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We are at Michigan this weekend. For those asking , no I won't be attending this weekend race. But my sister will (Yeah I am jealous). Anyhow Michigan isn't your typical oval shape track. Its wide and lengthy for some great racing. Teams always try to stench fuel mileage here. Jimmie Johnson won here last time on fuel mileage. This is a horsepower track. Anything with a chevy (preferably a HMS) engine will be fast. In Yahoo , expect me to be focus on start save. In simpler terms , I will use Michigan to benefit my long term game.
1-Jamie Mac: JMac is a nice sleeper. He was pretty fast earlier this season here. Ran inside the top 15 all day and finish there as well. Over the past 5 races at MIS , JMac have compiled an 19.0 average finish , 3 Top 20s , 26 laps led and 73.7 driver rating.
2-Brad Keselowski: BK is a in a huge slump. Funny that he consistency shows up with a fast racecar , but cannot match the results. Michigan been a great track in the past for BK. Finish 3rd back in June. He wasn't dominate though. Over the past 5 races here , BK have compiled 8.4 average finish , 2 Top 5s , 2 Top 10s , 5 Top 20s , 41 laps led and 104.3 driver rating. His worst finish is 13th in that span. Since 2012 , Brad holds an 12.2 average finish on similar tracks.
3-Austin Dillon: Dillon best track is Michigan without question. He was really strong back in June. I have 5 starts left and Dillon almost a lock to start. Don't be fooled by his ill finish earlier this season. He was much better then 30th.
4-Kevin Harvick: Harvick is bad fast every single week. Yet people consistency avoid him because of his consistent bad luck. News flash he been the most reliable driver at Intermediate tracks since 2012. Over the past 5 races here , KH have compiled 6.4 average finish , 3 Top 5s , 4 Top 10s , 63 laps led and 103.9 driver rating. No driver been better then stupid freaky fast Harvick recently at MIS.
5-Kasey Kahne: Okay there really no need to even consider to Kahne this week. But I am sure there some bonehead out willing to gamble. Kahne just isn't worth the reward. Since he have only one more lead lap finish then DNFs over his last 5 races at Michigan.
10- Danica Patrick: Patrick actually isn't a horrible choice this week. Michigan is statically her best track. She also finish 18th earlier this season. Which enhances her nice value this week in Yahoo. Expect something like 20th place run out of her. If not more.
11-Denny Hamlin: Hamlin have mightily struggled recently at Michigan. He looked completely lost the first time around. Didn't even finish on the lead lap. JGR cars all had a hard time performing. I expect a improvement , but how much is the question. Over the past 5 races here , DH have compiled 24.8 average finish , 2 Top 20s , 10 laps led and 66.2 driver rating.
14-Tony Stewart: No official word on Smoke weather or not he will be racing at Michigan. So he really a question mark. Anyhow if he races this week , Smoke should be a lock to make my team. Over the 4 past races at Michigan , Smoke have compiled 12.5 average finish , 2 Top 5s , 2 Top 10s , 3 Top 20s , 19 laps led and 92.1 driver rating.
15-Clint Bowyer: To be completely honest , I see no reason to use Clint this week. Or any other week. Bottom line is he doesn't bring enough to the table. Even though his recent stats at MIS are stout. 7.2 average finish , 1 Top 5 , 5 Top 10s , 20 laps led and 93.1 driver rating over the past 5 races.
16-Greg Biffle: Old Biff have been very reliable as a top 15 option since wrecking at Daytona. In fact , he have an 9.0 average finish since Indy. Never hurt to have some momentum. RFR was horrible earlier this season at Michigan. Its was like watching a bad game of tennis. Expect them to better the second time around though. Over the past 5 races here , The Biff have compiled 7.0 average finish , 2 wins, 3 Top 5s , 4 Top 10s , 140 laps led and 111.1 driver rating.
18-Kyle Busch: I feel for ya if you started Rowdy at the Glenn. Don't make that same mistake in back to back races. Rowdy been a wrecking ball at Michigan recently. Nothing goes right for him it seems. Normally Busch is completely boom or bust at MIS. His below average finish and other stats back that up. 24.2 Average Finish and 1 top 10 in the past 5 races here. In 19 career starts at MiS , Busch have 17.7 average finish, 1 win (.05%) , 4 top 5s (21%) , and 6 top 10s (31%).
