 Top 10 finishes in the first 11 race and only 5 Top 20 finishes in those 11 races. Bad start, but he ended with an win, 10 Top 5 finishes and 15 Top 10 finishes. Including 14.7 average finish as well. Wins, top 5 finishes, top 10 finishes, average finish and laps led all saw a major uptick in 2016. Also improved in top 20 finishes, from 20 to 26. Across the board, Larson saw very good stats. Another thing people don't take into consideration is his equipment level. He's not driving for Hendrick or Gibbs, but he is still running near the front more often than not. Overall, Larson had a very solid season. He accomplished everything he needed to and that was making strides as a cup driver. He took a step forward and that's all you can ask for, he did that and much more in my opinion. Solid season!
Strong Tracks - Homestead, Dover, Michigan, Pocono and Indy
Weak Tracks - Kentucky and Martinsville
Yahoo Grouping Tier: B-list Grouping
2017 Fantasy Outlook - In 2016, I expected Larson to take that next step as a driver and he did that, as he finally got to victory lane. In 2017, I think we will see him get even better though. Especially since no driver fits the new race package than Larson. The looser these cars get, the more it will benefit a driver like Larson. Also Chip Ganassi Racing should see some improvement. One of the reason for Larson's slow starts last year was his new crew chief Chad Johnston. Those two didn't get on the same page until like May and that exactly when the results started to come in for them. From May to November, they were consistent top 10 threats and contended for top 5 too. So where do I expect Larson to do his best work out? Hard to say, but I would say the shorter-flats and larger flats to be the safest places for him. Pocono and Indy are by far his best tracks as track types. Very good on them both. No poor finishes in his career at either track. Been very competition. Richmond and Phoenix are places were Larson has been good at and overall very consistent. Mainly in the top 10 to low-teens. New Hampshire, he has been off at (minus his first two starts). He will be good on the intermediate tracks like his first three seasons. But I think CGR is lacking the speed for him to be a consistent top 5 threat though. So expect mix results, but he will have the potential though. Road courses are tracks, he has showed he can run very well at, however he usually has some type of bad luck. In 2016, he had top 5 cars in both races, until bad luck hit him late. Overall, Larson will have impressive runs in 2017. But he is one of those drivers that can find bad luck at drop of an hat. And he will have those days, where everything going great and then bang he is on pit road with some type of issue. The kid is talented, but he is also impatience at times. He has worked on that at, but its still shows as he is developing. In 2017, I expect 1 win, 10-12 Top 5 finishes and 16 to 18 Top 10 finishes. He may be a bit under those numbers, but give or take a couple seems likely for him. I am expecting another solid year for Kyle Larson!
Twitter - @JeffNathans18
Driver Name: Kyle Larson
Car #: 42
Make: Chevy
Season Debut: 2014 (First-Full Season)
Number of Championships: 0
# of Career Starts: 111
# of Career Poles: 1
# of Career Wins: 1
# of Career Top 5s: 20
# of Career Top 10s: 42
# of Career DNFs: 13
# of Career laps led: 548
Career Average Finish: 16.5
Career Average Start: 15.3
# of 2016 Wins: 1
# of 2016 Top 5s: 10
# of 2016 Top 10s: 15
# of 2016 Poles: 0
# of 2016 DNFs: 2
# of 2016 laps led: 379
2016 Average Finish: 14.7
2016 Average Start: 15.6
2016 Fantasy Recap - Kyle Larson had his breakout season in the Cup Series in 2016, as he finally went to victory lane. That was arguably the most popular win of the 2016 season. Larson in his first two seasons was heavily criticized for not winning enough or contending up front. In 2016, he had his share of disappointment. But he made some major progress as well. Larson showed he is a well-around driver. He didn't really consistently run well on any specific type of track, but proved he can run well at every type of track. The consistency and finishing is his issue though. I think Larson is well ahead of the learning curve as a driver, what he accomplished in 2016 was pretty impressive. He improved in everything really. This was after just 2 Top 10 finishes in the first 11 race and only 5 Top 20 finishes in those 11 races. Bad start, but he ended with an win, 10 Top 5 finishes and 15 Top 10 finishes. Including 14.7 average finish as well. Wins, top 5 finishes, top 10 finishes, average finish and laps led all saw a major uptick in 2016. Also improved in top 20 finishes, from 20 to 26. Across the board, Larson saw very good stats. Another thing people don't take into consideration is his equipment level. He's not driving for Hendrick or Gibbs, but he is still running near the front more often than not. Overall, Larson had a very solid season. He accomplished everything he needed to and that was making strides as a cup driver. He took a step forward and that's all you can ask for, he did that and much more in my opinion. Solid season!
Strong Tracks - Homestead, Dover, Michigan, Pocono and Indy
Weak Tracks - Kentucky and Martinsville
Yahoo Grouping Tier: B-list Grouping
2017 Fantasy Outlook - In 2016, I expected Larson to take that next step as a driver and he did that, as he finally got to victory lane. In 2017, I think we will see him get even better though. Especially since no driver fits the new race package than Larson. The looser these cars get, the more it will benefit a driver like Larson. Also Chip Ganassi Racing should see some improvement. One of the reason for Larson's slow starts last year was his new crew chief Chad Johnston. Those two didn't get on the same page until like May and that exactly when the results started to come in for them. From May to November, they were consistent top 10 threats and contended for top 5 too. So where do I expect Larson to do his best work out? Hard to say, but I would say the shorter-flats and larger flats to be the safest places for him. Pocono and Indy are by far his best tracks as track types. Very good on them both. No poor finishes in his career at either track. Been very competition. Richmond and Phoenix are places were Larson has been good at and overall very consistent. Mainly in the top 10 to low-teens. New Hampshire, he has been off at (minus his first two starts). He will be good on the intermediate tracks like his first three seasons. But I think CGR is lacking the speed for him to be a consistent top 5 threat though. So expect mix results, but he will have the potential though. Road courses are tracks, he has showed he can run very well at, however he usually has some type of bad luck. In 2016, he had top 5 cars in both races, until bad luck hit him late. Overall, Larson will have impressive runs in 2017. But he is one of those drivers that can find bad luck at drop of an hat. And he will have those days, where everything going great and then bang he is on pit road with some type of issue. The kid is talented, but he is also impatience at times. He has worked on that at, but its still shows as he is developing. In 2017, I expect 1 win, 10-12 Top 5 finishes and 16 to 18 Top 10 finishes. He may be a bit under those numbers, but give or take a couple seems likely for him. I am expecting another solid year for Kyle Larson!
Twitter - @JeffNathans18
