Fantasy Nascar : From large to small-- : Fantasy Nascar

We leave California, which produced some fun to watch racing and some heart breaking luck for some of our favorites and we once again go back to a small, dynamic track. Richmond International Raceway measures about a seventh of a mile and this time the track will bring us our first night race of the season. I am ready to see some cars under the lights.
Just a few comments about last week-- because as you will be able to tell this is an abbreviated column. Because of family business, I am writing this early Friday-- many hours before qualifying and I just wanted to throw my ideas out before getting on the road.
First-- Jumpin Johnson. This kid has been strong from qualifying at Daytona and I am honestly surprised it took him a while 13 races to win one. He deserved his win at California and the kid is coming into his own. Not only is he hell to contend with in the car, but he is also educated and eloquent and is quickly becoming a press darling. He is currently holding on tight to his Rookie of the Year honors and I don't believe it is a position he will give up lightly.
Second-- California was a fast track, and it seemed to just eat up a lot of cars. Things that you don't always see-- such as cars bottoming out-- seemed to be a problem. And in qualifying alone the track speed record was blown away by over five drivers. Its fun to watch fast tracks without restrictor plates keeping the speeds manageable.
So now to Richmond. Virginia is deep in the south, which is good racing country. The fans will no doubt pack the small tight track to watch the gleam of 43 cars take the flag under the lights. I am making my picks before qualifying and based solely on past performance. So be sure to take that under consideration when making your picks.
I am flat out picking Tony Stewart for this race. He won last years spring race at Richmond and he has placed in the top 10 at the last four races in Richmond. He is equally gifted on the small tracks, and he seems to really enjoy him. He has been plagued by bad luck and faulty cars for the last several weeks, but Tony is by no way out of the running for the points championship. A win this week would put him in a more concrete place. Watch for Tony to qualify well, and run well the entire race. He is a good place to put your money.
Other favorites Gordon and Little E will also be contenders this weekend. Both won a race in 2000 and both have done well in most of the last four races. Gordon is still looking for something, anything, to pull him out of his slump and Little E is enjoying a pretty good ride at this point. Both of them will run up front, and either could have a chance to end up at the front -- if they can get past Tony.
Others to watch this week that have run here in the past are Rusty Wallace, Ricky Rudd, and the Burton Brothers (Jeff and Ward). All have a legitimate chance of ending their race near the front of the pack.
And don't count out the powerhouse rookies and sophomores. Kenseth has done well here before and Ryan Newman and Jimmie Johnson just seem to do well about anywhere. So they are not bad bets either.
Anyways, that is all... enjoy the cars under the magical lights-- because we won't get them again until we go back to the racing mecca of Daytona.
This column was posted before qualifying was over for Sunday's race. 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