Fantasy Nascar

Daytona 500 Preview

            I’m going to make this short and sweet seeing that the Gatorade Duels are over and you only have a few days left to get your picks in for all of your fantasy leagues before the start of the Daytona 500. First anyone wishing to sign up for my fantasy league at Yahoo can still get in. Go to http://racing.fantasysports.yahoo.com/auto and click on the join group link. The ID# is 29914 and the password is dover. If you have any problems Email me with the link below and I will help you get signed up.

            Now my pick to win the Daytona 500 is Tony Stewart in a speedweeks sweep. Tony has been stout all week and his car was great earlier this year in testing at Daytona and he didn’t even show up to drive it then. I think Mike Bliss tested the car for him. Tony looks to be in better shape this year and seems really focused on going after his 3^rd championship.

            The Duels proved to me that all of the big name teams are going to have cars that can win on Sunday. Hendrick Motorsports has looked good with Jeff Gordon winning the second Duel. Granted his car failed post race inspection and he will start near the back of the pack on Sunday but I think his car won the race because he took tires at the end not because the car was lower. Kyle Busch led the most laps in the Bud Shootout last weekend and led another bunch in his Duel.

            Matt Kenseth looked like he had one of the best restrictor plate cars he has ever had at Roush Racing and Carl Edwards moved his way up through the pack in his Duel. Let’s not forget that both of the Yates cars are starting on the front row this weekend with David Gilliland proving that these cars will run well in the draft after he finished second to Tony.

            The Ganassi teams looked great, with Juan Pablo Montoya leading early in his Duel before his car succumbed to what looked like a bad bearing. David Stremme finished 3^rd in his Duel to show that these teams are here to compete.

            Last year the Penske teams both struggled but Kurt Busch came away with a 2^nd place finish to Jeff Gordon on Thursday and Ryan Newman led the final practice before the Duels.

            Dale Earnhardt Jr. got spun out early in his race by Michael Waltrip but fought back hard and finished 2^nd in his heat. Martin Truex Jr. also looked good all day and Paul Menard, who did not make the Daytona 500, was consistently one of the fastest cars during testing earlier at Daytona.

            Jeff Burton had an outstanding car during the Duels and Kevin Harvick seemed happy even after losing his transmission when leaving his pit stall early during his Duel. Both of these teams made the Chase last year and are trying to improve on their finishes.

            My dark horse for this week is Sterling Marlin. Sterling looked good all through his Duel and laid back at the end to make sure that his teammate, Joe Nemechek would make the race this Sunday. Rest assured that Sterling won’t be backing down for anyone this Sunday.

            Yahoo Picks for the Daytona 500

            Group A

            Tony Stewart (starter)

            Dale Earnhardt Jr.

            Group B

            David Gilliland (starter)

            Martin Truex Jr. (starter)

            Ricky Rudd

            Kyle Busch

            Group C

            Sterling Marlin (starter)

            Mike Wallace

            Top 5 Overall at Daytona

1.      Tony Stewart

2.      Dale Earnhardt Jr.

3.      Jeff Gordon

4.      Kyle Busch

5.      Kurt Busch

As always you can Email me with any questions, comments or suggestions at gutsamaniac@hotmail.com. Good luck during your fantasy NASCAR season and may your favorite driver make the Chase this year.