Fantasy NASCAR Preview: Michigan
Last season, Kurt Busch and Carl Edwards each won a race at Michigan. While last year's results go somewhat with the results from California earlier this season, use that race as a better indicator for this week's predictions. That race, run in the COT, is the best way to judge which teams will excel at Michigan.
1. Carl Edwards, #99 Office Depot Ford, Roush-Fenway Racing
Edwards is the top fantasy choice for this weekend. He won in Fontana in February and was also 2nd there in the fall 2007 event. He won the June 2007 race at Michigan after leading 63 laps and was 7th in the second event there.
2. Kyle Busch, #18 M & M's Toyota, Gibbs Racing
Busch was 4th at Fontana and there's no way he has 2 bad weekends in a row after his crash at Dover.
3. Jimmie Johnson, #48 Lowe's Chevrolet, Hendrick Motor Sports
Johnson won in the fall at California and came back in February to finish 2nd after leading the most laps in the event. Johnson was strong at Michigan last June (leading 56 laps) and was also 3rd at California last spring (to go with a 2nd in the spring of 2006). He's another great class A choice.
4. Matt Kenseth, #17 DeWalt Tools Ford, Roush-Fenway Racing
Kenseth was 5th at Fontana in February and won the first race at California last year after leading 133 laps. In 2006, he had victories at both Michigan and Fontana.
5. Martin Truex, Jr., #1 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet, Dale Earnhardt Inc
Truex was 6th in Fontana and was 2nd in both races at Michigan last season. He was also 6th at Fontana in the fall, rebounding from an engine failure in the spring. He led 54 laps in this race last season and this appears to be one of the better places to use him on your class B roster.
6. Tony Stewart, #20 Home Depot Toyota, Gibbs Racing
Stewart has 8 top 5's in 18 starts at Michigan. He was 7th in Fontana in February and is due for what would be his second win on the 2 mile oval.
7. Jeff Gordon, #24 DuPont Chevrolet, Hendrick Motor Sports
Gordon scored a top 10 in this race last season and was 3rd in the spring at California. He's a good class A option, but probably shouldn't make your roster this weekend.
8. Kasey Kahne, #9 Budweiser Dodge, Gillett-Evernham Motorsports
Kahne is coming off a win at Pocono and was 9th at Fontana in the spring. He has enjoyed a resurgence this season, being 10th in the fall at Fontana as well. Like Matt Kenseth, he won at both Fontana and Michigan in 2006 and could be a great class B choice this weekend.
9. Kurt Busch, #2 Miller Lite Dodge, Penske Racing South
Busch dominated the second race at Michigan last season, leading 92 laps and scoring the win. He was 13th in Fontana earlier this year and rebounded from an accident in Pocono to finish 11th. Over the past 4 races, that is the first time he has been outside the top 10, showcasing the improvement of the Miller Lite team.
10. Dale Earnhardt Jr, #88 AMP/National Guard Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports
Earnhardt had finishes of 5th and 12th last season in Michigan, and has contended in every race he hasn't crashed in this season. He is a good class B option again this week, although he has never won in either Michigan or Fontana.
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