Fantasy NASCAR Picks 2009 – Daytona
Kyle Busch and Matt Kenseth Look to Get Back on Track in Daytona
Jul 1, 2009
There is nothing that keeps NASCAR fans on the edge of their seats more than restrictor-plate racing, and the action will be intense as ever as the Sprint Cup series continues their 4th of July weekend tradition, racing under the lights at Daytona International Speedway.
Running three-wide at 190 miles an hour, just about anything can – and does – happen at Daytona, making it almost impossible to pick a winner. There are, however, a few NASCAR drivers that have a track record of surviving the wrecks to turn in good Daytona finishes. Here are the best bets for your NASCAR fantasy team at Daytona:
Favorites at Daytona International Speedway
1. Kyle Busch – Kyle has not been terribly consistent of late, but there are still plenty of reasons that he should be considered a favorite at Daytona. He is the defending race winner, and Busch has finished fourth or better in 4 of his last 6 races at the 2.5 mile oval. True, the Shrub has been a bit inconsistent this season, but if he can avoid getting caught up in the Big One, Busch has to be a favorite defend his Pepsi 400 title.
2. Jeff Gordon – Lots of drivers have had success here-and-there at Daytona, but few can match the level that Gordon has sustained throughout his career, with six wins and a career finish of 15.1 at the high-banked track. Gordon’s last top-5 finish here was back in 2007, but he enters the weekend second in the point standings and riding a streak of four-straight top-10 finishes, so it will be no surprise to see the No.24 car at the front of the field.
3. Matt Kenseth – Kenseth scored his first-ever victory at NASCAR’s most famous track earlier this year in the Daytona 500, but his success here goes beyond the victory; Matt has top-10 finishes in three of his last four Daytona races, and while he has had an up-and-down season so far, Kenseth is in the thick of the points battle to make the Chase, and this could be a big bounce-back weekend for his team.
Safe Picks for a Solid Daytona Finish
1. Tony Stewart – Only Stewart’s recent performance keeps him out of the favorite category this weekend. After winning the Pepsi 400 in 2005 and 2006, Smoke has only finished in the top-10 twice in the past five Daytona races. That’s not so say Stewart has been bad, though; he leads all drivers with a 104.4 driver rating over the past four seasons, and it has really only been some bad luck that has kept him from returning to Victory Lane. With an 8th place finish in the Daytona 500 and a ton of momentum heading into the 4th of July weekend, though, Stewart is a prime candidate to grab another top-10.
2. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. – While most will agree that Dale Junior’s results with Hendrick Motorsports this have been disappointing, nobody will deny that he is always a favorite when the restrictor plates go on. In addition to his two career wins at the 2.5 mile track, Junior has top-10 finishes in two of the last three races here. The No.88 team has shown clear signs of improvement with new crew chief Lance McGrew, and they could take a big step in the right direction this weekend.
3. Kasey Kahne – Suprisingly enough, Kahne has never won a NASCAR Sprint Cup series race at Daytona, and his first few races at the legendary track were less than spectacular, but he has improved greatly here over the past couple of seasons; Kahne has top-10 finishes in four of the last five Daytona events, and coming off a win at Sonoma and a 10th in Loudon, the No.9 team must be eager to show off more of that new power they’ve got under the hood with Dodge’s R6 motor.
Daytona Underdogs
1. David Ragan – Ragan has completely failed to live up to the expectations placed on him this season, but Daytona provides the perfect setting for the youngster to turn things around. Believe it or not, Daytona is one of Ragan’s best NASCAR tracks; his average finish here is 14th, and the only time he has ever finished lower than 12th here was due to an accident in last year’s Daytona 500. With back-to-back top-10 Daytona finishes since that wreck, Ragan could be a surprise contender.
2. Elliott Sadler – Sadler’s restrictor plate wrecks throughout the years have made more highlights than his successes, but his overall track record at Daytona is far more impressive than he typically gets credit for – Elliott has finished 6th or better in five of his last seven Daytona races. The No.19 has not exactly set the Sprint Cup series on fire this year, but with a 5th place finish in the Daytona 500, he certainly has a shot at a similar result this weekend.
3. Michael Waltrip – Here’s a quick NASCAR quiz: Who has more Daytona wins – Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Tony Stewart or Michael Waltrip? If you said Waltrip – you are exactly right. There was a time when he was with DEI that Mikey was one of the best drivers in the sport at Daytona, but while those days are long gone, there is no question that Mikey still knows his way around the high-banked oval; Waltrip finished seventh earlier this year in the Daytona 500, and would love to get a win in what may be his last Daytona race as a full-time driver.
There are two main components involved in winning at Daytona – survival, and strategy. Drivers that can avoid the big wreck and make the right decisions in the draft have a chance to go to Victory Lane, while everyone else basically has to cross their fingers and hope for the best. By picking teams that have proven record of Daytona success, you can maximize the number of points your NASCAR fantasy team scores.
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