Welcome to TimersSports
Sleepers -
Michael McDowell - McDowell is a legit sleeper at Sonoma and a lot of people don't even realize. Most people will say, ''oh he showed speed, but it won't translate into the race.'' You probably haven't watched him on road course races, then. He is a very skilled driver on this type of track, he just have a lot of bad luck here at Sonoma. A lot of that has to do with his equipment. He won't have that issue this weekend. The 95 team is running with better stuff (equipment) than they have ever before. Only good things will happen for Michael in the future, including this weekend.
Kasey Kahne - Kahne will start outside of the top 12 for today's race and should be under the radar, if you are looking for a quality fantasy pick. Kahne have started 15th or worse in his pat four starts at Sonoma. All four races, he has ended 9th or better. In his past 5 starts, he has started 15th or worse and ended 14th or better. For whatever it is worth, he started in the top 10 from 2006 to 2011 at Sonoma (5 races) and finished 20th or worse three times. Kahne haven't blown me away this weekend, but he never does. And when he does in practice, it usually a bad sign anyhow. That's not what worries me at the moment. His momentum right now is complete trash. He's finished 15th or worse in 9 of his last 10 cup races. His lone good finish? Talladega, 5th place. Kahne is good at Sonoma, but he really worries me. He might be a good option, but take a chance at your own risk.
Danica Patrick - Road course races are where everyone automatically think Danica's experience should pay off. While, yes, it is true that open-wheel background does help sometimes. It does not always translate. If you knew anything about open-wheel, then you know it's NOT all about turning right and left. Different cars than what we run in Nascar. And Danica, is not one of the drivers that experience will translate. She's not Tony Stewart, Marcos Ambrose or Juan Pablo Monotoya. When they came to Nascar, they had skill before the wheel for this type of track. Danica, was just another driver. So far in her career, that has held true. As she has posted just two top 20 finishes in 4 starts at Sonoma. Not terrible though, as both has came in the past three seasons here. She has speed this weekend and will start from inside the top 10. Honestly, that is the one thing I am counting on from her. She is about a top 20 driver (at best) entering the race. That's better than her usual though. Typically, I would have her outside of the top 25.
Dark Horses -
Clint Bowyer - Bowyer is a legit dark horse pick this weekend at Sonoma. He's fast and good at this tricky racetrack. I wish, he would had started a little further up, but that's okay. I think he will be just fine. Last year here, he had a very start race. How short? His equipment failed him literally in the first ten laps. No joke, he had a mechanical issue. Then again, look who he was driving for? Trust me, that was painful to watch. As I had him on one of my fantasy lineups. It didn't help, I had Casey Mears on that same lineup (he finished bad too). Anyways, back to the topic at hand. Bowyer should be a great dark horse. He will get back to victory lane soon and this weekend is most likely his best shot. Last year the 14 car went to victory lane with Smoke in the car. Don't be shocked, if the 14 win again!
AJ Dinger - AJ has made a strong name for himself on the road courses in Nascar and is usually considered a heavy favorite for both Sonoma and Watkins Glenn. With that said, he also has a habit of disappointing us fantasy nascar people. For the most part, I have done a great job of avoiding his bad luck. Probably because I usually go against the major, or as some people like to say fade. Regardless, it has worked out. I am more comfortable using him at Watkins Glenn than here at Sonoma. But it is hard to overlook his large upside. How often will he show top 5 or top 10 speed in practice? Then qualify up front? I will give you a hint: Four times per season. The road courses and then again at Martinsville. That's all, folks. Pick against him, if you want, but I really like him this weekend. His bad luck has to end sometime at Sonoma and this weekend could be his weekend
Jamie Mac - There's a lot of really good options this week and quite a few dark horses to consider. I love that! If there is a week to think outside of the box, this is the week. This is the week, that we will get another surprise winner, I think. Jamie Mac may be that driver. It is no secret that I am a huge Chip Ganassi supporter of both drivers. A lot of people been disrespecting Jamie and giving him crap because he isn't running as well as Larson. Really? Why? Larson is far more talented and get more out of his stuff. Not kind of driver Jamie is. But this is a race, where I feel like Jamie can stay with Larson and possibly finish better than him. I love Jamie for Sonoma. He has always run well here, but bad luck has been his worst friend though. I think he finally get the monkey off his back and contends for a top 5 finish.
Have a question or want to chat?
