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Fantasy NASCAR Preview: Atlanta
This week will be a rundown of the usual suspects, with the addition of Jeff Burton to the top mix. With just four races to go, start mapping out your strategy the rest of the way. Counting Atlanta this week, there will be two races left on 1.5 mile speedways, one at Phoenix and one at Homestead. You are probably reaching the max number of starts for most of the top drivers if you haven't already hit the magic number. A lot has changed since that first race at Atlanta. Pay attention to the cars that have been running well on the 1.5 mile ovals over the second half of the season. However, Atlanta does have some unique characteristics that favor some drivers over others. The tires wear a little quicker due to the rough surface. Also, the weather conditions will be close to what they were early in the season because Atlanta does not have a summer race date. This means less will need to change with the handling package. Those drivers that were strong there earlier this season should be strong once again. Kyle Busch, #18 M & M's Toyota, Gibbs Racing
This is probably a strange week to see Busch return to the top of the ranking list. He had a disastrous week in Martinsville and hasn't been very good over the past couple of months. Still, he dominated in wins at Atlanta and Chicago earlier this year and nabbed top 5's at Charlotte (twice) and Texas. He should be on your roster this week. Jimmie Johnson, #48 Lowe's Chevrolet, Hendrick Motor Sports
Johnson faded late in the race at Charlotte and ended up 6th. However, he won at Kansas, was 2nd in Chicago (after he was passed by Kyle Busch late in the race), was 2nd at Texas, and led 35 laps in Charlotte earlier this year before blowing an engine. Carl Edwards, #99 Office Depot Ford, Roush-Fenway Racing
Edwards won in Las Vegas and Texas this season and was 2nd at Kansas. He blew an engine at Atlanta earlier this season, but has two career wins there and should be on your class A roster. He regained some momentum at Martinsville after he ran strong and finished 3rd . He should be a contender for the win the next couple of weeks. Jeff Burton, #31 AT& T Mobility Chevrolet, Richard Childress Racing
Burton won in Charlotte a couple of weeks ago, and has top 10's at Kansas, Las Vegas, Atlanta, Texas, and Charlotte again earlier this year. Closing the deal on the victory in Charlotte made him an elite class A choice this weekend. Greg Biffle, #16 3M Ford, Roush-Fenway Racing
Biffle has a near spotless record on the 1.5 mile ovals this year. He was 3rd in Kansas, 3rd in Las Vegas, 4th in Atlanta, 2nd in Charlotte, 4th in Chicago, and 7th in Charlotte the second time. Jeff Gordon, #24 DuPont Chevrolet, Hendrick Motor Sports
Gordon was 5th in Atlanta, 4th and 8th in Charlotte, 11th in Chicago, and 4th in Kansas. He loves Atlanta and does not want to go an entire season without a win for the first time since his rookie season. He's an enticing class A choice this weekend because you know he is going to bring everything he has. Tony Stewart, #20 Home Depot Toyota, Gibbs Racing
Stewart was 2nd in Atlanta the first time there, and has been running up front in recent weeks. He was also 5th in Chicago, 7th at Texas, and 11th in Charlotte a couple weeks ago. Matt Kenseth, #17 DeWalt Tools Ford, Roush-Fenway Racing
Kenseth has scored top 10's at Atlanta, Kansas after leading 49 laps, Texas, Charlotte, and Chicago. He's a class A driver that has been overlooked due to early season struggles that can make a huge fantasy impact in the last few races. He wasn't used by too many fantasy players early on, and it is feasible for him to score a top 5 in each of the next 4 races. Dale Earnhardt Jr, #88 AMP/National Guard Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports
Earnhardt led 62 laps and finished 3rd in Atlanta in the spring, 2nd in Las Vegas, 12th in Texas, and 5th in Charlotte the first time there. Then came a mediocre performance at Chicago and a 13th place finish at Kansas before a terrible outing at Charlotte. Still, he is one of those guys that seems to excel at Atlanta every time the series goes there, making him a good class B option. Brian Vickers, #83 Red Bull Toyota, Red Bull Racing
Vickers was just 18th in Charlotte a couple of weeks ago, but did lead 64 laps. He hasn't always gotten the finishes this year he deserves after leading a lot of laps. He did score top 10's in Chicago and Atlanta earlier this year and is definitely the top class C choice. He has a more realistic shot at winning than several class A drivers due to his ability to get out front and lead large chunks of races on the 1.5 mile ovals. Kevin Harvick, #29 Shell/Reeses/GM Chevrolet, Richard Childress Racing
Harvick has been strong but not spectacular on the 1.5 mile ovals, and doesn't seem to give you the chance at a win that you would like from your class A starter. He was 6th in Kansas, 3rd in Chicago, 4th in Las Vegas, 7th in Atlanta, 9th in Texas, and had runs of 13th and 14th in Charlotte. Mark Martin, #8 Army Chevrolet, Dale Earnhardt Inc.
Martin scored top 10's in Las Vegas, Texas, and Charlotte just a couple of weeks ago. He struggled in Atlanta in the spring, but the team has improved and does have Mark Martin behind the wheel. Expect a top 10.
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