Fantasy NASCAR practice recap: Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at The Glen
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August 13, 2011 @ 14:59:08
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By Brian Polking
Last season, Marcos Ambrose saw his first career Cup victory slip away when he stalled his car under caution while leading in the final laps at Infineon. This weekend’s race at Watkins Glen could be his golden opportunity to make amends for that mistake. Ambrose has never finished worse than third in three starts at The Glen, and his No. 9 Ford lit up the practice charts Friday. Ambrose posted the best overall average speed in both practice sessions Friday, including the fastest lap in Happy Hour. He likes like an elite option for Sunday’s race.
Other drivers to watch include former Watkins Glen winner Kyle Busch. He topped the first session of the afternoon, edging defending race winner Juan Pablo Montoya. Both drivers have put up incredible numbers at the track, and fantasy owners have the green light to use both this weekend.
A.J. Allmendinger ranked third in the session, and he should immediately jump to the top of the list of potential sleepers. Allmendinger averages a top-10 finish at The Glen, and he finished a career-best fourth at the track last season. Not only does he have top-five potential this weekend, he is a legitimate threat to win.
Ryan Newman and Brad Keselowski rounded out the top five in the first practice, and while Newman has finished as high as second at the track, he has been mediocre lately. Keselowski is on a roll after his win at Pocono, but all the braking and shifting could take a toll on hos broken ankle during the course of the race. In the end, owners are probably getting their best value with the top three on the speed charts.
In Happy Hour, Ambrose paved the way. He was followed by Kurt Busch, who is going for a season sweep of the road courses. Busch has finished in the top 10 in three straight starts at The Glen, including a second-place finish last season. If Ambrose is the favorite, Busch is right on his heels.
Carl Edwards, Keselowski and Martin Truex Jr. rounded out the top five. Edwards has finished in the top five in each of his last two starts at The Glen, and he is one of the most consistent performers. Even with the bum ankle, Keselowski could be worth a look considering the strong practice times. Even Truex Jr. could make a nice sleeper pick. He has finished in the top 15 in three of his last four starts at the track, including two top 10s.
No driver ran 10 or more consecutive laps in either session.
One big name that struggled a bit on the practice charts was Tony Stewart. The five-time Watkins Glen failed to crack the top 15 in either session. However, owners may want to give him the benefit of the doubt. His five victories are the most in track history, and he hasn’t finished worse than seventh in his last seven starts at the track. Not to mention the fact that he has six top-two finishes during the stretch.
Happy Hour Speeds (sorted by Avg. Speed)
Rk indicates Best Lap standing
|
Rk
|
Car
|
Driver
|
Team
|
Best Lap
|
Best Time
|
Avg. Speed
|
Laps
|
|
1
|
9
|
|
Stanley Ford
|
126.604
|
69.666
|
124.237
|
16
|
|
5
|
56
|
|
NAPA Auto Parts Toyota
|
125.636
|
70.203
|
124.000
|
15
|
|
3
|
99
|
|
Ortho Home Defense Max Ford
|
125.761
|
70.133
|
123.081
|
16
|
|
22
|
55
|
|
|
123.500
|
71.417
|
122.978
|
6
|
|
38
|
87
|
|
|
122.783
|
71.834
|
122.775
|
3
|
|
24
|
4
|
|
Red Bull Toyota
|
123.396
|
71.477
|
122.658
|
21
|
|
4
|
2
|
|
Miller Lite Dodge
|
125.722
