Fantasy Nascar : Too tough to Tame Darlington : Fantasy Nascar

Last week at Atlanta was the kind of race that I live for. I was driving home from out of town and I had set my VCR to record the race. I got home with 30 laps to go and I turned off the tv and came into my room because I didn�t want to know the end before the beginning.
Eventually I wondered back into the living room and flipped on the TV really quick to see if the race was over. Well it was and what do I see but Tony Stewart crawling out of his car. So I knew the end before the beginning. But I was still glued to my television the entire time (and enjoyed fast forwarding through commercials).
Stewart won this race almost as if to tell off all of his critics. Those who said after Daytona that he would never catch up are hiding in caves now. Stewart has gone from his 42nd place to an amazing 5th in the rankings. And Tony likes streaks. He tasted victory last week and he would like to feel that rush again this week. While Tony�s record at Darlington is not incredible (four top tens out of six races), its not terrible. He is gutsy and on a track like Darlington gusty is the only way to go.
Little E ran a hell of a race. He raced like the driver that those of us who like him know that he is. He seemed to have shaken the cobwebs out of his head, as well as his car engine this week and went out and raced one hell of a race. Freshman Ryan Newman was also imperative to my finishing 9th overall in my fantasy league standings this week. Newman is on fire. He is on a damn good streak, and if he continues with half the steadiness that he has run these first few races he might just blow some Rookie records right out of the water. Ricky Craven was the fourth driver to help shoot my standings up into the stars. He was picked because he had a ok record at the track, and after picking Stewart and Little E, my fantasy cap was about spent. I am glad I made that choice.
Atlanta ate several engines, but again it�s the track � not the rule. Last year the track ate even more engines, and those were brand new engines with no qualifying miles on them. Eventually the Nascar writers and commentators will find something else to complain about, and then they will leave the engine rule alone. For it seems that they are the only ones even complaining anymore, the drivers seem to have accepted it and some even support it.
So this week we move on to the Lady in Black or the track too tough to tame. This �short� track is known for her rough service, her appetite for tires, and her spectacular wrecks. Darlington produces good, made-for-tv racing, and last year when I first started watching Nascar I feel in love with Darlington after watching one televised race.
This track has a certain pretentious aire to her. She just has a reputation that screams entertainment. Darlington is also a track where experience reigns. Whether it be on the track or year all tracks over the years, drivers who have mastered the skills of driving a race car seem to thrive on this rough track.
That said, some of these weeks people to watch include Ward Burton, Dale Jarrett, Jeff Burton and Jeff Gordon. Rookies Ryan Newman and Jimmie Johnson again ended up high in qualifying and this could be a telling week about the two newbies. First, this might be the race to break Gordon's 12 race null. He qualified second and he has placed in the top 10 in four of the last six races. He is not unbeatable but with his high starting point he will be worth watching.
Ward Burton starts fifteenth in this race but he does well at the lady in black. He has placed in the top 10 in four of the last six races, including two wins, including last fall's race. He hasn't been too strong since his win at Daytona but Darlington is a different type of track. As I already said, experience shines here and Ward is hoping his experience will help him shine.
Ward's brother Jeff might also be one of ones to watch this race. He has won 2 of the last 6 races, and placed in the top 10 in three others. His experience definitely helps him at Darlington and he starts this week in 14th. There just might be some fun brother to brother racing to keep our attention this weekend.
Dale Jarrett, another experienced driver, will start the race in 22nd but that is hardly a obstacle to overcome. Jarrett is the king of coming from behind, and his spot is not nearly the behind. Jarett has racked up 4 top 10 finishes in the last six races and I am picking him to shine this week.
Pole sitter Ricky Craven is coming off a good run last week at Atlanta. But with no top 10 finishes in the last six races at Darlington, I don't know if I would base my entire league on him. He is coming off a high, but he might have trouble keeping his starting position. Another mentionable this week is Steve Park who returns to the track for the first time since his concussion last season. He placed 2nd at the track in last years Spring race, and 10th in the Fall of 2000 and starts this week in fourth. Whether he will have the stamina to hold near the front this race is yet to be seen. But one thing is for sure, he is racing for quite a cause.. His pride.
I will post this column each Friday afternoon. The ideas are strictly mine, with a little bit of help from the statistics and some of my racing enthusiast friends. AND I want to know what you think: If you agree, tell me. If you don't, tell me that as well. Drop me at a line at Theracingirl@yahoo.com.