Fantasy NASCAR Racing

Fantasy NASCAR practice recap: AAA Texas 500

November 5, 2011 @ 18:19:13

While the suspension of Kyle Busch dominated the headlines Saturday, regular scheduled activities were held as well, including a pair of Cup Series practices. Michael McDowell replaced Busch in the No. 18 Toyota for both sessions and will do so in Sunday's race, and Josh Wise will pilot McDowell's No. 66 machine. With qualifying being held Friday, drivers had the luxury of spending both Saturday practices in race trim.
Current point leader Carl Edwards got things started with a bang, topping the charts in the opening session. The three-time Texas winner finished third in the spring event at the track, and another top-five run seems like a real possibility this weekend. Fantasy owners should consider him an elite option in all formats.

Edwards wasn't the only former Texas winner to impress in the opening session. His teammate Greg Biffle ranked second in the practice, and he is gunning for his seventh straight top-10 finish at the track this weekend. Biffle is starting from the pole as well, and he led the most laps at the track last fall. He could end up being Edwards' toughest competition Sunday.

Jeff Gordon, Kasey Kahne and David Ragan rounded out the top five, and all three deserve fantasy consideration. Gordon and Kahne are former winners at Texas, and Ragan has back-to-back top-10 finishes. Not to mention the fact that all three have been particularly strong at 1.5-mile tracks this season. Kahne and Ragan could be particularly valuable as sleeper options in many fantasy formats.

On longer runs, Brad Keselowski's car was among those that came to life. He posted the best 10-lap average speed in the opening practice, and he is likely going to return to his top-10 form after a hiccup at Martinsville last weekend. After all, Keselowski has been a force at 1.5-mile tracks in the second half of the year.

Sleeper candidate Paul Menard posted the second-best 10-lap average, and he enters this weekend's race with finishes of 10th and fifth in his last two starts at Texas. Jeff Burton, David Reutimann and Regan Smith rounded out the top five, although it is worth mentioning that just 14 drivers qualified for the category. In fact, there was sizeable gap in speed between Keselowski and the rest of the top five.

In Happy Hour, Kahne surged to the top of the charts. He has had a rather forgettable year with Red Bull Racing, but a trip to Victory Lane isn't out of the question. Kahne has won a majority of his races at 1.5-mile tracks, and Texas is on the list of past victories. At the very least, he should help out fantasy teams this weekend.

The surprising Marcos Ambrose ranked second in the final session, and owners willing to gamble could receive a huge payoff. Ambrose came out of nowhere to finish sixth at Texas in the spring, and if that performance turns out to be a sign of what's to come Sunday, he could end up being the top sleeper. Ambrose is a still a risky pick, but the fact that his top-10 run came in his first start at the track with Richard Petty Motorsports could mean it was more than a fluke.

Ragan, Smith and Burton completed the top five, and Burton is the interesting option. He has just three top-10 finishes in what has been a miserable 2011 season, but two of those have come in the last two races. He appears to have some momentum, and he has won at Texas as recently as 2006. Burton is by no means an elite option this weekend, but he could be a sneaky top-10 option this weekend.

Edwards continued to flex his muscles, posting the best 10-lap average speed in the final practice. A.J. Allmendinger and Reutimann ranked second and third, while Kahne and Kevin Harvick rounded out the top five. Harvick is always a safe bet to end up somewhere in the top 10, but Reutimann is the intriguing option. It is easy to assume that he would pack it in following the announcement that he won't be back with Michael Waltrip Racing this season. However, he runs well at 1.5-mile tracks, and he could use Sunday's race as an opportunity to attract a new Cup ride for next season.

Fantasy owners wondering about title contender Tony Stewart and April's winner Matt Kenseth shouldn't worry. Both drivers were consistent and solid in the sessions. Stewart ranked eighth and ninth in the two sessions, while Kenseth jumped from 14th in the first practice to seventh in Happy Hour. With both drivers starting inside the top five Sunday, owners should have no worries inserting both into their fantasy lineups.

