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Fantasy Pick’Em: 2011 Coke Zero 400

by Chris Leone, Special To NASCAR commentary and driver pictures, 2012 NASCAR schedule, video, Bench Racing With Steve and Charlie

I do weekly Fantasy Pick'Em columns here at OPR, as well as the occasional opinion and analysis piece. I also provide the IZOD IndyCar Series coverage. For more on that, head to my site, OpenWheelAmerica.com. My Twitter handle is @christopherlion.

July 1, 2011 8:57 pm UTC No Comments

#88 Dale Earnhardt Jr Michigan International Speedway spr heisler 11

Ah, Daytona. The crapshoot of the year in the Sprint Cup Series (apologies, Talladega; that’s just the way it is until your race becomes the equivalent of the Daytona 500 and a 20-year-old wins it). And, thus, a complete and utter Charlie Foxtrot (if you get what I’m saying) for fantasy NASCAR team owners.

Let me put it this way: there is nothing that I can do to help you this weekend.

Chances are, if I make three picks like I usually do, two will be good cars. One, if not both, of them will get caught up in an accident late in the race, possibly running in one of a likely three green-white-checkered finishes. The third will be slow as hell but wind up 20th due to the accidents, and you’ll come out of the weekend wishing you’d have listened to this advice instead of listening to any particular driver that I picked.

That’s precisely the reason why I delayed this column to the day before the race. Sure, you can look at the speed charts in the one practice session from yesterday, or who’s starting where in the field, but it may not do you much help. Mark Martin‘s on the pole, with the aforementioned Trevor Bayne starting alongside him, if that helps any.

But let’s be honest. If the stars align, anyway, and a bunch of bad things don’t happen, there’s only one guy in the field that can win this race anyway.

Dale Earnhardt Jr., of course.

Think about it. The No. 88 team has been so close these past couple of months. There was the disappointment in the Coca-Cola 600 of running out of fuel on the very last lap when they absolutely could have won that race. There have been plenty of strong runs all season. They’re gelling as a team since Steve Letarte and the crew were shifted away from Jeff Gordon in the offseason, and now that they get to work with the dynamic duo (Jimmie Johnson/Chad Knaus) in the Hendrick shops.

Add that to Earnhardt Jr.’s history at Daytona, which need not be explained once again, and you can only come up with a two word statement: It’s time.

It’s time for Junior Nation to get excited. It’s time for them to celebrate a driver who is undergoing a career renaissance with one of the sport’s biggest teams. But most of all, it’s time for them to help their driver celebrate his first win in over three years on Saturday night.

Junior for the win. Calling it right now.

Filed under: Dale Earnhardt Jr., Daytona International Speedway, NASCAR Fantasy Gaming

Tagged with: Coke Zero 400, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Fantasy Pick'Em, Mark Martin, Trevor Bayne

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Fantasy Pick’Em: Toyota/Save Mart 350

by Chris Leone, Special To NASCAR commentary and driver pictures, 2012 NASCAR schedule, video, Bench Racing With Steve and Charlie

June 25, 2011 11:08 am UTC 1 Comment

#7 Robby Gordon in garage Michigan International Speedway heisler 10

Sorry about missing last week’s column, folks. Let’s just say that when your team (GO BRUINS!!!) wins its first Stanley Cup in 39 years, you may or may not take a little license to enjoy yourself in the aftermath. No, it wasn’t quite the $156,679.74 bar tab that they allegedly piled on at Foxwoods, but it sure was a fun time.

And now, like Bradley Cooper in The Hangover: Part 2, I wake up in an unfamiliar land with my head throbbing, surrounded by people I don’t know. Wait, that happens twice a year anyway, whenever we go to the two road courses on the schedule – Infineon Raceway and Watkins Glen International, respectively. But we’re in Infineon this week.

So, in the spirit of making wholly uninteresting picks as usual, let’s go with the top three road course drivers in Sprint Cup and call it a day, shall we? I need to go get an ice pack for this headache.

Robby Gordon: Look, this dude is due in the NAS-karma department. They penalize him every year, he runs into horrendous luck on the road courses despite owning everybody on the speed charts, and doesn’t even really have sponsorship anymore besides his own energy drink. You don’t think the little guy is due for another big win? It happened to Trevor Bayne and Regan Smith this year, there’s no reason it couldn’t happen to Robby.

Marcos Ambrose: Another guy who could use some good mojo after last year’s embarrassment while in the lead. Whoever thought it would be a good idea to shut the engine off while the car was going uphill probably took a long walk of shame that time around, but not this year. Marcos has a new team and a $1 million charity initiative – he’s going to want to win this race as bad as anyone.

Juan Pablo Montoya: If you don’t know Montoya’s career accomplishments by now, I can’t help you, because I’m sure they’ve been dispensed at least 100 times by now this weekend. Let’s just put it this way. This was the first Sprint Cup race that Montoya ever won, back in his 2007 rookie season, when he was still adjusting to stock cars. There’s no reason he can’t win it again.

