Fantasy Nascar : Mountain High : Fantasy Nascar

While the traditional Cup season has several tracks that are run twice each season, few �actually none - are run as close together as the two Pocono races. There is only a mere five races between the June and July races at Pocono.
Yet the results aren't always similar. But there are some stand-out performers on this unique track, and most of them are veteran drivers.
Pocono is the only track in it's league. It stands at 2.5 miles long, and is classified as a tri-oval, yet it might as well be called a triangle. The track has long straight-aways and sharp curves and it makes for an interesting day at the track.
My line-up for this week's fantasy gamer looks like something out of the Who's Who is Nascar racing yearbook. Most of them are oldies, but defiantly goodies, with two young guys who have more than proved their worth during their fewer years in the cup. Seeing that this race has such strong statistics, its going to take some people quite a bit of math maneuvering to figure out how to buy as many of these hotshots as a salary cap will allow.
The first - and probably most obvious - pick for this week's race is Dale Jarrett. DJ seems pretty much unbeatable at this track. He has placed in the top 5 in 6 of the last 7 races here, including winning the June race. He currently sits in 11th place in the cup standings, the closest he has been to breaking into the top 10 all season. He has had an OK season with only 8 top 10's out of 19 races. Yet, he seems comfortable and more importantly, capable, of winning this Sunday. Jarrett is probably worth the money you will pay to have him on your team. He starts 15th this weekend.
Another veteran that should be watched this weekend is Bobby Labonte. This Texas native, and 2000 Cup Champion, has had a lackluster year. He currently sits in a dismal 20th place in the standings with only 3 top 10 finishes, although one is a win, in 19 starts. Yet, his record at Pocono speaks louder than his current placement. Labonte has won at the track in the mountains three times in the last seven races, including this race last year. Overall, he has finished in the top 10 in 5 of the last 7 races here. Labonte may not be having the greatest year of his racing career, but I would pick him to be dependable at Pocono. Labonte starts 37th and will have his work cut out for him Sunday to get up to the front. But once he does, he might be a safe bet.
Another veteran (not to mention one of my favorite drivers) Mark Martin is having a dream season. He currently sits in 2nd place in the standings, 55 points behind Sterling Marlin. He has won one race and finished in the top 10 in 13 of the first 19 races of the season. And he runs well at this triangle, or paperclip as you will. He has placed in the top 10 during 6 of the last 7 races here, including a 2nd place finish to DJ back in June. Just like DJ, Martin is probably worth his price. Martin qualified 17th Friday.
Two of the younger generation have also proved that they can hold their own at this track. Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart have both placed in the top 10 in 6 of the last 7 races at Pocono. Gordon is still looking for a win this year, and is still in the hunt for yet another championship. His performance last week knocked him back to 5th place in the standings, 140 points behind Marlin. He is not real consistent this season, yet he has also been plagued with plenty of car trouble. If Gordon drives like he can at this track, he just may be a contender. Gordon starts this race in 28th, definitely not an easy challenge to make up. And Tony Stewart, very possibly one of the most versatile racers in the Cup today, is also good at Pocono. His success at Pocono just shows his ability to succeed in whatever vehicle on whatever track. Stewart has always run well at Pocono, finishing 6th during this first Cup race at the track in 1999. He currently sits in 7th place in overall standings, 227 points behind the leader. He needs a good race, but a win would help him even more. This season isn't but barely half way over and the point standings certainly are not set in stone. Which makes races like this one that much more important. Stewart was one of the few early picks to qualify well- he starts 10th.
The long shots of the race to keep an eye on include Jimmie Johnson (starting 7th) and Ricky Rudd (starting 2nd). Johnson is the rookie who won't stop. He is in third place, 92 points behind the current leader, and has won 2 races, and finished in the top 10 in 12 of the last 19 races. Johnson finished third in the June race behind DJ and Martin and may be a factor Sunday. Ricky Rudd's record doesn't necessarily show his ability on this track but if you need a fifth pick, he is your man. He has only placed in the top 10 in 2 of the last 7 races, yet, he won the June 2001 race. He is sitting in 6th place in the standings, 218 back from the lead. Rudd needs a good race, or a good win to knock him a little further up the points standings. He is a decent pick for this week.
So place your bets, we are going to Pocono.
And always, I would love to know what you think. Drop me an e-mail. I 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