Fantasy NASCAR practice recap: Coca-Cola 600
By Brian Polking
Before diving into the practice results for this weekend's Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, fantasy owners need to remember that both sessions were held Saturday afternoon, while Sunday's race will end at night. In other words, the track conditions that produced the practice times aren't going to be the same conditions that ultimately produce a winner. While owners shouldn't dismiss the times, it is also a bad idea to write off drivers that traditionally perform well at Charlotte that ran poorly in practice. Many teams purposely start the race with a less than perfect setup in an attempt to better prepare the car for the drop in track temperature as night sets in.
One driver that won't have to wait until nightfall to run fast appears to be Paul Menard. He topped the opening session Saturday with a lap of 188.745 mph. He was followed by defending race winner Kurt Busch and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Meanwhile, Denny Hamlin and Kasey Kahne completed the top five.
Kahne is the top option out of the bunch. He is a three-time winner at Charlotte, and he has more wins at the track than any other driver since the start of the 2006 season. In the last few weeks, he has shown he can run in the top five with Red Bull Racing. Kahne could take it to the next level Sunday and get to Victory Lane.
Coming off an eighth-place finish in last year's Coca-Cola 600, Menard looks like a safe bet to employ as a sleeper this weekend. Busch and Hamlin on the other hand are high risk-high reward guys. Busch showed last season he can win this race, but his career numbers at Charlotte are mediocre, and he has really been struggling the last two months. Hamlin has an equally disappointing record at Charlotte, but he did finish a career-best fourth last fall. Since Hamlin is starting to hit his stride while Busch is fading, Hamlin is probably the better of the two drivers from a fantasy standpoint.
Only 10 drivers ran at least 10 consecutive laps in the first practice, and Menard and Busch again led the way. Ryan Newman ranked third in terms of 10-lap average speed, while Brad Keselowski and David Reutimann completed the top five. Reutimann is the new name that should jump out at owners. After all, he won the Coca-Cola 600 in 2009, and he finished in the top 10 in both races at Charlotte last year.
Reutimann continued his surge in Happy Hour, grabbing the top spot and solidifying his status as a top-10 option for fantasy owners. He was followed by Marcos Ambrose and Menard, and Kyle Busch and Jeff Burton rounded out the top five. Busch is the obvious gem of the bunch. After finishing third and second at Charlotte last year, it is only a matter of time before he wins a race at the track. Ambrose deserves plenty of attention as a sleeper option this weekend. He already has three top-10 finishes at tracks between 1.0 and 1.5 miles in length.
In terms of 10-lap average speed, Kyle Busch led the way. He was followed by Junior, Clint Bowyer, Carl Edwards and A.J. Allmendinger. As mentioned earlier, Busch is one of the top options this weekend, and Edwards deserves heavy consideration as well. He won the All-Star Race at Charlotte last weekend, and he has been nothing short of dominant at the 1.5-mile tracks in 2011.
Other big names lurking just outside the top five during the practices that fantasy owners need to consider are Jimmie Johnson, Greg Biffle and Matt Kenseth. Johnson is a six-time winner at Charlotte, and Biffle and Kenseth have been almost as impressive at 1.5-mile tracks this season as Edwards. It is no coincidence that all three drive for Roush Fenway Racing, and even the fourth member of the team David Ragan makes a solid sleeper pick.
