Fantasy Nascar

Best Buy 400 Preview

            This week we head to Dover International Speedway for what should be one of the best races of the year. Dover is like Bristol’s big brother. A 1-mile track with 24 degree banking in the corners allows the drivers to go through the corners with some speed and all you have to do to pass is wait for the driver in front of you to make the slightest mistake.

            Greg Biffle will win his first race of the year this weekend in a battle with his teammate, Carl Edwards. Greg has been so close this year only to have some mechanical problem knock him out of contention. After finishing 2^nd in both the All-star race and the points race at Charlotte the last 2 weeks this team is ready to go to victory lane.

            Carl Edwards won a Nationwide race and a Sprint Cup race here last year. Historically the Roush teams do very well at Dover once they get the hang of it. Mark Martin holds the race record for speed in both the Sprint Cup and Craftsman Truck series.

            There has been a different winner at Dover in each of the last 8 races since Ryan Newman and Jimmie Johnson swept the races here during the 2002 and 2003 seasons. Both of these guys can still get the job done here and will be in contention when it comes down to the wire.

            I should probably just pick Kyle Busch to win every week and then just blame it on a mechanical problem or too aggressive driving if he fails to visit victory lane on any week. Kyle finished 2^nd at Dover in his first 2 starts there and since has a couple more top 5 finishes. Once he learns that he doesn’t need to wear out his equipment so early in the race look out everyone else.

            During Tony Stewart’s early years in the Sprint Cup series he was almost a shoe in to finish in the top 10 at Dover. Tony’s worst finish in his first 12 Dover races was 11^th and he had 2 wins. Tony has still been good here but has fallen off a bit with only 1 top 10 finish in his last 6 Dover starts.

            Matt Kenseth, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Martin Truex Jr., Jeff Gordon and Jeff Burton have all won here recently and are all picks to finish in the top 15 this weekend. That is another reason why I like Dover so much. The competition always seems to be tight here. Everyone has high expectations for the weekend when they unload their car from the trailer.

            Yahoo Picks for Dover

            Group A

            Carl Edwards (starter)

            Jimmie Johnson

            Group B

            Greg Biffle (starter)

            Mark Martin (starter)

            Kyle Busch

            Ryan Newman

            Group C

            Travis Kvapil (starter)

            David Reutimann

            Top 5 Overall at Dover

1.      Greg Biffle

2.      Carl Edwards

3.      Jimmie Johnson

4.      Mark Martin

5.      Kyle Busch

Dark Horse: Jamie McMurray

Stay Away From: Kasey Kahne

As always you can email me with any questions, comments or suggestions at gutsamaniac@hotmail.com. Good luck once again this weekend!