Fantasy NASCAR Preview: California

Burton has scored a top 15 in all 3 events at Michigan and Fontana. He will finish solid, but the upside is not what you would like to have in your class A group.

McMurray has scored a top 10 finish in 3 of his last 4 races at Michigan (and in both races there this year). Despite not finishing in the top 20 in February at Fontana, this may be a weekend where he's a plausible class B selection. The entire Roush stable looks strong.

Sadler scored back to back top 10's in Michigan, but was just 24th at Fontana in February. Still, he looks like he may be a decent class B selection, although his upside is not nearly as good as other drivers in his class.

Truex was 6th in Fontana and 2nd in both races at Michigan last year (almost irrelevant with the new car in place). Still, he hasn't been consistent all season and barely cracked the top 20 in both races at Michigan this year. You may want to look elsewhere, as he hasn't shown much potential upside.

Hamlin crashed in Fontana (another victim of the wet surface that also claimed Casey Mears and Dale Earnhardt Jr. in February). He blew an engine in the last race at Michigan, leaving his 14th place finish at Michigan in June as the only example of what he is capable of on the two mile ovals. He's a class A pick not worth using this weekend, based only on the solid upside of the rest of the drivers ranked above him.

Penske's lame duck driver blew an engine in June at Michigan and finished 21st in the last race there. That 10th place finish in Fontana after his Daytona 500 win was a long time ago. Look elsewhere this weekend.

Busch was 13th in Fontana earlier this year and ended up 21st in June at Michigan. He followed that up with a poor finish in August at Michigan and just isn't a good option at all while categorized in the class A group.

Kvapil has had a strong season on the two mile ovals, with finishes of 13th and 16th at Michigan. He also had two 21st place finishes at Michigan back in 2006, showing that it is no fluke. He's a class C driver worth having on your roster.

Bowyer was 19th at Fontana in February, but struggled at Michigan with two finishes of 20th or worse. This track couldn't come at a worse time for Bowyer, as he needs a good run to stay in the hunt for the Chase.

Riggs finished 15th at Michigan a few weeks ago (by far his best effort on a track like this so far this year). He's a risky class C pick at best, slightly better than Reutimann and Almirola only because he has more experience.

Mears was 18th a couple weeks ago at Michigan, improving on his 30th place finish in June. He never really got going in February at Fontana after he hit a wet spot on the track, so while his equipment will leave him capable of a top five, the reality is that he hasn't shown anything in months.