Happy Hour Speeds (sorted by Avg. Speed)

Rk indicates Best Lap standing

Rk	Car	Driver	Team	Best Lap	Best Time	Avg. Speed	Laps
8	99	Carl Edwards	Aflac Ford	185.033	29.184	182.347	37
1	4	Kasey Kahne	Red Bull Toyota	185.912	29.046	181.707	44
2	9	Marcos Ambrose	DeWalt Ford	185.656	29.086	181.675	46
12	33	Clint Bowyer	Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet	184.596	29.253	181.637	38
17	11	Denny Hamlin	FedEx Office Toyota	184.300	29.300	181.613	35
20	56	Martin Truex Jr.	NAPA Auto Parts Toyota	184.175	29.320	181.427	30
10	16	Greg Biffle	Scotch Blue Ford	184.767	29.226	181.393	44
9	14	Tony Stewart	Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet	184.944	29.198	181.358	47
22	21	Trevor Bayne	Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford	184.093	29.333	181.325	42
25	42	Juan Pablo Montoya	Target Chevrolet	183.861	29.370	181.313	33
7	17	Matt Kenseth	Crown Royal Ford	185.198	29.158	181.306	44
4	78	Regan Smith	Furniture Row Chevrolet	185.331	29.137	181.233	52
26	13	Casey Mears	GEICO Toyota	183.331	29.455	181.222	23
36	55	J.J. Yeley	Ingersoll Rand Ford	181.245	29.794	181.180	15
18	29	Kevin Harvick	Rheem Chevrolet	184.294	29.301	181.074	49
31	88	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	National Guard by Tradition/AMP Chevrolet	182.624	29.569	180.928	33
19	27	Paul Menard	Quaker State/Menards Chevrolet	184.193	29.317	180.887	45
23	51	Landon Cassill	Security Benefit/Thank A Teacher Chevrolet	184.087	29.334	180.844	44
13	43	A.J. Allmendinger	Immortals/Best Buy Ford	184.483	29.271	180.741	54
24	22	Kurt Busch	AAA Dodge	183.905	29.363	180.691	42
27	5	Mark Martin	CARQUEST/GoDaddy.com Chevrolet	183.026	29.504	180.644	45
35	87	Joe Nemechek	AM/FM Energy Wood & Pellet Stoves	181.391	29.770	180.590	2
28	2	Brad Keselowski	Miller Lite Dodge	182.908	29.523	180.463	43
11	83	Brian Vickers	Red Bull Toyota	184.609	29.251	180.450	52
3	6	David Ragan	UPS My Choice Ford	185.446	29.119	180.333	52
14	24	Jeff Gordon	Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet	184.420	29.281	180.282	34
5	31	Jeff Burton	Caterpillar Chevrolet	185.268	29.147	180.189	54
6	00	David Reutimann	Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota	185.217	29.155	180.179	38
21	39	Ryan Newman	Quicken Loans/Carrier Classic Chevrolet	184.118	29.329	180.172	45
16	48	Jimmie Johnson	mylowes Chevrolet	184.326	29.296	180.113	38
30	20	Joey Logano	The Home Depot Toyota	182.698	29.557	180.028	44
29	18	Michael McDowell	M&M's Toyota	182.890	29.526	179.580	45
15	1	Jamie McMurray	Bass Pro Shops/Arctic Cat Chevrolet	184.351	29.292	179.473	45
32	47	Bobby Labonte	Wounded Warrior Project Toyota	182.550	29.581	179.390	45
39	66	Josh Wise	HP Racing LLC Toyota	180.282	29.953	179.327	14
34	34	David Gilliland	Front Row Motorsports Ford	181.500	29.752	179.150	18
38	37	Mike Skinner	MaxQ Motorsports Ford	180.578	29.904	178.361	9
41	46	Scott Speed	Green Stuff Absorbent Ford	179.754	30.041	177.759	10
33	35	Dave Blaney	Big Red Chevrolet	181.886	29.689	177.718	34
37	38	Travis Kvapil	Long John Silver's Ford	180.796	29.868	177.618	33
40	32	Mike Bliss	Street King Ford	179.958	30.007	177.567	29
43	36	Geoff Bodine	Luke & Associates, Inc. Chevrolet	178.707	30.217	176.298	32
42	71	Andy Lally	TRG Motorsports Ford	179.259	30.124	176.279	24

