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It is nice to get back into the swing of things here in 2018. For me, the offseason went a lot quicker for me than in recent seasons. Regardless, it is good to be looking up Fantasy Nascar stats again for a race. Sleepers and Dark Horses is a very critical and important aspect in Fantasy Nascar. What does these terms mean exactly? Great question. A lot of people have the misconception that they are interchangeable terms. They aren't. They are two different things.
Sleepers are associated with value. Usually sleepers are drivers who are under the radar. They get tagged with that extra value because they generally get overlooked. Which means if things pans out, you will get them at a reduced price. And that is the exact goal when selecting these drivers. Sleepers are headed gems that nobody else has located. Be careful though. Sleepers have a tendency to have a higher risk of backfiring. I can tell you from experience.
Like sleepers, the dark horses aren't expected to win but we wouldn't be too shocked if they did though. Dark Horses are about the potential. They are usually drivers who has stabilized themselves as threats and that can challenge for a win or at least have a strong run. So do you understand the differences? Sleepers are to do with value and dark horses based on high potential. Simple enough, right?
Alright, let's get things rolling!
Sleepers -
Michael McDowell - McDowell is far from the first driver that we think of at the plate tracks, but his numbers has been incredibly good over the past couple seasons though. In his last four Daytona races, he has finished 15th or better in all four races. In six of his last eight races at Daytona, he has finished 15th or better overall. In one of the two races he finished bad, he had mechanical failure in July 2013 event. For whatever reason, he just seems to finish well at Daytona. Considering he won't get much consideration in most formats, it might be a good idea to grab this nice hidden gem. He tend to stay out of trouble and usually a good bet to keep his equipment in good shape.
AJ Dinger - The Dinger isn't the first driver or a lot of in people top 20 drivers when we come to the plate races. But you wanna know something? I used him in at least one of my fantasy leagues in last season's plate races. And I was pretty happy with my results.Especially here at Daytona. So much, I plan to do it again. It may be some really crazy luck involved, but that is the name of the game sometimes. In last season's races at Daytona, he had 2 top 10 finishes in 2 races. Over his last 6 races at Daytona, he's posted 6 straight top 21 finishes. He may not run up front at the plate tracks, but for whatever reason he always seems to be there when it matters. He has good enough finishes at the plate tracks since the 2014 season. Good enough when I am willing to gamble on him.
Aric Almirola - Almirola is one of the most underrated plate racers in the series at Daytona. For whatever reason, he almost always seem to find ways to survive the big one at these plate tracks. No driver is complete safe, but history is on Aric's side. In 5 of his last 6 races at Daytona, Aric has finished in the top 15. In 4 of his last 5 Daytona 500s, he has finished in the top 15 as well. I know a lot of people aren't gonna jump on the Aric bandwagon, but I have been on it for the past two seasons. And things have worked out pretty damn good so far. I will probably add him to a few of my fantasy games.
Dark Horses -
Austin Dillon - Dillon is one of the best plate racers in the series. He is someone that could easily go to victory lane. His success in the #3 car is pretty impressive. Last season, he had two finishes outside of the top 15 for the first time since coming a full-time driver. In last season's races at Daytona, he had finishes of 19th and 36th. From February 2014 through July 2016 (6 races), he had 8.5 average finish, 16.5 average running position and 82.6 driver rating. During those 6 races, he had 5 top 10 finishes. His lone non-top 10 finish? 14th in February 2015. He may not perform quite as well as the top drivers in the series during the event, however he has a knack for finishing up there though.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr - Stenhouse Jr has proven in recent seasons that he is one of the best plate racers in the series. We don't expect him to win again like he did twice in 2017, but I wouldn't be surprised about it, either. I kinda see him more of a dark horse pick as he not quite there at the top with some of the other drivers like Keselowski, Hamlin or Busch who has clearly stabilized themselves as the clear-cut guys to beat. Stenhouse Jr is part of that next group of drivers probably though. I think the biggest thing that will scare people away from Stenhouse Jr is his numbers at the Daytona 500. He doesn't have a finish in the top 20 over his last three Daytona 500 races. His best finish in those three races are 22nd place in 2016. Prior to those three races, he had three finishes in the top 20 in his first three Daytona 500 starts though. Stenhouse Jr's skillset on the plate tracks will always give him a chance to finish well, regardless of what the numbers say. I really do believe that!