Filed under: Infineon Raceway, Juan Pablo Montoya, Marcos Ambrose, NASCAR, NASCAR Fantasy Gaming, road course ringers, Robby Gordon

Tagged with: Fantasy Pick'Em, Infineon Raceway, Juan Pablo Montoya, Marcos Ambrose, Robby Gordon, Toyota/Save Mart 350

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Fantasy Pick’Em: 2011 Pocono 500

by Chris Leone, Special To NASCAR commentary and driver pictures, 2012 NASCAR schedule, video, Bench Racing With Steve and Charlie

June 9, 2011 6:12 pm UTC No Comments

Oh, god, Pocono. 500 miles of it. This weekend’s Sprint Cup race is going to feel like an even longer event than the Coca-Cola 600, and that’s saying something. A big, fast track, plus the scorching summer heat, should make Pocono one of the greatest tests of endurance on this year’s schedule, as it usually is.

More importantly, though, Pocono signals the start of the second half of the Sprint Cup “regular season,” where the top drivers will jostle for Chase positions. A solid performance is more important now than ever, as currently struggling teams look to establish momentum for the Race to the Chase and sneak in by virtue of race wins or even the lower part of the top 10 in points.

So, with that in mind, who looks good this weekend?

Denny Hamlin: Look, I may be feeling some of the heat stroke from Pocono already, but I’m not an idiot. Not only is Hamlin the sport’s best Pocono driver, he also fits that label of “struggling” (well, somewhat; they’ve begun to pick it up recently) and will probably need some race wins to guarantee himself a Chase spot. With all that in mind, there’s no better place for him to do it than Pocono, and probably no better driver to pick for the same reasons.

Tony Stewart: Smoke has always been pretty good at Pocono, but four finishes of third or better in his past five starts at the track may very well cement him as its elite driver as of late. One of those was a win in this same race, from the pole, two years ago. And with Stewart only up 11 points on teammate Ryan Newman for the final Chase spot, he, too, could use some good runs to give him breathing room.

Brian Vickers: Here’s an interesting pick. Vickers will either give you a fantastic finish (twice a runner-up at Pocono, four top five finishes in 12 starts) or a bum-out (four of his past six finishes were 21st or worse, although all four saw him stay on the lead lap). Adding to the drama is the fact that it’s been more than a year since he’s competed at the track, owing to last year’s blood clots keeping him out of the car. Regardless, while Vickers is a high-risk pick, he leaves open the potential for high reward as well.

Filed under: Brian Vickers, Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Fantasy Gaming, Pocono Raceway, Tony Stewart

Tagged with: Brian Vickers, Denny Hamlin, Fantasy Pick'Em, Pocono 500, Pocono Raceway, Tony Stewart

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Fantasy Pick’Em: 2011 STP 400

by Chris Leone, Special To NASCAR commentary and driver pictures, 2012 NASCAR schedule, video, Bench Racing With Steve and Charlie

June 2, 2011 2:25 pm UTC No Comments

You know, it’s kind of bitterly ironic that I’m writing a preview for a NASCAR race in Kansas just a day after tornadoes pummeled my home state of Massachusetts. The amount of Wizard of Oz jokes that I had to put up with yesterday was simply unbearable, let me tell you. And now that the Sprint Cup Series is officially in Kansas, running its first summer race there, I’m sure that the jokes are going to go even further.

Come on, tell me that the teams are clicking their heels together and saying “there’s no place like home” after being in Charlotte for two weeks. Tell me that crew chiefs are singing “If I Only Had a Brain” after the Coca-Cola 600 became a fuel mileage race. Really, I dare you. Suck the last remaining fun I can still make out of punnery… oh, sorry, I’m just bitter right now, don’t mind me. We’ve got a race to talk about.

Kansas is one of those tracks that’s recent enough of an addition to the NASCAR schedule that some drivers have competed in all of its races, but old enough that there’s still a solid historical base with which to work as far as making predictions goes. And so:

Greg Biffle: In the past seven races at Kansas, Da Biff has finished worse than third only once. That was a 12th-place finish, back in 2006. The next year, he won the track’s only race. We’ll see if his strong showings every October will translate to June as well.

Jeff Gordon: The guy who won the first two races at Kansas has been usurped as king of the track by Biffle, but he’s still a threat every time the Sprint Cup Series swings through. Since a fuel pump gave out and ruined his 2006 race, he’s finished in the top five every time he’s raced at the track. This race could provide the perfect opportunity to regain some of that momentum lost after winning the season’s second race at Phoenix. Doesn’t that seem like an eternity ago?

A.J. Allmendinger: God, this kid is overdue for his first career win, isn’t he? But karma is on his side this week, as he drives an STP-sponsored car for Richard Petty in a race sponsored by STP. By average finish, Kansas is the ‘Dinger’s third best track, with an average run of 12.0; that’s also fifth best of active Sprint Cup drivers, topping such stars as Carl Edwards, Tony Stewart, and Kevin Harvick.

