RADIO
This week NASCAR heads back to Michigan International Speedway for the Pure Michigan 400. The track is one of the fastest non superspeedway's on the circuit. Drivers will reach speeds of up to 200 mph on the straightaways and wide track will produce four wide racing in the corners. This race will likely be a little different than other races here in the past, as NASCAR has implemented a new package for this weekend. It will be the same package the teams ran at Indianapolis which was meant to create more down force and drag on the cars. The change was meant to enhance the passing ability of the drivers. The first trial turned out a success at the Brickyard and should only prove to be better this week at a faster track with more passing lanes.
The first practice was held this morning with qualifying this afternoon, and it was almost a Joe Gibbs Racing sweep at the top. Matt Kenseth won the Coors Lite Pole award and will be starting first. On the front row beside him will be teammate Denny Hamlin. Carl Edwards will be starting in the 4th position with the red hot Kyle Busch starting in the 6th position. No better time than now for a race team to show its colors, as it's four races until the Chase for the Sprint Cup 10 race playoff. All four are currently sitting in a position to move on to the playoffs, but Kyle Busch is the most vulnerable sitting only six points inside the top 30 cut line. The #18 team cannot afford any mistakes at this point, so look for them to play it safe at the end if they are comfortably inside the top 15.
There are currently five drivers (Gordon, McMurray, Bowyer, Menard, Newman) without a win who are holding on to their points lead, and the last five spots available to get in to the playoffs. With four tough tracks remaining, we may not see another first time winner in 2015, so the battle could get heated between these drivers and the others on the outside looking in(Almirola, Kahne, Biffle, Larson). This race and the next three should prove to be great entertainment as they do every year as the emotions heat up leading to the Chase.
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Daily Fantasy NASCAR: DraftKings DFS Lineup Picks
Kevin Harvick - $10,600
He comes back to Michigan with a nice track record and a 7.4 average finish in his previous five races here. In that time, he posted four top 5 finishes. Besides a 42nd place finish at Pocono he has been as good as usual with three top 3 finishes and an 8th place finish in his last five races. He was 2nd fastest in first practice and qualified 7th for the race. Watch him in final practices to see his rank in race trim but either way he is a great pick here at Michigan.
Matt Kenseth - $9,700
In the past month or so Kyle Busch has taken the spotlight for Joe Gibbs Racing. It has been a good thing for the other three drivers, as they have been flying under the radar. Besides Kyle, the next hottest JGR driver has been Kenseth. He hasn't finished worse than 7th in is previous five races and took the checkered flag at Pocono. He will be starting at the front this week, and if he shows to have speed in the final two practices book him in for a good finish this week.
Joey Logano - $9,600
In the previous five races here at Michigan, Logano holds a 5.4 average finish with a win, three top 5's and five top 10 finishes. He always seems to run well here and is coming in with good form as well. In his previous five races he hasn't finished outside the top 20 and has four top 4 finishes with a win last weekend. Look for him to keep the momentum building for the playoffs.
Clint Bowyer - $7,400
His price came down this week which presents a nice value option for your lineups. Bowyer is fighting to stay in that final spot in the Chase Grid, and a top 10 finish would help in doing that. He comes to a track where he has had success with a 7.6 average finish in his previous five races. In that time he has not finished outside the top 10 here. Pretty impressive run here at MIS, and I don't see it stopping this week.
Ryan Newman - $7,100
Another one of those drivers fighting for points to make the Chase for the Sprint Cup. In his previous five races at Michigan he hasn't scored a top 10 finish but has a 15.0 average finish. He has been consistent here and should be able to break that streak this week. He hasn't been running bad lately but not great either. With no finishes inside the top 10 he will be looking to break through this week and will have the extra motivation to do so.
Greg Biffle - $7,100
I am loving the value that Biffle brings this week. He will be one of the lower owned drivers this week, as his season has been pretty average at best. His price has dropped off the table and now is the time to buy. He comes back to Michigan where he has had success in the past five races. In that time he has posted a win, and three top 10 finishes and a 15.2 average finish. He is fighting for his birth into the Chase and should be very competitive this weekend.
Final Thoughts Going into the Pure Michigan 400
I looked at the drivers final two practice sessions and took the average of those results and here is the top 5:
- #42 Kyle Larson (Practice #2 - 3rd Final Practice - 4th)
- #4 Kevin Harvick (Practice #2 - 1st Final Practice - 10th)
- #19 Carl Edwards (Practice #2 - 10th Final Practice - 3rd)
- #3 Austin Dillon (Practice #2 - 8th Final Practice - 5th)
- #18 Kyle Busch (Practice #2 - 4th Final Practice - 9th)
Kyle Larson definitely presents value starting back in the 34th position. He was the fastest driver in the final two practices and should be able to move through the field efficiently with the new rules package in place. Ryan Newman qualified in a fantasy friendly position this week as well. He will be starting 17th and was 6th in Practice #2 and 14th in final practice.
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