Happy Hour Speeds (sorted by Avg. Speed)
Rk indicates Best Lap standing
|
Rk
|
Car
|
Driver
|
Team
|
Best Lap
|
Best Time
|
Avg. Speed
|
Laps
|
|
4
|
18
|
|
M&M's Toyota
|
183.799
|
29.380
|
182.283
|
12
|
|
13
|
99
|
|
Scotts EZ Seed Ford
|
183.181
|
29.480
|
181.971
|
10
|
|
19
|
21
|
|
Motorcraft / Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford
|
182.698
|
29.560
|
181.496
|
22
|
|
12
|
88
|
|
National Guard / AMP Energy Chevrolet
|
183.262
|
29.470
|
181.393
|
28
|
|
7
|
16
|
|
3M Ford
|
183.642
|
29.400
|
181.185
|
31
|
|
14
|
4
|
|
Red Bull Toyota
|
183.057
|
29.500
|
180.911
|
29
|
|
6
|
11
|
|
FedEx Express Toyota
|
183.748
|
29.390
|
180.891
|
37
|
|
3
|
27
|
|
Moen / Menards Chevrolet
|
184.093
|
29.330
|
180.885
|
17
|
|
15
|
1
|
|
Bass Pro Shops / Tracker Boats Chevrolet
|
182.791
|
29.540
|
180.708
|
30
|
|
16
|
17
|
|
Jeremiah Weed Ford
|
182.747
|
29.550
|
180.700
|
27
|
|
17
|
14
|
|
Office Depot / Mobil 1 Chevrolet
|
182.704
|
29.560
|
180.658
|
28
|
|
25
|
5
|
|
CARQUEST / GoDaddy.com Chevrolet
|
182.414
|
29.600
|
180.655
|
38
|
|
26
|
48
|
|
Lowe's Summer Salute Chevrolet
|
182.389
|
29.610
|
180.587
|
27
|
|
8
|
56
|
|
NAPA Auto Parts Toyota
|
183.592
|
29.410
|
180.456
|
32
|
|
11
|
20
|
|
The Home Depot Toyota
|
183.306
|
29.460
|
180.444
|
38
|
|
28
|
42
|
|
Target Chevrolet
|
182.309
|
29.620
|
180.355
|
23
|
|
5
|
31
|
|
Miller Lite Dodge
|
183.767
|
29.380
|
180.328
|
42
|
|
23
|
78
|
|
Furniture Row Chevrolet
|
182.457
|
29.600
|
180.282
|
23
|
|
10
|
6
|
|
UPS Ford
|
183.405
|
29.440
|
180.269
|
30
|
|
1
|
00
|
|
Aaron's Armed Forces Foundation Toyota
|
184.483
|
29.270
|
180.248
|
29
|
|
24
|
43
|
|
U.S. Air Force Ford
|
182.451
|
29.600
|
180.215
|
32
|
|
9
|
22
|
|
Shell / Pennzoil Dodge
|
183.517
|
29.420
|
180.185
|
42
|
|
21
|
33
|
|
Cheerios / Hamburger Helper Chevrolet
|
182.630
|
29.570
|
180.156
|
44
|
|
2
|
9
|
|
DeWalt Ford
|
184.143
|
29.320
|
180.115
|
27
|
|
20
|
39
|
|
U.S. Army Chevrolet
|
182.685
|
29.560
|
179.868
|
41
|
|
18
|
83
|
|
Red Bull Toyota
|
182.698
|
29.560
|
179.728
|
36
|
|
27
|
29
|
|
Budweiser / Armed Forces Chevrolet
|
182.352
|
29.610
|
179.651
|
29
|
|
32
|
66
|
|
KEYper Systems Toyota
|
181.281
|
29.790
|
179.356
|
14
|
|
22
|
2
|
|
Caterpillar Chevrolet
|
182.574
|
29.580
|
179.323
|
32
|
|
31
|
24
|
|
Drive to End Hunger / AARP Chevrolet
|
181.781
|
29.710
|
179.274
|
37
|
|
29
|
47
|
|
Kingsford / Bush's Best Baked Beans Toyota
|
181.892
|
29.690
|
179.138
|
34
|
|
30
|
34
|
|
Taco Bell Ford
|