Email - briggs_garry48@yahoo.com
Twitter - @Garryy12
Sleepers -
Michael McDowell - McDowell is a legit sleeper at Sonoma and a lot of people don't even realize. Most people will say, ''oh he showed speed, but it won't translate into the race.'' You probably haven't watched him on road course races, then. He is a very skilled driver on this type of track, he just have a lot of bad luck here at Sonoma. A lot of that has to do with his equipment. He won't have that issue this weekend. The 95 team is running with better stuff (equipment) than they have ever before. Only good things will happen for Michael in the future, including this weekend.
Kasey Kahne - Kahne will start outside of the top 12 for today's race and should be under the radar, if you are looking for a quality fantasy pick. Kahne have started 15th or worse in his pat four starts at Sonoma. All four races, he has ended 9th or better. In his past 5 starts, he has started 15th or worse and ended 14th or better. For whatever it is worth, he started in the top 10 from 2006 to 2011 at Sonoma (5 races) and finished 20th or worse three times. Kahne haven't blown me away this weekend, but he never does. And when he does in practice, it usually a bad sign anyhow. That's not what worries me at the moment. His momentum right now is complete trash. He's finished 15th or worse in 9 of his last 10 cup races. His lone good finish? Talladega, 5th place. Kahne is good at Sonoma, but he really worries me. He might be a good option, but take a chance at your own risk.
Danica Patrick - Road course races are where everyone automatically think Danica's experience should pay off. While, yes, it is true that open-wheel background does help sometimes. It does not always translate. If you knew anything about open-wheel, then you know it's NOT all about turning right and left. Different cars than what we run in Nascar. And Danica, is not one of the drivers that experience will translate. She's not Tony Stewart, Marcos Ambrose or Juan Pablo Monotoya. When they came to Nascar, they had skill before the wheel for this type of track. Danica, was just another driver. So far in her career, that has held true. As she has posted just two top 20 finishes in 4 starts at Sonoma. Not terrible though, as both has came in the past three seasons here. She has speed this weekend and will start from inside the top 10. Honestly, that is the one thing I am counting on from her. She is about a top 20 driver (at best) entering the race. That's better than her usual though. Typically, I would have her outside of the top 25.
Dark Horses -
Clint Bowyer - Bowyer is a legit dark horse pick this weekend at Sonoma. He's fast and good at this tricky racetrack. I wish, he would had started a little further up, but that's okay. I think he will be just fine. Last year here, he had a very start race. How short? His equipment failed him literally in the first ten laps. No joke, he had a mechanical issue. Then again, look who he was driving for? Trust me, that was painful to watch. As I had him on one of my fantasy lineups. It didn't help, I had Casey Mears on that same lineup (he finished bad too). Anyways, back to the topic at hand. Bowyer should be a great dark horse. He will get back to victory lane soon and this weekend is most likely his best shot. Last year the 14 car went to victory lane with Smoke in the car. Don't be shocked, if the 14 win again!
AJ Dinger - AJ has made a strong name for himself on the road courses in Nascar and is usually considered a heavy favorite for both Sonoma and Watkins Glenn. With that said, he also has a habit of disappointing us fantasy nascar people. For the most part, I have done a great job of avoiding his bad luck. Probably because I usually go against the major, or as some people like to say fade. Regardless, it has worked out. I am more comfortable using him at Watkins Glenn than here at Sonoma. But it is hard to overlook his large upside. How often will he show top 5 or top 10 speed in practice? Then qualify up front? I will give you a hint: Four times per season. The road courses and then again at Martinsville. That's all, folks. Pick against him, if you want, but I really like him this weekend. His bad luck has to end sometime at Sonoma and this weekend could be his weekend
Jamie Mac - There's a lot of really good options this week and quite a few dark horses to consider. I love that! If there is a week to think outside of the box, this is the week. This is the week, that we will get another surprise winner, I think. Jamie Mac may be that driver. It is no secret that I am a huge Chip Ganassi supporter of both drivers. A lot of people been disrespecting Jamie and giving him crap because he isn't running as well as Larson. Really? Why? Larson is far more talented and get more out of his stuff. Not kind of driver Jamie is. But this is a race, where I feel like Jamie can stay with Larson and possibly finish better than him. I love Jamie for Sonoma. He has always run well here, but bad luck has been his worst friend though. I think he finally get the monkey off his back and contends for a top 5 finish.
Have a question or want to chat?
Email - briggs_garry48@yahoo.com
Twitter - @Garryy12