Filed under: A J Allmendinger, Greg Biffle, Jeff Gordon, Kansas Speedway, NASCAR Fantasy Gaming

Tagged with: A.J. Allmendinger, Fantasy Pick'Em, Greg Biffle, Jeff Gordon, Kansas Speedway, STP 400

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Fantasy Pick’Em: 2011 Coca-Cola 600

by Chris Leone, Special To NASCAR commentary and driver pictures, 2012 NASCAR schedule, video, Bench Racing With Steve and Charlie

May 26, 2011 11:25 am UTC No Comments

Ah, the old World 600. The longest race of the year, and NASCAR’s attempt to steal the spotlight from the Indianapolis 500 on the same day, has seen its share of interesting (i.e. first-time) winners in recent memory. Jeff Gordon took his first career victory in this race back in 1994. Bobby Labonte repeated the feat the very next year. Casey Mears did the same in 2007, while David Reutimann, with the aid of rain, stole a win in 2009 as well.

This is one of the reasons why the 600 is one of the best races in NASCAR – you never know what’s going to happen, or who’s going to win. For that reason – nevermind the first-time winners at Daytona and Darlington this year – don’t expect your typical, run of the mill winner come Sunday night. It’ll either be a first-timer, or somebody who’s had quite the drought.

Joey Logano: Logano’s been the picture of consistency at Charlotte for the past two years. Three top-10s in four starts, including a best finish of fifth, give him the best average finish of any active driver at the track. Logano’s had a rough season, sitting 27th in points, and hasn’t won since taking his maiden victory in a rain-shortened Loudon race in 2009, making him exactly the type of turnaround candidate I’m talking about.

Martin Truex Jr.: I know, Truex has a win in his career too, but it’s been a while. The No. 56 team showed the speed in qualifying for this race third last year, but dropped down the field to finish a disappointing 23rd, second to last on the lead lap. Don’t expect them to let it happen again – these boys are hungry and everyone knows it.

A.J. Allmendinger: So what gives with me doing this write-up about first-time winners, when my first two picks don’t fit that mold? To be honest, I think that A.J. Allmendinger has a shot at this thing. He’s been a consistent top-15 driver all season, and everybody in the garage feels like his first career win isn’t too far out of reach. Same goes for Marcos Ambrose, although Ambrose’s team has been slightly less consistent over the course of the year. Either way, though, it’d be nice to see two-time race winner Richard Petty back in the winner’s circle this weekend as an owner.

Filed under: A J Allmendinger, Joey Logano, Lowes Motor Speedway, Martin Truex Jr., NASCAR Fantasy Gaming

Tagged with: A.J. Allmendinger, Coca Cola 600, Fantasy Pick'Em, Joey Logano, Martin Truex Jr.

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Fantasy Pick’Em: 2011 FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks

by Chris Leone, Special To NASCAR commentary and driver pictures, 2012 NASCAR schedule, video, Bench Racing With Steve and Charlie

May 13, 2011 10:46 am UTC No Comments

martin truex jr david reutimann qualifying new hampshire

Ah, Dover. The track known colloquially as the “Monster Mile” is always a fun time, and given how much fun we had last week at Darlington, it won’t be a shock if this weekend’s race, the FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks, will be even more exciting.

Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch are the new power feud in the sport, after last week’s pit road incident. Ryan Newman and Juan Pablo Montoya still hate each other, if it’s been slightly de-emphasized. Dover is the last chance for top drivers without All-Star eligibility – and yes, that includes Dale Earnhardt Jr. – to earn their way into the event without having to either rely on a last-chance victory in the Sprint Showdown or fan vote.

So let’s make this interesting. My lead pick this week is going to be a driver that hasn’t won in a while. Ready?

Martin Truex Jr.: With Regan Smith taking the surprise victory at Darlington, I might as well go out on a limb and say that lightning can indeed strike twice. Dover is kind of a home track for the New Jersey native, and the site of his lone Sprint Cup win, back in 2007 when Dale Earnhardt Inc. was still a power player in the garage. He’s somewhat struggled at the track since, at least in the finishing order, but starts of first and third last year prove that he’s fast.

Carl Edwards: I could just as easily pick Jimmie Johnson as my alternate, with his six wins at Dover (three of the past four, too) to Edwards’ one. In fact, I probably should. But I won’t. Why? Simple – consistency. When you’re faced with two drivers who perform so well at this track, you might as well go with the guy with the slight edge in consistency, and that’s Edwards. Since 2006, Edwards has only finished outside of the top 10 two times, to Johnson’s four. He just edges Johnson in points scored at the track, 1561 to 1539, in that time frame. You can pick either, but I’m going with Edwards.

Joey Logano: Oh hi, dark horse. Logano has underperformed this year, never cracking the top 20 in points or a single-digit finishing position, but maybe Dover will help him turn it around. Last year he scored finishes of 10th and third in the two Dover races, spending 724 out of 800 laps in the top 10. He also won both Nationwide poles and finished second both times that series took on the Monster Mile in 2010. Even if he hasn’t won at the track yet in either series, he clearly knows how to run up front here.

Filed under: Carl Edwards, Dover International Speedway, Joey Logano, Martin Truex Jr., NASCAR Fantasy Gaming

Tagged with: Carl Edwards, Dover International Speedway, Fantasy Pick'Em, FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks, jimmie johnson, Joey Logano, Martin Truex Jr., Regan Smith

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