181.806
|
29.700
|
179.031
|
29
|
|
36
|
13
|
|
GEICO Toyota
|
180.391
|
29.940
|
178.887
|
29
|
|
34
|
36
|
|
DisabledAmericanVets/GoldenCorral Chevrolet
|
180.771
|
29.870
|
178.675
|
20
|
|
38
|
87
|
|
|
179.015
|
30.160
|
178.639
|
4
|
|
37
|
38
|
|
Long John Silver's
|
179.736
|
30.040
|
178.266
|
18
|
|
35
|
32
|
|
blucigs.com Ford
|
180.584
|
29.900
|
177.856
|
29
|
|
42
|
46
|
|
Red Line Oil Chevrolet
|
178.577
|
30.240
|
177.724
|
5
|
|
33
|
95
|
|
Jordan Truck Sales Ford
|
181.257
|
29.790
|
177.554
|
35
|
|
39
|
7
|
|
Speed Energy/ Harris Teeter/ Sam's Dodge
|
178.980
|
30.170
|
177.265
|
15
|
|
41
|
09
|
|
Security Benefit / Thank A Teacher Chevrolet
|
178.678
|
30.220
|
176.928
|
23
|
|
40
|
30
|
|
|
178.796
|
30.200
|
176.482
|
15
|
|
43
|
60
|
|
Big Red Toyota
|
0.000
|
0.000
|
0.000
|
0
|
10-Lap Average Speeds (must run 10 consecutive laps)
|
Rk
|
Car
|
Driver
|
From Lap
|
To Lap
|
Avg. Speed
|
|
1
|
4
|
|
3
|
12
|
153.610
|
|
2
|
17
|
|
2
|
11
|
153.433
|
|
3
|
48
|
|
54
|
63
|
153.189
|
|
4
|
27
|
|
1
|
10
|
152.858
|
|
5
|
29
|
|
21
|
30
|
152.710
|
|
6
|
43
|
|
38
|
47
|
152.587
|
|
7
|
11
|
|
4
|
13
|
152.482
|
|
8
|
6
|
|
40
|
49
|
152.415
|
|
9
|
33
|
|
6
|
15
|
152.387
|
|
10
|
18
|
|
4
|
13
|
152.355
|
|
11
|
31
|
|
38
|
47
|
152.310
|
|
12
|
2
|
|
31
|
40
|
152.228
|
|
13
|
00
|
|
37
|
46
|
152.145
|
|
14
|
42
|
|
1
|
10
|
152.118
|
|
15
|
16
|
|
28
|
37
|
152.021
|
|
16
|
83
|
|
56
|
65
|
151.891
|
|
17
|
22
|
|
27
|
36
|
151.866
|
|
18
|
24
|
|
48
|
57
|
151.687
|
|
19
|
88
|
|
18
|
27
|
151.479
|
|
20
|
20
|
|
62
|
71
|
151.464
|
|
21
|
47
|
|
41
|
50
|
150.413
|
|
22
|
09
|
|
29
|
38
|
148.437
|
First Practice Speeds (sorted by Avg. Speed)
Rk indicates Best Lap standing
|
Rk
|
Car
|
Driver
|
Team
|
Best Lap
|
Best Time
|
Avg. Speed
|
Laps
|
|
12
|
16
|
|
3M Ford
|
186.464
|
28.960
|
185.161
|
13
|
|
1
|
27
|
|
Moen / Menards Chevrolet
|
188.745
|
28.610
|
185.076
|
15
|
|
6
|
5
|
|
CARQUEST / GoDaddy.com Chevrolet
|
186.929
|
28.888
|
184.136
|
24
|
|
30
|
17
|
|
Jeremiah Weed Ford
|
184.881
|
29.208
|
183.881
|
18
|
|
9
|
14
|
|
Office Depot / Mobil 1 Chevrolet
|
186.709
|
28.922
|
183.862
|
27
|
|
3
|
88
|
|
National Guard / AMP Energy Chevrolet
|
187.162
|
28.852
|
183.836
|
29
|
|
10
|
56
|
|
NAPA Auto Parts Toyota
|
186.645
|
28.932
|
183.765
|
21
|
|
14
|
29
|
|
Budweiser / Armed Forces Chevrolet
|
186.233
|
28.996
|
183.757
|
25
|
|
21
|
99
|
|
Scotts EZ Seed Ford
|
185.561
|
29.101
|
183.663
|
24
|
|
7
|
43
|
|
U.S. Air Force Ford
|
186.916