Joey Logano - It is hard to say that Logano is a dark horse pick, with his already superstar status. But it is also hard to say that he is a favorite. Especially after the year he is coming off, missing the Nascar playoffs for the first time since joining Penske. And his numbers at Daytona is ridiculous! And his Daytona 500 numbers are even better. Over his last 6 Daytona 500 races, he has finished 11th or better in five of those races. He haven't finished worse than 11th place since the 2013 season. He finished 19th in 2013 and that finish is his only worse than 11th. As you can see, Joey is very good at the Daytona 500. He just have a knack for showing up in the big moments. I wouldn't mind taking a shot with Joey Logano. In my opinion, he is gonna be under people radars. Especially with guys like Hamlin, Keselowski, Elliott, Busch, etc taking the spotlight.
Clint Bowyer - Bowyer has crazy good numbers in Daytona. In his last 10 races at this 2.5 mile track, he has posted 6 Top 10 finishes. He leads the series in top 10 and top 15 finishes overall. In fact, Bowyer all 7 top 15 are actually all in the top 11. Bad news? His numbers at the Daytona 500 are pretty noticeable off. In his last 4 Daytona 500 races, he has 3 finishes of 32nd or worse. I still love Clint as a fantasy pick. He is a very skillful plate racer and could easily sneak into victory lane. But like the other 39 drivers on Sunday, he will need to have a lot of luck on his side.
***All stats are from DriverAverages.com and FantasyRacingCheatSheet.com
Have a question or want to chat?
Email - briggs_garry48@yahoo.com
Twitter - @Garryy12
It is nice to get back into the swing of things here in 2018. For me, the offseason went a lot quicker for me than in recent seasons. Regardless, it is good to be looking up Fantasy Nascar stats again for a race. Sleepers and Dark Horses is a very critical and important aspect in Fantasy Nascar. What does these terms mean exactly? Great question. A lot of people have the misconception that they are interchangeable terms. They aren't. They are two different things.
Sleepers are associated with value. Usually sleepers are drivers who are under the radar. They get tagged with that extra value because they generally get overlooked. Which means if things pans out, you will get them at a reduced price. And that is the exact goal when selecting these drivers. Sleepers are headed gems that nobody else has located. Be careful though. Sleepers have a tendency to have a higher risk of backfiring. I can tell you from experience.
Like sleepers, the dark horses aren't expected to win but we wouldn't be too shocked if they did though. Dark Horses are about the potential. They are usually drivers who has stabilized themselves as threats and that can challenge for a win or at least have a strong run. So do you understand the differences? Sleepers are to do with value and dark horses based on high potential. Simple enough, right?
Alright, let's get things rolling!
Sleepers -
Michael McDowell - McDowell is far from the first driver that we think of at the plate tracks, but his numbers has been incredibly good over the past couple seasons though. In his last four Daytona races, he has finished 15th or better in all four races. In six of his last eight races at Daytona, he has finished 15th or better overall. In one of the two races he finished bad, he had mechanical failure in July 2013 event. For whatever reason, he just seems to finish well at Daytona. Considering he won't get much consideration in most formats, it might be a good idea to grab this nice hidden gem. He tend to stay out of trouble and usually a good bet to keep his equipment in good shape.
