Fantasy NASCAR Racing

Fantasy NASCAR practice recap: AAA 400

October 1, 2011 @ 10:17:07

Upsets have been at a minimum two races into the Chase with Tony Stewart winning both events. Paul Menard is out to change that, topping the charts in the opening practice at Dover Friday. Although he won at the Brickyard earlier this year, Menard missed out on the Chase. Kissing the bricks put him on the map, but a win in the playoffs would cement his status as a future postseason contender. At the very least, he appears to be a legitimate sleeper option for fantasy owners this weekend.

Menard was followed by a pack of title hopefuls, including Matt Kenseth and Carl Edwards. The Roush Fenway Racing duo is among the most consistent drivers at Dover, and both should be high on the list of potential fantasy options. Jeff Gordon and Kyle Busch rounded out the top five, and this could be Busch's weekend to get going. He has three straight finishes of sixth or better at Dover, including a win. However, all four drivers deserve consideration from fantasy owners.

Edwards also topped all drivers in terms of 10-lap average speed, although only four drivers qualified in the category. Six-time Dover winner Jimmie Johnson ranked second in the category, followed by Kyle Busch and Gordon. Johnson has won three of the last five races at the track, including the last two Chase events. Owners can definitely add Johnson to the list of potential options.

Hendrick Motorsports continued an impressive afternoon in Happy Hour as Mark Martin topped the charts. Despite a down season, Martin could be a steal for fantasy owners this weekend. He finished second at Dover earlier this year and has been one of the most consistent performers at the track throughout his career.

Gordon followed his teammate, posting the second fastest time in the final session. The always up and down Juan Pablo Montoya ranked third, while David Stremme and Travis Kvapil rounded out the top five. Fantasy owners should note that Stremme and Kvapil were in qualifying trim as they attempt to make the 43-car field.

In terms of 10-lap average speed, Menard again ascended to the top of the charts. Edwards ranked second, followed by Regan Smith and David Ragan. Kyle Busch rounded out the top five. Ragan could be a potential sleeper pick. He has never had a lot of success at Dover, but his Roush Fenway Racing teammates have been excellent. Based on the practice times, he may finally be catching on.

Two drivers that struggled throughout the afternoon were Stewart and Denny Hamlin. It isn't a complete surprise considering both drivers have struggled at the track throughout their careers, but given Stewart's recent success in the Chase, it is hard to write him off completely. That being said, owners may want to jump off the Stewart bandwagon for a week and continue to avoid the slumping Hamlin.

Happy Hour Speeds (sorted by Avg. Speed)

Rk indicates Best Lap standing

Rk	Car	Driver	Team	Best Lap	Best Time	Avg. Speed	Laps
4	30	David Stremme	Chevrolet	153.840	23.401	153.387	6
5	55	Travis Kvapil	Ford	153.348	23.476	153.086	9
6	66	Michael McDowell	Toyota	153.146	23.507	152.459	8
15	46	Scott Speed	Ford	152.737	23.570	151.840	12
21	38	J.J. Yeley	Ford	152.458	23.613	151.797	11
8	7	Reed Sorenson	Dodge	152.996	23.530	151.718	8
29	37	Josh Wise	Ford	152.059	23.675	151.567	16
19	4	Kasey Kahne	Toyota	152.549	23.599	151.279	54
18	29	Kevin Harvick	Chevrolet	152.601	23.591	151.136	73
16	99	Carl Edwards	Ford	152.685	23.578	151.119	64
32	87	Joe Nemechek	Toyota	151.905	23.699	150.925	13
25	78	Regan Smith	Chevrolet	152.246	23.646	150.810	56
30	33	Clint Bowyer	Chevrolet	151.937	23.694	150.659	27
10	43	A.J. Allmendinger	Ford	152.899	23.545	150.606	85
7	00	David Reutimann	Toyota	153.100	23.514	150.548	73
13	16	Greg Biffle	Ford	152.795	23.561	150.527	76
2	24	Jeff Gordon	Chevrolet	154.017	23.374	150.487	61
9	27	Paul Menard	Chevrolet	152.944	23.538	150.407	66
1	5	Mark Martin	Chevrolet	155.072	23.215	150.339	48
11	18	Kyle Busch	Toyota	152.866	23.550	150.336	85
17	6	David Ragan	Ford	152.639	23.585	150.304	75
34	60	Mike Skinner	Toyota	151.592	23.748	150.269	17
20	17	Matt Kenseth	Ford	152.471	23.611	150.222	63
3	42	Juan Pablo Montoya	Chevrolet	153.840	23.401	150.206	56
23	20	Joey Logano	Toyota	152.291	23.639	150.188	69
14	22	Kurt Busch	Dodge	152.749	23.568	150.175	81
38	1	Jamie McMurray	Chevrolet	151.375	23.782	150.152	34
28	9	Marcos Ambrose	Ford	152.078	23.672	150.133	64
26	31	Jeff Burton	Chevrolet	152.111	23.667	150.098	73
37	88	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	Chevrolet	151.464	23.768	150.092	59
12	48	Jimmie Johnson	Chevrolet	152.847	23.553	150.063	82
35	47	Bobby Labonte	Toyota	151.579	23.750	149.997	67
22	2	Brad Keselowski	Dodge	152.400	23.622	149.974	78
31	83	Brian Vickers	Toyota	151.931	23.695	149.965	79
24	11	Denny Hamlin	Toyota	152.252	23.645	149.886	54
41	14	Tony Stewart	Chevrolet	151.114	23.823	149.719	59
33	56	Martin Truex Jr.	Toyota	151.700	23.731	149.704	54
36	34	David Gilliland	Ford	151.490	23.764	149.480	29
39	39	Ryan Newman	Chevrolet	151.159	23.816	149.354	79
27	36	Dave Blaney	Ford	152.091	23.670	149.113	30
42	51	Landon Cassill	Chevrolet	150.735	23.883	148.884	75
40	13	Casey Mears	Toyota	151.140	23.819	148.867	30
43	32	Mike Bliss	Ford	150.169	23.973	148.340	67
44	71	Andy Lally	Ford	149.844	24.025	147.506	37