|
28.890
|
183.563
|
22
|
|
22
|
78
|
|
Furniture Row Chevrolet
|
185.542
|
29.104
|
183.470
|
14
|
|
5
|
4
|
|
Red Bull Toyota
|
187.007
|
28.876
|
183.395
|
25
|
|
17
|
48
|
|
Lowe's Summer Salute Chevrolet
|
186.014
|
29.030
|
183.264
|
24
|
|
18
|
00
|
|
Aaron's Armed Forces Foundation Toyota
|
185.746
|
29.072
|
183.216
|
18
|
|
15
|
39
|
|
U.S. Army Chevrolet
|
186.066
|
29.022
|
183.157
|
29
|
|
16
|
6
|
|
UPS Ford
|
186.027
|
29.028
|
183.119
|
31
|
|
19
|
21
|
|
Motorcraft / Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford
|
185.656
|
29.086
|
183.110
|
27
|
|
11
|
24
|
|
Drive to End Hunger / AARP Chevrolet
|
186.593
|
28.940
|
183.101
|
25
|
|
20
|
1
|
|
Bass Pro Shops / Tracker Boats Chevrolet
|
185.573
|
29.099
|
183.028
|
25
|
|
13
|
18
|
|
M&M's Toyota
|
186.458
|
28.961
|
182.800
|
27
|
|
4
|
11
|
|
FedEx Express Toyota
|
187.097
|
28.862
|
182.768
|
28
|
|
29
|
20
|
|
The Home Depot Toyota
|
185.090
|
29.175
|
182.759
|
25
|
|
8
|
42
|
|
Target Chevrolet
|
186.722
|
28.920
|
182.647
|
18
|
|
2
|
22
|
|
Shell / Pennzoil Dodge
|
188.357
|
28.669
|
182.628
|
35
|
|
26
|
2
|
|
Caterpillar Chevrolet
|
185.306
|
29.141
|
182.506
|
35
|
|
24
|
83
|
|
Red Bull Toyota
|
185.433
|
29.121
|
182.320
|
31
|
|
25
|
31
|
|
Miller Lite Dodge
|
185.306
|
29.141
|
182.242
|
18
|
|
34
|
13
|
|
GEICO Toyota
|
183.461
|
29.434
|
182.170
|
19
|
|
28
|
33
|
|
Cheerios / Hamburger Helper Chevrolet
|
185.172
|
29.162
|
181.798
|
16
|
|
31
|
95
|
|
Jordan Truck Sales Ford
|
184.754
|
29.228
|
181.780
|
16
|
|
27
|
34
|
|
Taco Bell Ford
|
185.179
|
29.161
|
181.699
|
13
|
|
37
|
87
|
|
|
182.667
|
29.562
|
181.629
|
3
|
|
32
|
47
|
|
Kingsford / Bush's Best Baked Beans Toyota
|
184.137
|
29.326
|
181.523
|
24
|
|
35
|
36
|
|
DisabledAmericanVets/GoldenCorral Chevrolet
|
183.418
|
29.441
|
181.244
|
21
|
|
23
|
9
|
|
DeWalt Ford
|
185.503
|
29.110
|
181.172
|
24
|
|
33
|
38
|
|
Long John Silver's Ford
|
183.648
|
29.404
|
180.986
|
21
|
|
36
|
66
|
|
KEYper Systems Toyota
|
182.883
|
29.527
|
180.207
|
12
|
|
41
|
60
|
|
Big Red Toyota
|
180.258
|
29.957
|
179.685
|
7
|
|
38
|
30
|
|
|
181.574
|
29.740
|
179.168
|
10
|
|
39
|
7
|
|
Speed Energy/ Harris Teeter/ Sam's Dodge
|
180.626
|
29.896
|
178.820
|
12
|
|
42
|
09
|
|
Security Benefit / Thank A Teacher Chevrolet
|
179.946
|
30.009
|
178.178
|
7
|
|
40
|
32
|
|
blucigs.com Ford
|
180.560
|
29.907
|
178.101
|
14
|
|
43
|
46
|
|
Red Line Oil Chevrolet
|
179.474
|
30.088
|
177.813
|
4
|
Combined Average Speeds (weighted by # of laps run in each session)
