Fantasy NASCAR Racing

Fantasy NASCAR Nationwide Series: Indianapolis

July 29, 2011 @ 23:55:03

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ADAM ANSELL'S TOP 25 FOR INDIANAPOLIS

1. Carl Edwards: Edwards is coming off his fifth win (Nashville) of the season. He also pushed his laps led streak to 15 consecutive races. In six starts at Lucas Oil Raceway, Edwards has one win (2009), three Top Fives and four Top 10s with an Average Finish of eighth. He's led at least one lap in two of his last four starts there. In his victory, Edwards pushed his way through the field from the 42nd spot on the starting grid and led 72 of the 200 laps. He finished second in this event last season. Since the inception of Loop Data in 2005, Edwards ranks ninth in Driver Rating (103.3) and 16th in Average Running Position (13.1). He leads all competitors in Laps in the Top 15 (826). He's by far the biggest name on the weak entry list and is the top start in all formats.

2. Brad Keselowski: Despite leading 89 laps and spending 100 percent of the Laps in the Top 15, Keselowski finished just 12th last weekend at Nashville. In four starts at Indianapolis, Keselowski has one Top Five and three Top 10s with an Average Finish of 10.3. He led one lap in the 2010 event. His Average Starting position on the grid is 11.3. Keselowski ranks 13th in DR (97.0) and 12th in ARP (10.2). His history at LOR is just average by his own personal standards, but that will change this weekend. He's the only other truly elite option in Tiered/Grouping formats.

3. Reed Sorenson: Sorenson finished eighth last weekend in a solid, yet unspectacular Fantasy performance. In four LOR starts, Sorenson has three Top Fives and one pole with an Average Finish of 5.6. He led 49 laps in the 2005 event, which he started from the pole and finished third. Overall, he's started inside the Top Four on the grid twice. Sorenson ranks third in DR (116.1) and second in ARP (5.2). He also ranks second in Average Green Flag Speed (103.314 mph). The Nationwide Series points leader (by five points) has been a quality finisher, but his Fantasy prowess hasn't been up to par. That will change this weekend.

4. Trevor Bayne: Bayne logged his first Top 10 since Michigan (June 18) last weekend. In two Lucas Oil Raceway starts, Bayne has one Top Five, two Top 10s and two poles with an Average Finish of 5.5. He's led 34 (2009) and 55 (2010) laps in each of his two starts there. Bayne ranks fourth in DR (114.9) and third in ARP (5.5). He ranks third overall in Laps Led (89), but leads all drivers on this weekend's entry list. He has a ton of upside at Lucas Oil Raceway, and he should be every lineup in all formats.

5. Aric Almirola: Almirola recorded his second straight fifth-place finish last weekend. In four starts at the site, Almirola has one Top Five, two Top 10s and one pole with an Average Finish of 15.3. He's led at least one lap in his two of his last three starts. He led 87 laps in the 2007 event in which he finished sixth. Almirola ranks seventh in DR (104.2) and 10th in ARP (9.9). He ranks second in Laps in the Top 15 (644) and fourth in Laps Led (88). He'll come at an great value in all formats.

6. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.: He finished second last weekend at Nashville, his sixth Top Five in his last 10 Series starts. He's led at least one lap in seven races during the same span. Stenhouse Jr. started third and finished 11th in his lone start at LOR. Stenhouse Jr. ranks 16th in DR (91.6) and 13th in ARP (10.4). He's just five points off the top spot in the Series standings and has developed into a trustworthy Fantasy starter week-in-week-out.

7. Austin Dillon: Dillon finished third at Nashville, pushing his season Average Finish up to 6.7. He's started inside the Top Four on the grid in all three 2011 starts. He also led his first laps (nine) of the season. Dillon finished 18th in his lone start at LOR. Dillon ranks 29th in DR (69.8) and 25th in ARP (19.2). This will be Dillon's final Nationwide start of 2011, meaning Fantasy owners need to get him into all Elimination format lineups.

8. Elliott Sadler: Sadler logged his worst finish (30th) since the first race of the season (38th at Daytona) at Nashville. In three starts at Lucas Oil Raceway, Sadler has two Top Fives with an Average Finish of 7.7. He led 56 laps in his last race at the site. The problem with that is that it was in 1998. Fortunately, for Fantasy owners, Sadler has performed very well at tracks he either has never seen or hasn't seen in years. DR N/A.

9. Drew Herring: Herring started from the pole and finished 12th at Iowa in Joey Logano's No. 20 ride. He finished seventh a week ago at Nashville in Kyle Busch's No. 18 Toyota. Saturday will mark Herring's debut at Lucas Oil Raceway. Busch has won two of the last three events at Lucas Oil. Obviously, Herring isn't as good as Busch, but he's proven he can succeed in Joe Gibbs equipment. He's a solid mid-level option. DR N/A.

10. Justin Allgaier: Allgaier finished fourth last weekend at Nashville, his best finish in his last five Series starts. In two LOR starts, Allgaier has one Top 10 with an Average Finish of 14th. Allgaier ranks 17th in DR (88.7) and 14th in ARP (12.6), and has seven Top 15s in his last nine Series starts. Though he remains a safe Fantasy start, Allgaier hasn't progressed to elite level driver status.

11. Jason Leffler: One win (2007), three Top Fives, four Top 10s and one pole with an Average Finish of 15.3 in eight LOR starts. 85.2 DR.

12. Kenny Wallace: One Top Five, four Top 10s and one pole with an Average Finish of 14.9 in 13 starts at Lucas Oil Raceway. 71.8 DR.

13. Steve Wallace: One Top Five and two Top 10s with an Average Finish of 14.4 in five LOR appearances. 83.6 DR.

14. Mike Wallace: One win (1994) and four Top 10s with an Average Finish of 14.7 in 14 LOR starts. 71.5 DR.

15. Michael McDowell: Average Finish of 24th in two starts at LOR - is helming the No. 18 Toyota. 47.2 DR.

16. Mike Bliss: 87.6 DR.

17. David Stremme: 99.2.

18. Brian Scott: 73.1.

19. Michael Annett: 71.0.

20. Danny O'Quinn: 62.1.

21. Timmy Hill

22. Matt Frahm

23. Fain Skinner

24. Chase Miller

25. Blake Koch

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Adam was a 2010 Fantasy Sports Writers Awards Association nominee for Racing Writer of the Year. You can e-mail him at ansell@rotoexperts.com and follow him @RotoExpertsAA.

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Author Bio

Adam Ansell, RotoExperts.com

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RotoExperts.com is a deluxe fantasy analysis and information site and content development network. Led by award-winning Fantasy veteran Scott Engel, formerly of ESPN and CBS SportsLine, the RotoExperts.com team provides distinctive and in-depth fantasy insights in all sports. RotoExperts.com is an official content provider for NFL.com, Yahoo Sports, Sports Illustrated and USA Today. RotoExperts.com was nominated for a total of eight industry awards in 2009, and won the Fantasy Sports Writers Association Award for Best Humor Article. RotoExperts.com urges you to look for the X- The Mark of Fantasy Excellence.