Fantasy NASCAR Preview: Watkins Glen

by Eric McGuire , Wednesday, August 06, 2008

As with Sonoma, my advice for this week is going to be pretty simple: stick to the big guns on the road courses. A very high percentage of fantasy players this weekend will have people like Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon, Juan Pablo Montoya, and Robby Gordon on their rosters (oh wait, we can add Kyle Busch to that list after he decimated the field at Sonoma). You risk a lot going outside of those drivers on a track like Watkins Glen, but you can get away with going away from the top road course drivers here more so than Sonoma, which is a greater technical test for drivers.

1. Tony Stewart, #20 Home Depot Toyota, Gibbs Racing

If Stewart was due for a win last week and the week before (and so on), then he is definitely due for a win this week. His last 5 starts at Watkins Glen should tell you all you need to know: 1st, 11th, 1st, 1st, 2nd, 1st. It doesn't get much better than that.

2. Jeff Gordon, #24 DuPont Chevrolet, Hendrick Motor Sports

The Road Course King has 4 wins at Watkins Glen and 5 wins at Sears Point (he finished 3rd earlier this year). Last season, he led 51 laps but finished 9th. As always, he's an awesome class A choice to fill out your roster.

3. Kyle Busch, #18 M & M's Toyota, Gibbs Racing

After his first top 10 on a road course in 2007 at Sonoma, everyone realized Busch would probably improve at the California venue. However, nobody predicted a walk away stomping of the best racers in the world. He led 78 of 112 laps at Sonoma and also scored another top 10 at Watkins Glen last season. He may contend for the win this weekend, but my recommendation is still to save him for the ovals later in the year and use some drivers you wouldn't typically select.

4. Kevin Harvick, #29 Shell/Reeses/GM Chevrolet, Richard Childress Racing

Harvick finished 2nd last season at Sonoma and won Watkins Glen in 2006. Last year, he ran into Hurricane Juan Pablo (but who hasn't) and ended up several laps off the pace. He's still not a bad class A option.

5. Robby Gordon, #7 Harrah's/ Jim Beam Dodge, Robby Gordon Motor Sports

Gordon should head up your class B roster this weekend. He may not be the absolute best class B driver for this track (that's debatable; it could also be Kyle Busch or Juan Pablo Montoya), but where else will you use him with the rate of return you could gather this weekend? He won here in 2003, was 2nd in 2005, and gathered another top 5 last year.

6. Juan Pablo Montoya, #42 Texaco Havoline Dodge, Chip Ganassi Racing

Montoya won at Sonoma in 2007, but went Kamikaze into turn 1 at the Glen last year and ended up out of the race. He should be a strong class B choice and will run well, but he shares something other than talent with Robby Gordon: a high probability that he won't finish.

7. Denny Hamlin, #11 FedEx Toyota, Gibbs Racing

Hamlin was 2nd last year at Watkins Glen and has finished in the top 15 in 2 of his 3 career starts at Sears Point. He's well below the top class A drivers and as such won't be much use to you this weekend.

8. Ron Fellows, #01 Chevrolet, Dale Earnhardt Inc.

Fellows is a world renowned road racing talent that has 3 top 5 finishes in his career at Watkins Glen. He has been 2nd twice and was 4th last season. He should be your top class C selection this week.

9. David Gilliland, #38 FreeCreditReport.com Ford, Robert Yates Racing

Gilliland was 2nd at Sonoma to Kyle Busch and it wasn't a finish that he fell into. He drove his way past several great cars and put on a nice show. He's another excellent class B choice for this weekend, although I would make sure he looks good in practice before he is activated for the race.

10. Jimmie Johnson, #48 Lowe's Chevrolet, Hendrick Motor Sports

Johnson was a robust 3rd last season at Watkins Glen and led 27 laps at Sears Point this season. He is a much better road racer than he gets credit for, as his only finish outside the top 20 at Watkins Glen came due to an engine failure.

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