|
Rk
|
Car
|
Driver
|
Team
|
Average Speed
|
Total Laps
|
|
1
|
99
|
|
Scotts EZ Seed Ford
|
183.165
|
34
|
|
2
|
27
|
|
Moen / Menards Chevrolet
|
182.850
|
32
|
|
3
|
18
|
|
M&M's Toyota
|
182.641
|
39
|
|
4
|
88
|
|
National Guard / AMP Energy Chevrolet
|
182.636
|
57
|
|
5
|
21
|
|
Motorcraft / Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford
|
182.385
|
49
|
|
6
|
16
|
|
3M Ford
|
182.360
|
44
|
|
7
|
14
|
|
Office Depot / Mobil 1 Chevrolet
|
182.231
|
55
|
|
8
|
4
|
|
Red Bull Toyota
|
182.061
|
54
|
|
9
|
5
|
|
CARQUEST / GoDaddy.com Chevrolet
|
182.002
|
62
|
|
10
|
17
|
|
Jeremiah Weed Ford
|
181.972
|
45
|
|
11
|
48
|
|
Lowe's Summer Salute Chevrolet
|
181.847
|
51
|
|
12
|
56
|
|
NAPA Auto Parts Toyota
|
181.767
|
53
|
|
13
|
1
|
|
Bass Pro Shops / Tracker Boats Chevrolet
|
181.763
|
55
|
|
14
|
6
|
|
UPS Ford
|
181.717
|
61
|
|
15
|
11
|
|
FedEx Express Toyota
|
181.700
|
65
|
|
16
|
43
|
|
U.S. Air Force Ford
|
181.579
|
54
|
|
17
|
29
|
|
Budweiser / Armed Forces Chevrolet
|
181.552
|
54
|
|
18
|
78
|
|
Furniture Row Chevrolet
|
181.488
|
37
|
|
19
|
00
|
|
Aaron's Armed Forces Foundation Toyota
|
181.385
|
47
|
|
20
|
20
|
|
The Home Depot Toyota
|
181.363
|
63
|
|
21
|
42
|
|
Target Chevrolet
|
181.361
|
41
|
|
22
|
22
|
|
Shell / Pennzoil Dodge
|
181.295
|
77
|
|
23
|
39
|
|
U.S. Army Chevrolet
|
181.231
|
70
|
|
24
|
2
|
|
Caterpillar Chevrolet
|
180.986
|
67
|
|
25
|
83
|
|
Red Bull Toyota
|
180.927
|
67
|
|
26
|
31
|
|
Miller Lite Dodge
|
180.902
|
60
|
|
27
|
24
|
|
Drive to End Hunger / AARP Chevrolet
|
180.817
|
62
|
|
28
|
9
|
|
DeWalt Ford
|
180.612
|
51
|
|
29
|
33
|
|
Cheerios / Hamburger Helper Chevrolet
|
180.594
|
60
|
|
30
|
13
|
|
GEICO Toyota
|
180.187
|
48
|
|
31
|
47
|
|
Kingsford / Bush's Best Baked Beans Toyota
|
180.125
|
58
|
|
32
|
36
|
|
DisabledAmericanVets/GoldenCorral Chevrolet
|
179.991
|
41
|
|
33
|
87
|
|
|
179.920
|
7
|
|
34
|
34
|
|
Taco Bell Ford
|
179.857
|
42
|
|
35
|
66
|
|
KEYper Systems Toyota
|
179.749
|
26
|
|
36
|
38
|
|
Long John Silver's
|
179.731
|
39
|
|
37
|
60
|
|
Big Red Toyota
|
179.685
|
7
|
|
38
|
95
|
|
Jordan Truck Sales Ford
|
178.880
|
51
|
|
39
|
7
|
|
Speed Energy/ Harris Teeter/ Sam's Dodge
|
177.956
|
27
|
|
40
|
32
|
|
blucigs.com Ford
|
177.936
|
43
|
|
41
|
46
|
|
Red Line Oil Chevrolet
|
177.764
|
9
|
|
42
|
30
|
|
|
177.556
|
25
|
|
43
|
09
|
|
Security Benefit / Thank A Teacher Chevrolet
|
177.220
|
30
|
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