Some call it “The Lady in Black”, others the “Track too Tough to Tame”, but either way, Darlington Raceway is one of the most challenging places in all of NASCAR. From its abrasive surface to its unique shape, the 1.33 mile oval has a habit of wearing down both cars and drivers over the course of a race. The good news for your fantasy team, though, is that there is a small group of drivers that seem to have Darlington figured out. Here are the best bets for your fantasy team at Darlington:
Favorites at Darlington Raceway
1. Jeff Gordon – There are few drivers that have been as consistently good throughout their career at Darlington as Gordon. With seven wins, Gordon leads all active drivers in victories here, and his recent results at the South Carolina track have been nothing short of spectacular; the No. 24 team has finished third or better the last five races here. After struggling for a few weeks, Gordon regained the points lead at Richmond, and should be good for another strong Darlington finish.
2. Jimmie Johnson – After disappointing results the past two races, Johnson will be looking to turn his fortunes around Saturday night at Darlington, and this is the perfect place for him to get back on track; Johnson has two wins at the egg-shaped oval, and with Top-10 finishes in eight of his past ten races here, Johnson should be back near the front of the field. Johnson’s career average finish at Darlington is 7th, and he could improve upon that this weekend.
3. Greg Biffle – The Biff has been one of the few bright spots for Roush-Fenway Racing the past month or so, and he’s got the best chance of any of his Ford teammates for a win under the lights at Darlington. Biffle won back-to-back races at the ‘Lady in Black’ in 2005 and 2006, and despite finishing 43rd last year due to an engine problem, he still leads all drivers with a 121.8 driver rating the past four years. Biffle has always been a strong qualifier here, and if he starts up front, he will not give up positions easily.
Safe Picks for a Solid Darlington Finish
1. Ryan Newman – Newman got off to a dismal start this season, but over the past few weeks he has looked just as strong as boss Tony Stewart, climbing up to 10th in the points. Newman has never won at Darlington, but he has finished 6th or better in four of the past six races here, and with the momentum he is carrying into the weekend, Newman is a strong pick for another good finish.
2. Denny Hamlin – They call it the ‘Track too Tough to Tame’, but someone must have forgotten to tell Hamlin that; in three races, Denny has never finished outside of the top ten, and has an average finish of 6th. Hamlin does not have the results to show for it, but he has been one of the strongest drivers in the Cup series over the past month and a half, and eventually will get the elusive win that has avoided him so far this season.
3. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. – Even finishing second a few weeks ago at Talladega has failed to hold Junior’s naysayers at bay so far this season, and he certainly has not performed up to the level of his Hendrick Motorsports teammates, but this weekend could be Earnhardt, Jr.’s chance to turn things around; Darlington has been one of his better tracks, with Top-10 finishes in five of the last six races here, and with Hendrick horsepower under the hood, Junior has the equipment he needs to continue that streak.
Darlington Underdogs
1. David Reutimann – All three of these Darlington underdogs are long-shot picks, but there are two things that are hard to deny about Reutimann: he is having a great season, and he has been particularly strong at tracks about a mile long; Reutimann finished 8th at Phoenix, and would have had a top-10 finish last weekend at Richmond if it were not for getting caught up in a wreck. Reutimann finished 19th a year ago at Darlington, and it would be no surprise to see him improve five or ten spots this weekend.
2. Marcos Ambrose – Like teammate Reutimann, Ambrose has looked impressive so far this season, and his best results have come at shorter tracks; The Australian native has an average finish of 12th this year at tracks under a mile and a half (as opposed to an average of 23rd at larger tracks), and despite the fact that he has never raced at Darlington before, Ambrose could be a sleeper pick for another impressive showing.
3. Sam Hornish, Jr. – Before you stop reading, consider this – Hornish only has two top-10 finishes in his entire Sprint Cup career, and they have both come in the past three races, one at Phoenix and the other last week at Richmond. That is not to say that Hornish is about to become a breakthrough star, but Darlington is similar in size to the afore-mentioned tracks, and who knows – maybe a little of teammate Kurt Busch’s success this year is beginning to rub off. If you are strapped for a C-list driver to put on your team, taking a flyer on Hornish, Jr. may be a viable option.
There is a big gap between the top Darlington drivers and the rest of the field, so playing it safe when picking your fantasy NASCAR roster for the “Lady in Black” is always a good idea. When it comes to underdogs, though, the field is wide open, and taking a chance on the next driver to figure out the toughest track in the sport could pay big dividends for your fantasy team.
