Fantasy NASCAR Preview: Richmond
This weekend is a much easier week to make fantasy picks. Preparing rankings for a place like Talladega is impossible, with so much depending on circumstance. Richmond is a much more traditional type of racetrack, where the stronger teams will go to the front and the weaker teams will stay behind them. Jimmie Johnson has to be the favorite this week, especially after winning both races there last season and coming on strong at Phoenix a few weeks ago.
1. Jimmie Johnson, #48 Lowe's Chevrolet, Hendrick Motor Sports
After a "slow" start to the year, Johnson has moved into the top 5 in points. He won at Phoenix (via fuel mileage) and won both events at RIR last season. He should be on your class A roster this weekend.
2. Jeff Gordon, #24 DuPont Chevrolet, Hendrick Motor Sports
Gordon was 4th in both races at RIR last season, but ran even better than he finished. He led over 100 laps in each event and also won at Phoenix last season. He's another great class A choice, despite struggling somewhat this season so far.
3. Tony Stewart, #20 Home Depot Toyota, Gibbs Racing
Stewart was 8th in the spring and followed that up with a 2nd place run in the fall. He has some positive momentum going (despite the crash at Talladega) and is always a solid pick at RIR, where he has 3 wins.
4. Denny Hamlin, #11 FedEx Toyota, Gibbs Racing
Hamlin was 3rd and 6th in the two races at RIR last year and also finished 2nd to Earnhardt in 2006. He was strong at Phoenix last year and just finished 3rd there a couple weeks ago. He's an excellent class A choice this weekend.
5. Kyle Busch, #18 M & M's Toyota, Gibbs Racing
After his second win of the season, Busch heads to a track where he finished 2nd last year in the spring to Jimmie Johnson. He struggled in the fall event (his first time in 6 starts at the track that he didn't finish in the top 5), but gathered a top 10 at Phoenix and is a top class B choice for yet another week.
6. Dale Earnhardt Jr, #88 AMP/National Guard Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports
Jr. has 3 wins at RIR, but struggled last spring to a 13th place finish. He was very competitive in the fall, but blew an engine. He has 7 top 10's this season and with his strong history at Richmond is a top class B choice this weekend. He was also very strong at Phoenix a couple of weeks ago before fading late.
7. Kevin Harvick, #29 Shell/Reeses/GM Chevrolet, Richard Childress Racing
Harvick led 105 laps in the spring 2007 race, finishing 7th and finished 7th again in the fall. He won the fall race in 2006 at RIR and dominated the 2006 spring race as well before yielding the lead on a pit stop and not getting it back. He has a great history on the Virginia short track, but there are better class A options this weekend.
8. Carl Edwards, #99 Office Depot Ford, Roush-Fenway Racing
Edwards was 12th last spring, but blew an engine in the fall event (though he led 15 laps). Ignore his past at RIR, as he should be a strong class A driver this weekend. Still, there are better class A selections.
9. Clint Bowyer, #07 Jack Daniel's Chevrolet, Richard Childress Racing
As with Edwards, there are simply better class A choices. Bowyer had finishes of 9th and 12th last season, but stepped up his game with a 2nd place run at Phoenix. He will be solid yet again, but probably won't factor in the race for the win.
10. Kurt Busch, #2 Miller Lite Dodge, Penske Racing South
Suddenly, the former Cup champ is nothing more than Kyle's older brother. Still, Kurt was 5th last spring (leading 27 laps) and 9th in the fall. He has struggled this season and it is important to remember that he only has 2 top 5's in 14 career starts there (including a win), making his slow start to 2008 weigh more.
11. Mark Martin, #8 Army Chevrolet, Dale Earnhardt Inc
Martin gets back in the car this week after finishing 5th at Phoenix a few weeks ago, a race he should have won. Richmond is similar enough that that run matters and it definitely gives the team some momentum. Last season, Martin had runs of 17th and 21st at RIR, but he has more top 5's and top 10's than any active driver and could contend for the win.
12. Ryan Newman, #12 ALLTEL Dodge, Penske Racing South
Newman has a win and 7 top 10's in 12 career starts at RIR. He was 6th in the spring and led a lap, then followed that up with an 11th place run in the fall. He is definitely a class B driver to consider.
13. Matt Kenseth, #17 DeWalt Tools Ford, Roush-Fenway Racing
While Kenseth has won at RIR before (and has 9 top 10's in 16 starts), his recent past shows he is outside the top tier of class A drivers on the D shaped three-quarter mile track. He was 10th in the spring and 14th in the fall last season, but should be used elsewhere.
14. Kasey Kahne, #9 Budweiser Dodge, Gillett-Evernham Motorsports
Kahne's team isn't exactly a juggernaut yet, but they have improved from 2007. He was 8th in the fall, a few weeks removed from his 2nd place finish at Bristol which put him back on the radar. He won at RIR in 2005 and is an intriguing class B option, albeit one you probably won't use.
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