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Fantasy NASCAR RacingFantasy NASCAR practice recap: Good Sam RV Insurance 500
Topping the charts in the opening session was former Pocono winner Ryan Newman. He should make a solid addition to fantasy rosters, and he has always been one of the more consistent performers at the track. Newman finished ninth in the June event, and at worst, he should be good for a top-15 finish with the potential for a top-five run. Kurt Busch was second in the opening session, which is also where he finished in the June race. Busch is a two-time winner at Pocono, and his runner-up performance was the fifth of his career at the track. As well as he has been running lately, he should be considered one of the favorites this weekend and an excellent fantasy play.
Rounding out the top five in the first practice were A.J. Allmendinger, Carl Edwards and Mark Martin. Fresh off a new contract with Roush Fenway Racing, Edwards will be racing with a weight lifted off his should. That could mean big things for a driver that has already won twice at Pocono. Meanwhile, Allmendinger could make a solid sleeper pick. He has finished as high as 10th at Pocono, and he has always run pretty well at flat tracks. Only two drivers ran 10 consecutive laps in the first session, and Paul Menard had the best average speed of the group. Coming off his win at the Brickyard, he has to be considered the top sleeper this weekend. Menard has finished in the top 15 in his last two starts at Pocono, and also posted the eighth-fastest lap in the first practice. Not to mention the fact that Indy and Pocono have similar characteristics in terms of car setup. In Happy Hour, Kasey Kahne climbed to the top of the charts. He has been a consistent top-15 driver at Pocono for the last few seasons, and he even picked up a win. Kahne could put himself in the middle of the wildcard conversation with a win this weekend, and fantasy owners may want to gamble that the extra motivation pushes the No. 4 team to a strong outing this weekend. Martin ranked second in the session, followed by Richard Childress Racing teammates Kevin Harvick and Clint Bowyer. After struggling in the first session, Harvick seemed to find the setup in the final practice. He has finished in the top five in his last three starts at Pocono, and a similar performance could be in the works this weekend. Rounding out the top five was Juan Pablo Montoya. He has finished eighth or better in four of his last five starts at Pocono, including a seventh-place finish at Pocono. He has been in the mix to win at the track on multiple occasions as well, and Montoya makes a solid addition to any fantasy roster this weekend. Only four drivers ran 10 or more consecutive laps in Happy Hour, led by Jimmie Johnson. The two-time Pocono winner finished fourth at the track in June and has finished outside the top 15 only once in 19 career starts. More importantly, Johnson always does his best work in the second half of the year and beyond, and this is his time to shine. Owners wondering about Pocono ace Denny Hamlin shouldn't be too worried. Although he didn't post a fast lap, he did record the top average speed in Happy Hour. Hamlin has had a car capable of winning at Pocono on every start at the track. As long as he doesn't blow an engine or cut a tire like he did in June, he will be in the mix for a win. Happy Hour Speeds (sorted by Avg. Speed) Rk indicates Best Lap standing
10-Lap Average Speeds (must run 10 consecutive laps)
First Practice Speeds (sorted by Avg. Speed) Rk indicates Best Lap standing
10-Lap Average Speeds (must run 10 consecutive laps)
Combined Average Speeds (weighted by # of laps run in each session)
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Author Bio
Brian Polking Racing has been part of Brian's life ever since he can remember, and he spent his childhood at dirt tracks throughout Ohio and Kentucky watching his father race. NASCAR naturally became his favorite sport, and he has been following the Cup, Nationwide and Truck Series for most of his life. Brian majored in journalism and economics at Ohio State University and becoming a sports writer has always been his dream. Although he has covered everything from minor league baseball to the NCAA tournament, his passion has always been NASCAR. Brian has served as a NASCAR writer for a variety of sites, eventually becoming head editor of the NASCAR section for Fanball.com. His knowledge of NASCAR comes from his life-long love of racing, and he tries to add a personal touch to every article he writes. Brian is always up for talking NASCAR with anyone that wants to. Brian joined KFFL's team in 2011. Featured LinksTalk Sports 24/7! Recent articles: |
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