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Notes-
1-Jamie Mac: JMac have impressed me in every practice session and will start from 5th. He have a good car for Sunday. He was near top of the charts among the Best-ten lap averages. Got looser on the long runs though.
2-Brad Keselowski: Keselowski was in his own zip code on Saturday. He won both practice sessions. He is the favorite heading in. BK seems very happy with his car. To nobody surprise.
3-Austin Dillon: Dillon looked average in practice. Which is normal for him. Typical he races better then he practices. Expect top 20 finish from Dillon.
4-Kevin Harvick: Harvick starts 12th. Wasn't very with the car on Friday. Thought the car was horrible during qualifying. On Saturday , he wasn't completely happy with the handling until end of Happy Hour. He commented ," Its takes off really good"
5-Kasey Kahne: Kahne looks pretty good this weekend (he was one of 3 @Gbriggs12 's sleeper picks from Tuesday). Kahne tested here recently , so its isn't too shocking. Kahne rolls off from 10th.
10-Danica Patrick: Danica wasn't very good in either session on Saturday. Her lap times were around 25th overall. It probably wouldn't be worth using her on Sunday.
11-Denny Hamlin: Hamlin been strong all weekend. First time all season , I liked Denny chances to possibly win. Hamlin seems to have a good handling car with a nice balance of speed. He posted terrific best-ten lap average in both sessions on Saturday. He starts two spots behind teammate and pole sitter Kyle Busch.
14-Tony Stewart: Smoke starts 4th. He was decent on Saturday. But not great. I have him penciled in around 7th-12th range. Which is where most had him ranked earlier in the week.
15-Clint Bowyer: Clint starts 8th. He was okay overall. I was expecting to see a bit more out of him though. His lap times were just outside the top 10 really. It would be difficult to start him in Yahoo this week. Especially with Grouping A being stacked with top 5 potential drivers.
16-Greg Biffle: RFR cars are junk again this weekend. What a shocker. The Biff might be the worst of them all. I don't even think , he have top 20 potential. Unless he gambles late in the race.
18-Kyle Busch: Busch starts from 1st. Busch looked good in both sessions on Saturday. Which makes him a nice gamble this weekend. Didn't see him make any major long runs though (I am sure he did.. probably miss it).
20-Matt Kenseth: Kenseth starts from just outside the top 12. He didn't standout in practice. But rarely he does. He's really good at making his way through the field on a consistent basis. Expect a top 10 from the 20 car.
22-Joey Logano: Logano wrecked his primary car in practice 1 (on Friday). Qualified 6th in his backup. Looked top 10 on Saturday. He said his primary had top 5 potential. Probably wouldn't recommend him here. Especially in limited usage formatted leagues. I want max value out my starts , he doesn't give us that opportunity this weekend.
24-Jeff Gordon: Gordon had the second best car to Keselowski overall. Gordon displayed wicked long run speed. He is a top 5 guy going in. Its will be hard to leave him off for Sunday race.
27-Paul Menard : Back on Thursday in the Fantasy Nascar Discussion , Michelle Rizzo (@MichelleRizzo5) said Menard was her weekend sleeper. And he haven't disappointed. Its seemed every practice session , the 27 of Menard have gotten better and better.Top 15 is likely. Maybe a top 10 even.
31-Ryan Newman: Newman was a popular pick this week (in Yahoo). Unfortunately a poor qualifying effort have him under everyone radar. He wasn't very happy with his car on Friday. But he seems to have gotten better on Saturday. Lacked long run speed though. Ended P22 on Best ten lap average chart.
42-Kyle Larson: Larson looks really good (like his teammate JMac). Larson starts 13th. He have top 10 potential. Nevertheless I don't plan to use him though. He holds too much value.
48-Jimmie Johnson: Johnson wasn't very good until Chad tuned the ole 48 car to Jimmie boy liking. He rolls off 2nd. Probably be smart to save him , since he doesn't have a dominate car like he did back at Charlotte or Dover.
55-Brain Vickers : Didn't really buy into Vickers this week. And so far I been spot on. He have at best top 15 chance. I have him penciled in at 16th. There are better choices to use.
66-Jeff Burton: Burton started off slow on Friday (with a poor qualifying effort). Nevertheless , he looked stout on Saturday. Legitimately have a shot at top 20. Wouldn't rule out top 15. Hard to pass up a value deal like this. Also this is likely Jeff Burton final race.
88-Dale Jr: Dale wasn't very good on Friday. He even admitted it on Twitter. But Steve and the boys got that 88 in the right direction in Happy Hour. But his car still not where he wants it. Fyi Dale leads all driver in average finish on flats in 2014.
99-Carl Edwards : Edwards have been quiet most of the weekend (like normal). Really couldn't get a good read on him. He didn't make any long runs (real shocker there). Its really a risk/reward deal with starting Edwards. He may finish top 10. Or may finish in the mid to late teens. Take your pick.
Well that wraps up my notes from the weekend. Check back later for my Final Rankings. And check back again tomorrow for the Raceday Thoughts from our group of expertises.
Twitter - @JeffNathans
Thanks for reading
Jeff Nathans