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

Rk	Car	Driver	From Lap	To Lap	Avg. Speed
1	99	Carl Edwards	1	10	183.230
2	43	A.J. Allmendinger	1	10	182.836
3	00	David Reutimann	2	11	182.800
4	4	Kasey Kahne	29	38	182.780
5	29	Kevin Harvick	2	11	182.698
6	17	Matt Kenseth	1	10	182.601
7	16	Greg Biffle	28	37	182.497
8	42	Juan Pablo Montoya	18	27	182.227
9	1	Jamie McMurray	1	10	182.183
10	33	Clint Bowyer	1	10	182.163
11	78	Regan Smith	31	40	182.141
12	24	Jeff Gordon	1	10	181.948
13	27	Paul Menard	1	10	181.913
14	48	Jimmie Johnson	22	31	181.907
15	14	Tony Stewart	21	30	181.895
16	20	Joey Logano	1	10	181.725
17	5	Mark Martin	1	10	181.710
18	51	Landon Cassill	27	36	181.678
19	11	Denny Hamlin	25	34	181.396
20	22	Kurt Busch	8	17	181.344
21	31	Jeff Burton	41	50	181.310
22	83	Brian Vickers	33	42	181.304
23	39	Ryan Newman	29	38	181.157
24	2	Brad Keselowski	27	36	180.830
25	18	Michael McDowell	24	33	180.824
26	56	Martin Truex Jr.	20	29	180.746
27	47	Bobby Labonte	1	10	179.626
28	38	Travis Kvapil	23	32	177.013

First Practice Speeds (sorted by Avg. Speed)

Rk indicates Best Lap standing

Rk	Car	Driver	Team	Best Lap	Best Time	Avg. Speed	Laps
2	16	Greg Biffle	Scotch Blue Ford	188.897	28.587	183.999	19
7	9	Marcos Ambrose	DeWalt Ford	188.101	28.708	183.846	22
17	21	Trevor Bayne	Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford	186.942	28.886	183.614	26
21	56	Martin Truex Jr.	NAPA Auto Parts Toyota	185.803	29.063	183.542	20
4	4	Kasey Kahne	Red Bull Toyota	188.495	28.648	183.499	20
8	14	Tony Stewart	Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet	188.075	28.712	183.425	20
9	11	Denny Hamlin	FedEx Office Toyota	187.937	28.733	183.201	21
1	99	Carl Edwards	Aflac Ford	188.897	28.587	183.181	24
18	43	A.J. Allmendinger	Immortals/Best Buy Ford	186.580	28.942	183.133	21
26	33	Clint Bowyer	Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet	184.704	29.236	183.037	20
5	6	David Ragan	UPS My Choice Ford	188.193	28.694	182.985	25
14	17	Matt Kenseth	Crown Royal Ford	187.279	28.834	182.962	22
29	78	Regan Smith	Furniture Row Chevrolet	184.382	29.287	182.909	21
13	29	Kevin Harvick	Rheem Chevrolet	187.428	28.811	182.874	24
28	1	Jamie McMurray	Bass Pro Shops/Arctic Cat Chevrolet	184.552	29.260	182.836	19
19	42	Juan Pablo Montoya	Target Chevrolet	186.188	29.003	182.630	26
22	27	Paul Menard	Quaker State/Menards Chevrolet	185.784	29.066	182.607	24
6	2	Brad Keselowski	Miller Lite Dodge	188.153	28.700	182.475	33
15	88	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	National Guard by Tradition/AMP Chevrolet	187.227	28.842	182.431	22
10	39	Ryan Newman	Quicken Loans/Carrier Classic Chevrolet	187.735	28.764	182.390	27
30	13	Casey Mears	GEICO Toyota	183.899	29.364	182.203	15
12	48	Jimmie Johnson	mylowes Chevrolet	187.435	28.810	182.145	35
11	22	Kurt Busch	AAA Dodge	187.650	28.777	182.103	29
31	5	Mark Martin	CARQUEST/GoDaddy.com Chevrolet	183.705	29.395	182.081	19
24	51	Landon Cassill	Security Benefit/Thank A Teacher Chevrolet	184.887	29.207	182.024	25
34	55	J.J. Yeley	Ingersoll Rand Ford	183.237	29.470	181.672	11
37	87	Joe Nemechek	AM/FM Energy Wood & Pellet Stoves	181.421	29.765	181.421	1
23	20	Joey Logano	The Home Depot Toyota	184.925	29.201	181.150	32
27	31	Jeff Burton	Caterpillar Chevrolet	184.565	29.258	181.029	31
16	00	David Reutimann	Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota	187.045	28.870	181.023	35
3	24	Jeff Gordon	Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet	188.745	28.610	180.812	32
32	38	Travis Kvapil	Long John Silver's Ford	183.524	29.424	180.707	8
20	83	Brian Vickers	Red Bull Toyota	185.854	29.055	180.678	38
41	46	Scott Speed	Green Stuff Absorbent Ford	180.638	29.894	180.638	1
36	34	David Gilliland	Front Row Motorsports Ford	182.008	29.669	180.331	13
25	47	Bobby Labonte	Wounded Warrior Project Toyota	184.811	29.219	180.276	37
33	18	Michael McDowell	M&M's Toyota	183.449	29.436	180.210	32
35	35	Dave Blaney	Big Red Chevrolet	182.266	29.627	180.151	17
39	71	Andy Lally	TRG Motorsports Ford	180.802	29.867	179.674	14
38	32	Mike Bliss	Street King Ford	181.099	29.818	179.541	20
40	66	Josh Wise	HP Racing LLC Toyota	180.699	29.884	179.313	6
42	36	Geoff Bodine	Luke & Associates, Inc. Chevrolet	178.047	30.329	175.099	19