|
70.155
|
122.572
|
20
|
|
13
|
27
|
|
Pittsburgh Paints/Menards Chevrolet
|
124.311
|
70.951
|
122.544
|
18
|
|
27
|
66
|
|
|
123.338
|
71.511
|
122.419
|
6
|
|
21
|
34
|
|
|
123.696
|
71.304
|
122.396
|
12
|
|
17
|
47
|
|
CapitalDPO Toyota
|
123.988
|
71.136
|
122.252
|
17
|
|
35
|
35
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|
123.049
|
71.679
|
122.180
|
5
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6
|
20
|
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Home Depot Toyota
|
125.316
|
70.382
|
122.179
|
18
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|
9
|
31
|
|
Caterpillar Chevrolet
|
124.680
|
70.741
|
122.155
|
20
|
|
15
|
42
|
|
Target Chevrolet
|
124.068
|
71.090
|
122.091
|
27
|
|
25
|
00
|
|
Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota
|
123.376
|
71.489
|
122.080
|
12
|
|
39
|
17
|
|
Crown Royal Ford
|
122.677
|
71.896
|
122.054
|
15
|
|
36
|
77
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|
GNC/SPEED Energy Dodge
|
122.882
|
71.776
|
122.053
|
7
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2
|
22
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Shell/Pennzoil Dodge
|
125.795
|
70.114
|
121.668
|
15
|
|
29
|
51
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|
Phoenix Construction/Thank A Teacher
|
123.262
|
71.555
|
121.595
|
14
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16
|
18
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|
M&M's Toyota
|
124.045
|
71.103
|
121.579
|
26
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|
40
|
36
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Golden Corral Chevrolet
|
122.520
|
71.988
|
121.515
|
12
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8
|
48
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Lowe's Chevrolet
|
124.782
|
70.683
|
121.425
|
20
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18
|
7
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SPEED Energy Dodge
|
123.960
|
71.152
|
121.376
|
8
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12
|
43
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Best Buy Ford
|
124.327
|
70.942
|
121.041
|
31
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|
23
|
24
|
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DuPont Chevrolet
|
123.402
|
71.474
|
121.037
|
24
|
|
46
|
60
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|
Big Red Toyota
|
121.371
|
72.670
|
121.023
|
7
|
|
20
|
16
|
|
Valvoline Ford
|
123.706
|
71.298
|
120.997
|
18
|
|
7
|
33
|
|
Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet
|
125.005
|
70.557
|
120.976
|
19
|
|
32
|
14
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Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet
|
123.148
|
71.621
|
120.969
|
26
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31
|
39
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U.S. ARMY Chevrolet
|
123.153
|
71.618
|
120.962
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16
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28
|
29
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Budweiser Chevrolet
|
123.326
|
71.518
|
120.905
|
19
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|
30
|
83
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Red Bull Toyota
|
123.220
|
71.579
|
120.843
|
27
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|
26
|
1
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McDonald's Chevrolet
|
123.353
|
71.502
|
120.547
|
21
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|
19
|
11
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FedEx Ground Toyota