AJ Dinger - The Dinger isn't the first driver or a lot of in people top 20 drivers when we come to the plate races. But you wanna know something? I used him in at least one of my fantasy leagues in last season's plate races. And I was pretty happy with my results.Especially here at Daytona. So much, I plan to do it again. It may be some really crazy luck involved, but that is the name of the game sometimes. In last season's races at Daytona, he had 2 top 10 finishes in 2 races. Over his last 6 races at Daytona, he's posted 6 straight top 21 finishes. He may not run up front at the plate tracks, but for whatever reason he always seems to be there when it matters. He has good enough finishes at the plate tracks since the 2014 season. Good enough when I am willing to gamble on him.
Aric Almirola - Almirola is one of the most underrated plate racers in the series at Daytona. For whatever reason, he almost always seem to find ways to survive the big one at these plate tracks. No driver is complete safe, but history is on Aric's side. In 5 of his last 6 races at Daytona, Aric has finished in the top 15. In 4 of his last 5 Daytona 500s, he has finished in the top 15 as well. I know a lot of people aren't gonna jump on the Aric bandwagon, but I have been on it for the past two seasons. And things have worked out pretty damn good so far. I will probably add him to a few of my fantasy games.
Dark Horses -
Austin Dillon - Dillon is one of the best plate racers in the series. He is someone that could easily go to victory lane. His success in the #3 car is pretty impressive. Last season, he had two finishes outside of the top 15 for the first time since coming a full-time driver. In last season's races at Daytona, he had finishes of 19th and 36th. From February 2014 through July 2016 (6 races), he had 8.5 average finish, 16.5 average running position and 82.6 driver rating. During those 6 races, he had 5 top 10 finishes. His lone non-top 10 finish? 14th in February 2015. He may not perform quite as well as the top drivers in the series during the event, however he has a knack for finishing up there though.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr - Stenhouse Jr has proven in recent seasons that he is one of the best plate racers in the series. We don't expect him to win again like he did twice in 2017, but I wouldn't be surprised about it, either. I kinda see him more of a dark horse pick as he not quite there at the top with some of the other drivers like Keselowski, Hamlin or Busch who has clearly stabilized themselves as the clear-cut guys to beat. Stenhouse Jr is part of that next group of drivers probably though. I think the biggest thing that will scare people away from Stenhouse Jr is his numbers at the Daytona 500. He doesn't have a finish in the top 20 over his last three Daytona 500 races. His best finish in those three races are 22nd place in 2016. Prior to those three races, he had three finishes in the top 20 in his first three Daytona 500 starts though. Stenhouse Jr's skillset on the plate tracks will always give him a chance to finish well, regardless of what the numbers say. I really do believe that!
Joey Logano - It is hard to say that Logano is a dark horse pick, with his already superstar status. But it is also hard to say that he is a favorite. Especially after the year he is coming off, missing the Nascar playoffs for the first time since joining Penske. And his numbers at Daytona is ridiculous! And his Daytona 500 numbers are even better. Over his last 6 Daytona 500 races, he has finished 11th or better in five of those races. He haven't finished worse than 11th place since the 2013 season. He finished 19th in 2013 and that finish is his only worse than 11th. As you can see, Joey is very good at the Daytona 500. He just have a knack for showing up in the big moments. I wouldn't mind taking a shot with Joey Logano. In my opinion, he is gonna be under people radars. Especially with guys like Hamlin, Keselowski, Elliott, Busch, etc taking the spotlight.
Clint Bowyer - Bowyer has crazy good numbers in Daytona. In his last 10 races at this 2.5 mile track, he has posted 6 Top 10 finishes. He leads the series in top 10 and top 15 finishes overall. In fact, Bowyer all 7 top 15 are actually all in the top 11. Bad news? His numbers at the Daytona 500 are pretty noticeable off. In his last 4 Daytona 500 races, he has 3 finishes of 32nd or worse. I still love Clint as a fantasy pick. He is a very skillful plate racer and could easily sneak into victory lane. But like the other 39 drivers on Sunday, he will need to have a lot of luck on his side.
***All stats are from DriverAverages.com and FantasyRacingCheatSheet.com
Have a question or want to chat?
Email - briggs_garry48@yahoo.com
Twitter - @Garryy12