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

Rk	Car	Driver	From Lap	To Lap	Avg. Speed
1	2	Brad Keselowski	1	10	184.439
2	27	Paul Menard	1	10	183.780
3	31	Jeff Burton	1	10	183.476
4	00	David Reutimann	1	10	183.120
5	78	Regan Smith	9	18	183.036
6	29	Kevin Harvick	5	14	182.983
7	33	Clint Bowyer	11	20	182.546
8	83	Brian Vickers	1	10	182.504
9	18	Michael McDowell	1	10	182.356
10	48	Jimmie Johnson	7	16	182.165
11	47	Bobby Labonte	14	23	181.888
12	20	Joey Logano	20	29	181.225
13	24	Jeff Gordon	12	21	180.275
14	22	Kurt Busch	20	29	180.003

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

Car	Driver	Team	Average Speed	Total Laps
99	Carl Edwards	Aflac Ford	182.675	61
9	Marcos Ambrose	DeWalt Ford	182.377	68
56	Martin Truex Jr.	NAPA Auto Parts Toyota	182.273	50
4	Kasey Kahne	Red Bull Toyota	182.267	64
11	Denny Hamlin	FedEx Office Toyota	182.209	56
21	Trevor Bayne	Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford	182.200	68
16	Greg Biffle	Scotch Blue Ford	182.179	63
33	Clint Bowyer	Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet	182.120	58
14	Tony Stewart	Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet	181.975	67
42	Juan Pablo Montoya	Target Chevrolet	181.893	59
17	Matt Kenseth	Crown Royal Ford	181.858	66
78	Regan Smith	Furniture Row Chevrolet	181.715	73
29	Kevin Harvick	Rheem Chevrolet	181.666	73
13	Casey Mears	GEICO Toyota	181.609	38
88	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	National Guard by Tradition/AMP Chevrolet	181.529	55
27	Paul Menard	Quaker State/Menards Chevrolet	181.485	69
43	A.J. Allmendinger	Immortals/Best Buy Ford	181.411	75
55	J.J. Yeley	Ingersoll Rand Ford	181.388	26
2	Brad Keselowski	Miller Lite Dodge	181.337	76
51	Landon Cassill	Security Benefit/Thank A Teacher Chevrolet	181.272	69
22	Kurt Busch	AAA Dodge	181.268	71
6	David Ragan	UPS My Choice Ford	181.194	77
48	Jimmie Johnson	mylowes Chevrolet	181.087	73
5	Mark Martin	CARQUEST/GoDaddy.com Chevrolet	181.071	64
39	Ryan Newman	Quicken Loans/Carrier Classic Chevrolet	181.004	72
87	Joe Nemechek	AM/FM Energy Wood & Pellet Stoves	180.867	3
00	David Reutimann	Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota	180.584	73
83	Brian Vickers	Red Bull Toyota	180.546	90
24	Jeff Gordon	Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet	180.539	66
20	Joey Logano	The Home Depot Toyota	180.500	76
31	Jeff Burton	Caterpillar Chevrolet	180.495	85
1	Jamie McMurray	Bass Pro Shops/Arctic Cat Chevrolet	180.471	64
18	Michael McDowell	M&M's Toyota	179.842	77
47	Bobby Labonte	Wounded Warrior Project Toyota	179.790	82
34	David Gilliland	Front Row Motorsports Ford	179.645	31
66	Josh Wise	HP Racing LLC Toyota	179.323	20
35	Dave Blaney	Big Red Chevrolet	178.529	51
32	Mike Bliss	Street King Ford	178.373	49
60	Mike Skinner	Max Q Motorsports Ford	178.361	9
38	Travis Kvapil	Long John Silver's Ford	178.221	41
46	Scott Speed	Green Stuff Absorbent Ford	178.021	11
71	Andy Lally	TRG Motorsports Ford	177.530	38
36	Geoff Bodine	Luke & Associates, Inc. Chevrolet	175.851	51

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.