10-Lap Average Speeds (must run 10 consecutive laps)

Rk	Car	Driver	From Lap	To Lap	Avg. Speed
1	27	Paul Menard	1	10	151.923
2	99	Carl Edwards	1	10	151.727
3	78	Regan Smith	33	42	151.489
4	6	David Ragan	61	70	151.265
5	18	Kyle Busch	1	10	151.161
6	48	Jimmie Johnson	1	10	151.091
7	29	Kevin Harvick	26	35	151.029
8	43	A.J. Allmendinger	63	72	151.007
9	00	David Reutimann	38	47	150.975
10	17	Matt Kenseth	23	32	150.909
11	31	Jeff Burton	42	51	150.814
12	2	Brad Keselowski	1	10	150.775
13	24	Jeff Gordon	46	55	150.718
14	83	Brian Vickers	56	65	150.659
15	22	Kurt Busch	56	65	150.605
16	47	Bobby Labonte	50	59	150.583
17	39	Ryan Newman	56	65	149.984
18	11	Denny Hamlin	40	49	149.866
19	1	Jamie McMurray	1	10	149.802
20	56	Martin Truex Jr.	45	54	149.599
21	5	Mark Martin	35	44	149.490
22	51	Landon Cassill	27	36	149.202
23	13	Casey Mears	1	10	148.778
24	32	Mike Bliss	43	52	148.308

First Practice Speeds (sorted by Avg. Speed)

Rk indicates Best Lap standing

Rk	Car	Driver	Team	Best Lap	Best Time	Avg. Speed	Laps
27	34	David Gilliland	Ford	154.394	23.317	153.932	9
10	9	Marcos Ambrose	Ford	155.602	23.136	153.845	18
16	29	Kevin Harvick	Chevrolet	155.039	23.220	152.905	18
31	30	David Stremme	Chevrolet	153.800	23.407	152.799	5
3	99	Carl Edwards	Ford	155.891	23.093	152.057	32
33	66	Michael McDowell	Toyota	152.970	23.534	152.030	5
34	7	Reed Sorenson	Dodge	152.944	23.538	152.005	7
11	4	Kasey Kahne	Toyota	155.581	23.139	151.912	31
26	31	Jeff Burton	Chevrolet	154.440	23.31	151.885	21
21	42	Juan Pablo Montoya	Chevrolet	154.719	23.268	151.846	25
14	00	David Reutimann	Toyota	155.186	23.198	151.834	30
8	56	Martin Truex Jr.	Toyota	155.757	23.113	151.74	20
9	43	A.J. Allmendinger	Ford	155.635	23.131	151.604	39
2	17	Matt Kenseth	Ford	155.986	23.079	151.602	23
6	2	Brad Keselowski	Dodge	155.770	23.111	151.552	37
15	5	Mark Martin	Chevrolet	155.159	23.202	151.437	32
36	55	Travis Kvapil	Ford	152.014	23.682	151.404	7
23	47	Bobby Labonte	Toyota	154.626	23.282	151.403	18
12	22	Kurt Busch	Dodge	155.541	23.145	151.387	29
1	27	Paul Menard	Chevrolet	156.027	23.073	151.385	32
38	38	J.J. Yeley	Ford	151.381	23.781	151.381	1
20	1	Jamie McMurray	Chevrolet	154.785	23.258	151.379	17
17	33	Clint Bowyer	Chevrolet	154.845	23.249	151.315	34
7	48	Jimmie Johnson	Chevrolet	155.770	23.111	151.296	29
13	16	Greg Biffle	Ford	155.213	23.194	151.166	21
18	78	Regan Smith	Chevrolet	154.845	23.249	151.005	27
37	37	Josh Wise	Ford	151.764	23.721	150.969	8
5	18	Kyle Busch	Toyota	155.777	23.11	150.926	32
22	20	Joey Logano	Toyota	154.712	23.269	150.814	38
28	39	Ryan Newman	Chevrolet	154.374	23.32	150.734	34
4	24	Jeff Gordon	Chevrolet	155.878	23.095	150.721	45
29	6	David Ragan	Ford	154.314	23.329	150.648	39
19	88	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	Chevrolet	154.799	23.256	150.601	30
35	46	Scott Speed	Ford	152.188	23.655	150.526	10
25	14	Tony Stewart	Chevrolet	154.453	23.308	150.368	32
32	51	Landon Cassill	Chevrolet	153.159	23.505	150.094	28
24	11	Denny Hamlin	Toyota	154.500	23.301	149.715	36
30	83	Brian Vickers	Toyota	154.169	23.351	149.711	35
41	13	Casey Mears	Toyota	150.188	23.970	149.674	30
39	36	Dave Blaney	Chevrolet	150.395	23.937	149.096	33
42	60	Mike Skinner	Toyota	150.100	23.984	149.063	9
40	71	Andy Lally	Ford	150.332	23.947	148.517	23
44	32	Mike Bliss	Ford	149.142	24.138	148.245	17
43	87	Joe Nemechek	Toyota	149.558	24.071	147.645	10

