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We are at Auto Club Speedway this weekend. This place can be referred to as Fontona or Cali, as I call it sometimes. A few weeks ago, we saw the ''full package'' on display at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. I know we are suppose to have a better ideal what to expect, but honestly I am still kinda blank from that race. I have a lot better idea who will probably be good, but as for the racing, I think there's still plenty of unknowns. Personally, I think we are gonna need 4 or 5 races of data on this type of track.
Sleepers -
Daniel Hemric - The RCR cars has shown a lot of speed overall this season so far and seem to be one of the team who has got the jump on this package. Hemric didn't qualify quite as well as his teammate did, but Hemric has displayed good speed all weekend long. He didn't make any super long runs in final practice, but he did post the best-ten lap average, though. The #8 car has shown speed all season in practice, but he haven't quite backed it up in the race. He was looking promising at Vegas and Atlanta, but only was able to muster finishes of 20th and 23rd. Those aren't bad finishes, but I think he could do better than that. In one of those races, I believe he had to make a late unscheduled pit stop.
Austin Dillon - There's a few reasons why Austin Dillon has been on my radar this week and one of them I mentioned up above. As I said with Hemric, the RCR cars has shown a lot of peed this season. Specifically two weeks ago, Austin Dillon was impressive in the speed department. But he was never the same, after that pit road penalty. He was fast again last weekend at ISM and should had finished top 10. He is showing good speed again this weekend and will start on the pole. Personally, I don't think anyone believe he will contend for the win. I don't either for the record. He may not even contend for a top 10. But his potential reminds me a lot of the 2016 event here. He was running well in the top 10 before the final pit stop, but then his pit gun broke on the final stop. He finished 24th. He has been very good here at Cali. In the last five races, he has posted 3 finishes of either 10th or 11th. If that pit gun didn't break in 2016, he would have 4 finishes in the top 11 in 5 career starts!
Dark Horses -
Ryan Blaney - Blaney should be a great dark horse pick this weekend! He has had a very strong showing so far and has a lot of speed in his #12 car again. I am not sure, if he's good as last weekend. But he's top 5 good on the speed charts, though. His two teammates are really strong, too. This has been the common theme through four races, where all three of the Penske cars has stoodout. My only concern about Blaney? He has a tendency of finding ways to not get the finish that he deserves.
Aric Almirola - Almirola has never ran well here at Cali, but in 2018 he was very consistent on the 2-mile tracks. In fact, he swept the top 12 at both Cali and Michigan. As for this season, he has been having a strong season. As he has posted 3 straight top 8 finishes. Including two top 10 finishes on each of the first two intermediate tracks. This weekend, he will start from 3rd starting position and should at least contend for a top 10 finish. I honestly wouldn't be shocked, if he ended up in the top 5! Aric has been so smooth since middle of last season overall, I think he's due for another win very soon.
Have a question or want to chat?
Email - briggs_garry48@yahoo.com
Twitter - @Garryy12
We are at Auto Club Speedway this weekend. This place can be referred to as Fontona or Cali, as I call it sometimes. A few weeks ago, we saw the ''full package'' on display at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. I know we are suppose to have a better ideal what to expect, but honestly I am still kinda blank from that race. I have a lot better idea who will probably be good, but as for the racing, I think there's still plenty of unknowns. Personally, I think we are gonna need 4 or 5 races of data on this type of track.
Sleepers -
Daniel Hemric - The RCR cars has shown a lot of speed overall this season so far and seem to be one of the team who has got the jump on this package. Hemric didn't qualify quite as well as his teammate did, but Hemric has displayed good speed all weekend long. He didn't make any super long runs in final practice, but he did post the best-ten lap average, though. The #8 car has shown speed all season in practice, but he haven't quite backed it up in the race. He was looking promising at Vegas and Atlanta, but only was able to muster finishes of 20th and 23rd. Those aren't bad finishes, but I think he could do better than that. In one of those races, I believe he had to make a late unscheduled pit stop.
Austin Dillon - There's a few reasons why Austin Dillon has been on my radar this week and one of them I mentioned up above. As I said with Hemric, the RCR cars has shown a lot of peed this season. Specifically two weeks ago, Austin Dillon was impressive in the speed department. But he was never the same, after that pit road penalty. He was fast again last weekend at ISM and should had finished top 10. He is showing good speed again this weekend and will start on the pole. Personally, I don't think anyone believe he will contend for the win. I don't either for the record. He may not even contend for a top 10. But his potential reminds me a lot of the 2016 event here. He was running well in the top 10 before the final pit stop, but then his pit gun broke on the final stop. He finished 24th. He has been very good here at Cali. In the last five races, he has posted 3 finishes of either 10th or 11th. If that pit gun didn't break in 2016, he would have 4 finishes in the top 11 in 5 career starts!
Dark Horses -
Ryan Blaney - Blaney should be a great dark horse pick this weekend! He has had a very strong showing so far and has a lot of speed in his #12 car again. I am not sure, if he's good as last weekend. But he's top 5 good on the speed charts, though. His two teammates are really strong, too. This has been the common theme through four races, where all three of the Penske cars has stoodout. My only concern about Blaney? He has a tendency of finding ways to not get the finish that he deserves.
Aric Almirola - Almirola has never ran well here at Cali, but in 2018 he was very consistent on the 2-mile tracks. In fact, he swept the top 12 at both Cali and Michigan. As for this season, he has been having a strong season. As he has posted 3 straight top 8 finishes. Including two top 10 finishes on each of the first two intermediate tracks. This weekend, he will start from 3rd starting position and should at least contend for a top 10 finish. I honestly wouldn't be shocked, if he ended up in the top 5! Aric has been so smooth since middle of last season overall, I think he's due for another win very soon.
Have a question or want to chat?
Email - briggs_garry48@yahoo.com
Twitter - @Garryy12