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We are at the Roval this weekend, which marks an end to another round after Sunday's race. With the way Nascar is making the schedule, I think you have to be a well rounded driver. No more, can your strength be on the 1.5 mile tracks. A few years ago, I believe 50% of the playofffs (5 races) were made of those 1.5 mile tracks. Teams like Gibbs, Haas and Penske had a major advantage over the field. It is changing now and the schedule is much more balance. For fantasy nascar players, that is good and bad. It's good because it give us a better chance to gain points on the competition. It is bad because, we could easily bomb a few races and end up losing a bunch of ground to the leaders. The good gotta come with the bad, sadly.
Below I have selected a few sleepers and dark horses picks that I really like this weekend at the Roval!
Sleepers -
Michael McDowell - McDowell has been an excellent road course racer in his career at the cup level and that hasn't changed. I think most times, he just doesn't get the finishes to show how good that he is. But make no mistake that this guy is top 5 good on pure talent on these road course and that is no joke, either. Go back and look what he has done this season alone on the road courses. No, literally go back and watch other road courses in the last few years. The eye test says he is driving way above his equipment level. Imagine if he had a decent ride? He would likely be a heavy favorite. Instead, the best we can hope for is likely a finish in the teens. I love McDowell this weekend at the Roval!
Chris Buescher - Buescher won't get the love that he should, but he has been a legit fantasy option the last couple seasons on the road course. In three races in 2019, he finished 12th, 16th and 18th in those three races. He followed that up earlier this season with a 5th place finish at the Daytona Road Course. He hasn't been special, but he is young and showing great upside with those finishes. If he finished between 10th and 15th, then I think that is a huge win for fantasy players. Considering almost nobody will have him on their roster. Add-in a few popular drivers with bad days? Buescher could be an excellent value play this weekend at the Roval!
Dark Horses -
Clint Bowyer - Bowyer has a lot of really good tracks left here on the schedule and it is fitting since he announced that he decided to step away after the 2020 season. That was a big shock to a lot of people, since SHR was looking to bring him back for another season according a few high ranking people in the organzation! I feel like here, Martinsville and Phoenix are his best three tracks left. If he gonna score a win, I would put my money on him at the Roval. If you are newer fantasy racing, then you probably don't realize that he wasn't always considered an ace. It wasn't until the 2012 season that he actually started to break out on the road courses. I believe that year, he won at Sonoma and finished top 5 at Watkins Glenn. In fact, his then teammate at MWR (Martin Truex Jr) was also very good that season on the road courses (even if he had shitty finish at the Sonoma's race). I think that season really open some eyes to how good those two would be in the future!
Jimmie Johnson - Another driver whom will not be returning in 2021 season is former cup champion, Jimmie Johnson. And this is likely his best shot to win at the remaining tracks on the schedule. I know a lot of people think he might win at Martinsville, but I think it here at Roval. Martinsville is one his best career tracks, but I think there way more drivers who can challenge for the win at Martinsville then a road course. Not to mention, I also believe Johnson will go down as one of the underrated road course racers in Nascar history. In his career, he has gotten no respect for his numbers on the road courses. That is just wrong, he is easily one of the most talented drivers on these tracks in the series.
***All stats are from DriverAverages.com
Email - Garrybriggs265@gmail.com
Twitter - @Garryy12