|
123.760
|
71.267
|
120.356
|
23
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|
11
|
71
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Interstate Moving Services Ford
|
124.371
|
70.917
|
120.198
|
20
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|
34
|
78
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Furniture Row Chevrolet
|
123.081
|
71.660
|
120.165
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26
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|
45
|
32
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Bully Hill Vineyards Ford
|
121.464
|
72.614
|
120.072
|
14
|
|
33
|
88
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National Guard/AMP Energy Chevrolet
|
123.138
|
71.627
|
119.693
|
25
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|
44
|
38
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Long John Silver's Ford
|
121.697
|
72.475
|
118.819
|
18
|
|
37
|
6
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UPS Ford
|
122.843
|
71.799
|
118.657
|
26
|
|
14
|
37
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|
Green Stuff Absorbent Ford
|
124.248
|
70.987
|
118.604
|
9
|
|
42
|
46
|
|
Fisher Nuts Ford
|
121.971
|
72.312
|
118.308
|
11
|
|
41
|
5
|
|
GoDaddy.com Chevrolet
|
122.235
|
72.156
|
117.732
|
13
|
|
10
|
13
|
|
GEICO Toyota
|
124.582
|
70.797
|
116.872
|
17
|
|
43
|
50
|
|
Green Smoke Chevrolet
|
121.911
|
72.348
|
115.356
|
13
|
First Practice Speeds (sorted by Avg. Speed)
Rk indicates Best Lap standing
|
Rk
|
Car
|
Driver
|
Team
|
Best Lap
|
Best Time
|
Avg. Speed
|
Laps
|
|
13
|
9
|
|
Stanley Ford
|
124.236
|
70.994
|
123.743
|
11
|
|
1
|
18
|
|
M&M's Toyota
|
125.566
|
70.242
|
122.938
|
16
|
|
2
|
42
|
|
Target Chevrolet
|
125.557
|
70.247
|
122.859
|
16
|
|
3
|
43
|
|
Best Buy Ford
|
125.544
|
70.254
|
122.810
|
21
|
|
6
|
16
|
|
Valvoline Ford
|
124.956
|
70.585
|
122.714
|
18
|
|
7
|
24
|
|
DuPont Chevrolet
|
124.499
|
70.844
|
122.662
|
20
|
|
22
|
11
|
|
FedEx Ground Toyota
|
123.145
|
71.623
|
122.590
|
20
|
|
4
|
39
|
|
U.S. ARMY Chevrolet
|
125.233
|
70.429
|
122.576
|
14
|
|
5
|
2
|
|
Miller Lite Dodge
|
125.185
|
70.456
|
122.417
|
23
|
|
19
|
56
|
|
NAPA Auto Parts Toyota
|
123.288
|
71.540
|
122.403
|
20
|
|
21
|
27
|
|
Pittsburgh Paints/Menards Chevrolet
|
123.193
|
71.595
|
122.367
|
22
|
|
16
|
99
|
|
Ortho Home Defense Max Ford
|
123.550
|
71.388
|
122.347
|
18
|
|
17
|
22
|
|
Shell/Pennzoil Dodge
|
123.529
|
71.400
|
122.305
|
28
|
|
14
|
4
|
|
Red Bull Toyota
|
124.086
|
71.080
|
122.257
|
17
|
|
20
|
33
|
|
Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet
|
123.210
|
71.585
|
122.199
|
21
|
|
11
|
88
|
|
National Guard/AMP Energy Chevrolet
|
124.255
|
70.983
|
122.102
|
21
|
|
8
|
5
|
|
GoDaddy.com Chevrolet
|
124.474
|
70.858
|
122.054
|
14
|
|
27
|
31
|
|
Caterpillar Chevrolet
|
122.865
|
71.786
|
122.026
|
20
|
|
10
|
1
|
|
McDonald's Chevrolet
|
124.371
|
70.917
|
121.996
|
22
|
|
26
|
20
|
|
Home Depot Toyota
|
122.959
|
71.731
|
121.974
|
19
|
|
18
|
14
|
|
Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet
|
123.326
|
71.518
|
121.910
|
17
|
|
12
|
17
|
|
Crown Royal Ford
|
124.243
|
70.990
|
121.877
|
15
|
|
29
|
78
|
|
Furniture Row Chevrolet
|
122.674
|
71.898
|
121.843
|
21
|
|
23
|
48
|
|
Lowe's Chevrolet
|
123.145
|
71.623
|
121.721
|
22
|
|
30
|
47
|
|
CapitalDPO Toyota
|
122.585
|
71.950
|
121.706
|
20
|
|
9
|
29
|
|
Budweiser Chevrolet
|
124.448
|
70.873
|
121.663
|
14
|
|
31
|
34
|
|
|
122.173
|
72.193
|
121.390
|
9
|
|
41
|
35
|
|
|
121.232
|
72.753
|
121.128
|
5
|
|
33
|
00
|
|
Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota
|
121.827
|
72.398
|
121.090
|
20
|
|
35
|
87
|
|
|
121.751
|
72.443
|
121.040
|
7
|
|
15
|
71
|
|
Interstate Moving Services Ford
|
124.031
|
71.111
|
120.986
|
16
|
|
34
|
36
|
|
Golden Corral Chevrolet
|
121.825
|
72.399
|
120.969
|
15
|
|
25
|
83
|
|
Red Bull Toyota
|
122.995
|
71.710
|
120.831
|
22
|
|
28
|
51
|
|
PhoenixConstruction/ThankATeacher Chevrolet
|
122.764
|
71.845
|
120.743
|
21
|
|
24
|
6
|
|
UPS Ford
|
123.067
|
71.668
|
120.665
|
22
|
|
42
|
77
|
|
GNC/SPEED Energy Dodge
|
120.772
|
73.030
|
120.275
|
6
|
|
32
|
32
|
|
Bully Hill Vineyards Ford
|
122.007
|
72.291
|
120.080
|
18
|
|
37
|
55
|
|
|
121.600
|
72.533
|
120.062
|
9
|
|
43
|
66
|
|
|
120.457
|
73.221
|
119.849
|
5
|
|
40
|
38
|
|
Long John Silver's Ford
|
121.426
|
72.637
|
119.543
|
12
|
|
36
|
46
|
|
Fisher Nuts Ford
|
121.732
|
72.454
|
119.261
|
15
|
|
44
|
50
|
|
Green Smoke Chevrolet
|
120.052
|
73.468
|
119.086
|
15
|
|
38
|
7
|
|
SPEED Energy Dodge
|
121.563
|
72.555
|
118.837
|
5
|
|
39
|
13
|
|
GEICO Toyota
|
121.478
|
72.606
|
118.837
|
9
|
|
46
|
60
|
|
Big Red Toyota
|
119.428
|
73.852
|
118.782
|
7
|
|
45
|
37
|
|
Green Stuff Absorbent Ford
|
119.769
|
73.642
|
116.276
|
4
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Combined Average Speeds (weighted by # of laps run in each session)
|
Car
|
Driver
|
Team
|
Average Speed
|
Total Laps
|
|
9
|
|
Stanley Ford
|
124.036
|
27
|
|
56
|
|
NAPA Auto Parts Toyota
|
123.087
|
35
|
|
99
|
|
Ortho Home Defense Max Ford
|
122.692
|
34
|
|
2
|
|
Miller Lite Dodge
|
122.489
|
43
|
|
4
|
|
Red Bull Toyota
|
122.479
|
38
|
|
27
|
|
Pittsburgh Paints/Menards Chevrolet
|
122.447
|
40
|
|
42
|
|
Target Chevrolet
|
122.377
|
43
|
|
18
|
|
M&M's Toyota
|
122.097
|
42
|
|
31
|
|
Caterpillar Chevrolet
|
122.091
|
40
|
|
22
|
|
Shell/Pennzoil Dodge
|
122.083
|
43
|
|
20
|
|
Home Depot Toyota
|
122.074
|
37
|
|
17
|
|
Crown Royal Ford
|
121.966
|
30
|
|
34
|
|
|
121.965
|
21
|
|
47
|
|
CapitalDPO Toyota
|
121.957
|
37
|
|
16
|
|
Valvoline Ford
|
121.856
|
36
|
|
24
|
|
DuPont Chevrolet
|
121.776
|
44
|
|
43
|
|
Best Buy Ford
|
121.755
|
52
|
|
39
|
|
U.S. ARMY Chevrolet
|
121.715
|
30
|
|
35
|
|
|
121.654
|
10
|
|
33
|
|
Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet
|
121.618
|
40
|
|
48
|
|
Lowe's Chevrolet
|
121.580
|
42
|
|
87
|
|
|
121.561
|
10
|
|
00
|
|
Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota
|
121.461
|
32
|
|
11
|
|
FedEx Ground Toyota
|
121.395
|
43
|
|
14
|
|
Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet
|
121.341
|
43
|
|
1
|
|
McDonald's Chevrolet
|
121.288
|
43
|
|
66
|
|
|
121.251
|
11
|
|
77
|
|
GNC/SPEED Energy Dodge
|
121.232
|
13
|
|
55
|
|
|
121.228
|
15
|
|
29
|
|
Budweiser Chevrolet
|
121.227
|
33
|
|
36
|
|
Golden Corral Chevrolet
|
121.212
|
27
|
|
51
|
|
Phoenix Construction/Thank A Teacher
|
121.084
|
35
|
|
78
|
|
Furniture Row Chevrolet
|
120.915
|
47
|
|
83
|
|
Red Bull Toyota
|
120.838
|
49
|
|
88
|
|
National Guard/AMP Energy Chevrolet
|
120.793
|
46
|
|
71
|
|
Interstate Moving Services Ford
|
120.548
|
36
|
|
7
|
|
SPEED Energy Dodge
|
120.399
|
13
|
|
32
|
|
Bully Hill Vineyards Ford
|
120.077
|
32
|
|
5
|
|
GoDaddy.com Chevrolet
|
119.973
|
27
|
|
60
|
|
Big Red Toyota
|
119.903
|
14
|
|
6
|
|
UPS Ford
|
119.577
|
48
|
|
38
|
|
Long John Silver's Ford
|
119.109
|
30
|
|
46
|
|
Fisher Nuts Ford
|
118.858
|
26
|
|
37
|
|
Green Stuff Absorbent Ford
|
117.888
|
13
|
|
13
|
|
GEICO Toyota
|
117.552
|
26
|
|
50
|
|
Green Smoke Chevrolet
|
117.354
|
28
|
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