10-Lap Average Speeds (must run 10 consecutive laps)

Rk	Car	Driver	From Lap	To Lap	Avg. Speed
1	99	Carl Edwards	23	32	151.431
2	48	Jimmie Johnson	1	10	150.819
3	18	Kyle Busch	12	21	150.386
4	24	Jeff Gordon	32	41	150.348

Combined Average Speeds (weighted by # of laps run in each session)

Rk	Car	Driver	Team	Average Speed	Total Laps
4	30	David Stremme	Chevrolet	153.120	11
5	55	Travis Kvapil	Ford	152.350	16
6	66	Michael McDowell	Toyota	152.294	13
8	7	Reed Sorenson	Dodge	151.852	15
21	38	J.J. Yeley	Ford	151.762	12
19	4	Kasey Kahne	Toyota	151.510	85
18	29	Kevin Harvick	Chevrolet	151.486	91
16	99	Carl Edwards	Ford	151.432	96
29	37	Josh Wise	Ford	151.368	24
15	46	Scott Speed	Ford	151.243	22
30	33	Clint Bowyer	Chevrolet	151.025	61
28	9	Marcos Ambrose	Ford	150.948	82
7	00	David Reutimann	Toyota	150.923	103
10	43	A.J. Allmendinger	Ford	150.920	124
25	78	Regan Smith	Chevrolet	150.873	83
1	5	Mark Martin	Chevrolet	150.778	80
9	27	Paul Menard	Chevrolet	150.726	98
3	42	Juan Pablo Montoya	Chevrolet	150.712	81
13	16	Greg Biffle	Ford	150.665	97
20	17	Matt Kenseth	Ford	150.591	86
2	24	Jeff Gordon	Chevrolet	150.586	106
38	1	Jamie McMurray	Chevrolet	150.561	51
36	34	David Gilliland	Ford	150.534	38
11	18	Kyle Busch	Toyota	150.497	117
26	31	Jeff Burton	Chevrolet	150.497	94
14	22	Kurt Busch	Dodge	150.495	110
22	2	Brad Keselowski	Dodge	150.482	115
17	6	David Ragan	Ford	150.422	114
23	20	Joey Logano	Toyota	150.410	107
12	48	Jimmie Johnson	Chevrolet	150.385	111
35	47	Bobby Labonte	Toyota	150.295	85
37	88	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	Chevrolet	150.264	89
33	56	Martin Truex Jr.	Toyota	150.254	74
41	14	Tony Stewart	Chevrolet	149.947	91
31	83	Brian Vickers	Toyota	149.887	114
34	60	Mike Skinner	Toyota	149.852	26
24	11	Denny Hamlin	Toyota	149.818	90
39	39	Ryan Newman	Chevrolet	149.769	113
32	87	Joe Nemechek	Toyota	149.499	23
40	13	Casey Mears	Toyota	149.271	60
42	51	Landon Cassill	Chevrolet	149.213	103
27	36	Dave Blaney	Ford	149.104	63
43	32	Mike Bliss	Ford	148.321	84
44	71	Andy Lally	Ford	147.894	60

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.