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Fantasy NASCAR Preview: Talladega
As the 2008 season winds down, we head to a restrictor plate track for the fourth and final time. This is a true wild card, where even the best cars and the best drivers can be wiped out of the race in the blink of an eye. Still, the unpredictable wrecks that tear up lots of race cars seem less common than in days gone by. This is probably because the drivers are more aware of the "Big One" and seem to all play give and take until the final 10 laps or so. That can actually make for a pretty boring race (see last season's restrictor plate finale at Talladega for a perfect example of a snooze fest). The Gibbs cars are still a good place to start, with over 350 laps led in the COT on restrictor plate tracks. However, as good as they have been, the Hendrick crew looks like they will be strong as well. Roush Racing is convinced this will be a thorn in their side, but as strong as they have been it would be strange to see them truly struggle. Kyle Busch, #18 M&M's Toyota, Gibbs RacingStock car racing is a funny sport sometimes. After dominating the regular season, Busch has had two mechanical failures and an ill handling race car in the first three Chase races. He dominated at Daytona in February, as he led 86 laps and finished 4th. He won at Talladega in the spring and at Daytona in July, solidifying him at number one on this list. Kurt Busch, #2 Miller Lite Dodge, Penske Racing SouthKurt struggled in the spring to a 39th place finish at Talladega. Still, he was 4th in July at Daytona after his 2nd place run in the 500. He was 7th last fall at Talladega, and is well known in the garage as being one of the best five plate racers on the planet. In his last 10 starts at Talladega, he has finished outside of the top 10 only twice - both times due to a crash. Carl Edwards, #99 Office Depot Ford, Roush-Fenway RacingI just shocked myself with this ranking. Edwards isn't known as a restrictor plate guy even though he was 4th in this race last year. Until Daytona in July, his best finish in a COT plate race was 14th. He was 2nd in July, and it's tough to bet against a guy that has been so strong all season. He's a great class A choice, but I would not use him. He is so good on all the other tracks right now; use someone else this weekend. Dale Earnhardt Jr, #88 AMP/National Guard Chevrolet, Hendrick MotorsportsJr. led the most laps en route to finishing 8th in July at Daytona. He also won the Bud Shootout and a Twin 150 at Speedweeks, but struggled with handling late in the 500 and faded to 9th after leading 12 laps. He also led 46 laps at Talladega this spring, and 31 last fall before blowing an engine. He is one of the top class B selections this weekend, despite his struggles of late. Tony Stewart, #20 Home Depot Toyota, Gibbs RacingStewart was 8th at Talladega last fall (led 38 laps), 3rd at Daytona (led 16 laps), and led 61 laps before crashing at Talladega. He was a top contender to win both of those races, and his 20th place finish at Daytona was shocking. He's a great plate racer and should still be on your team this weekend. Jeff Gordon, #24 DuPont Chevrolet, Hendrick MotorsportsRegardless of how well he has run all season on the plate tracks, it's tough to bet against Gordon. He is the defending champion of this particular race, and led 46 laps in July at Daytona. Denny Hamlin, #11 FedEx Toyota, Gibbs RacingIt's tough to go against the Gibbs Toyotas this weekend. Hamlin has led laps in all three restrictor plate races this season and also won one of the Twin 150's. Ignore his 26th place run at Daytona in July; he is a solid bet this weekend. Jimmie Johnson, #48 Lowe's Chevrolet, Hendrick MotorsportsJohnson is a great plate racer, and led some at Daytona before fading late. However, he is currently in the same category as Carl Edwards. He is so valuable elsewhere you can't afford to waste using him this week. Matt Kenseth, #17 DeWalt Tools Ford, Roush-Fenway RacingLike Edwards and Johnson, Kenseth is too valuable on the remaining speedways (Phoenix and Homestead) to be used this weekend. Momentum is starting to charge in his favor. Also, despite his 3rd place finish at Daytona in July, he's typically not very strong on these racetracks. Ryan Newman, #12 ALLTEL Dodge, Penske Racing SouthNewman had some trouble at Daytona in July, but he won the 500 and finished 5th and 8th in his last two Talladega starts. He is a good class B choice. Brian Vickers, #83 Red Bull Toyota, Team Red BullVickers was 12th in the Daytona 500, scored a top 5 at Talladega, and finished 11th at Daytona in July. He does have a plate win on his resume after crashing Johnson and Earnhardt in 2006 at Talladega. He's the top class C choice, and would be a good selection even if he were a class B driver this weekend. Remember, he will be the top class C choice at most races the rest of the year as well. David Ragan, #6 AAA Ford, Roush-Fenway RacingRagan is moving into the upper echelon of drivers on the plate tracks. He was 4th at Talladega in the spring, and 5th at Daytona in the Coke Zero 400. Don't forget his 5th place run in the 2007 Daytona 500 either. He is a solid class B choice.
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