20-Matt Kenseth: Kenseth is historically one of the best drivers ever at Michigan. Unfortunately majority of his starts came when driving for Roush. He been good with JGR ,but not great. Over the past 5 races here , MK have compiled 11.0 average finish , 1 top 5 , 2 top 10s , 5 top 20s , 24 laps led and 103.8 driver rating. In 30 career starts , MK holds 9.7 average finish , 2 wins, 12 top 5s (40%) , 18 top 10s (60%) and 29 top 20s (97%).
21-Trevor Bayne: Bayne will be moving to Cup Series in 2015. Bayne haven't shown consistency at the larger tracks in a underfunded team. But then again he just a limited scheduled driver too. Bayne won't contend for a top 10 or nothing. Fortunately we aren't looking for that. Anywhere from 18th - 23rd is a good enough in Yahoo. Also it would help if Dillon and Larson have a few mistakes as well. Either way Bayne a nice option in Yahoo. Could be a nice option in Fantasy Live as well. Given he qualifies poorly.
22-Joey Logano: Logano was pretty strong the first time around. Never was dominated though. Was about a top 10 car and finish there. With 3 starts with Penske , JoLo have a 6.3 average finish and 33 laps led per race (101 in total). He have one win and two 9th place showings. If the trend continues , he should go to VL this week. As his two 9th place finishes were in June.
24-Jeff Gordon: Last week , we said it time and time again. To avoid Jeff Gordon. Well we weren't wrong. Even though he had a dominated racecar to only lose battery power. Gordon is once again my early pick to win. Shouldn't be shocked. He had a awesome car back in June. Much better then 6th place. Which is saying something. Over the past 5 races here , Gordon have compiled 19.2 average finish , 2 top 10s , 3 top 20s , 40 laps led , 2 DNFs and 76.7 driver rating.
27-Paul Menard: Menard is a puzzle to me. After being a great option from Texas to Kentucky , he have cooled big time. The positive is he was strong at Michigan and finish inside the top 5. Also been a consistent finisher at Michigan as well. But I cannot ignored his current slump neither. Over past 5 races here , Menard have compiled 10.6 average finish , 2 top 5s , 3 top 10s , 4 top 10s , 8 laps led and 93.4 driver rating.
31-Ryan Newman: Newman is one of the better individual at Michigan. His career record doesn't look impressive , but he had a pretty good car earlier this season here. Wasn't good as teammate Paul Menard, nevertheless relevant enough to be heavily considered. I am down to 3 starts in Yahoo , and I plan to burn least one more before the chase (if not more).
41-Kurt Busch: Busch doesn't stand out much to me. He been as bad as brother Kyle Busch. Never seemed to fully master this high speed racetrack. His numbers back that. 22.2 Average in the past 5 Michigan races. With only one top 10. In 20 career races, Kurt have 2 wins , 4 top 5s , 9 Top 10s , and 20.9 average finish. Boom or bust really.
42-Kyle Larson: Larson is a phenomena of young drivers. He setting the pace for the Dillon bros , Trevor Bayne , Chase Elliott , and other young drivers. This kid is already a star as a rookie. Reminds of Kyle Busch in his rookie campaign as a Cup guy. Michigan isn't a track I would want to use him at though. Fuel mileage always seems to be a factor. Let be honest , Larson is typically aggressive with his equipment.
48-Jimmie Johnson: Johnson is in a major slump right now. Since his win at Michigan and top 10 at Kentucky , Johnson have zero top 20 finishes. They did the same thing last season. It called testing. Avoid Johnson if possible because I don't think team 48 is done quite yet.
55-Brian Vickers: I am not touching Vickers. You couldn't even pay me $1M. Especially after wrecking on lap 1 last time. Vickers just isn't consistent enough to be a useable option at the moment.
88-Dale Jr: Dale Jr will be a popular pick this week. You can count on it. His stats at Michigan have been consistency good. Dale Jr is having his best season to date. Over the past 5 races here , Dale Jr have compiled 17.0 average finish , 1 win , 2 top 5 , 3 top 10s , 175 laps led, 1 DNFs , and 106.6 driver rating. Dale finish 7th earlier this season.
99-Carl Edwards: Not high on Edwards this week. Even though I believe Roush as a whole is improving. I also believe Roush is giving Greg Biffle the best equipment. Since Edwards decided he no longer wanted to be a part of the organization.
Twitter - @JeffNathans
