Fantasy NASCAR Racing

Fantasy NASCAR practice recap: Ford 400

November 19, 2011 @ 12:16:19

Mother Nature did her best to rain out track activities at Homestead-Miami Speedway, but NASCAR revised the schedule and fit a pair of practice sessions in Saturday morning. Once the cars finally hit the track, the fans had plenty to cheer about. Dale Earnhardt Jr. topped the charts, giving Junior Nation hope that his prolonged winless drought will finally come to an end in the 2011 season finale.

Championship leader Carl Edwards had plenty to cheer about as well, as he ranked second on the charts. The defending winner of this weekend's race would love nothing more than to win at Homestead for the third time in the last four races, clinching the title in the process. The last driver to win the season finale and the championship in the same season was Jeff Gordon in 1998.

Matt Kenseth ranked third in the session, followed by Ryan Newman and Jimmie Johnson. Kenseth is the only former winner at Homestead of the three, but Johnson has finished in the top five in his last two starts at the track. From a fantasy standpoint, Johnson is probably the safest pick. Kenseth is Edwards' teammate, and if Edwards needs a spot or two in the closing laps to clinch a title, there is a chance that team orders might have Kenseth and the rest of the Roush Fenway bunch dropping the necessary spots.

In terms of 10-lap average speeds, Junior and Edwards again led the way. However, championship contender Tony Stewart jumped to third on the charts. Stewart has clawed his way back into title contention with four wins during the Chase, and with two of those coming at 1.5-mile tracks, he should be a serious threat for the win Sunday. After all, Stewart wins the title if he wins the race, regardless of what Edwards does.

Marcos Ambrose and Clint Bowyer rounded out the top five, and both drivers deserve consideration from fantasy owners. Ambrose has been a consistent top-10 threat at 1.5-mile tracks in 2011, and Bowyer has four top-12 finishes in five Homestead starts. Bowyer is a safer play, but there might be more potential for a top-five with Ambrose.

In Happy Hour, Edwards continued his excellent afternoon by topping the charts with the fastest lap. His teammate David Ragan ranked second, and given the success of Roush Fenway Racing at Homestead, he has to be considered a sleeper pick. However, Ragan comes with the same risk as Kenseth. Edwards' title run will take precedent over anything else the organization has going on Sunday.

A trio of sleeper options rounded out the top five with Cole Whitt, A.J. Allmendinger and Landon Cassill all posting strong laps. Whitt and Cassill have exceeded expectations in limited action this season, but with Whitt driving for a more proven race team, he has the better fantasy value. Meanwhile, Allmendinger could be a threat for the win Sunday. He has run well in the Chase, and he has finished 11th or better in all three starts at Homestead. Last fall, he finished fifth at the track.

Jeff Gordon climbed to the top of the charts in terms of 10-lap average speed in the final session, and he has finished sixth or better in three of his last four starts at the track. Bowyer ranked second, and his Richard Childress Racing teammate Kevin Harvick ranked third. Harvick should be a strong option this weekend after finishing third or better in three straight starts at Homestead.

Brad Keselowski and Kenseth rounded out the top five, and Keselowski should end his surprising season on a high note. He finished 13th at Homestead last fall, and he has been strong at 1.5-mile tracks this year. Keselowski sits fourth in points heading into the finale, and there is no doubt he has been one of the biggest surprises in 2011.

Happy Hour Speeds (sorted by Avg. Speed)

Rk indicates Best Lap standing

Rk	Car	Driver	Team	Best Lap	Best Time	Avg. Speed	Laps
1	99	Carl Edwards	Aflac Ford	171.124	31.556	171.081	3
2	6	David Ragan	UPS My Choice Ford	170.913	31.595	169.697	7
13	66	Michael McDowell	HP Racing LLC Toyota	168.771	31.996	168.771	1
3	84	Cole Whitt	Kangaroo Express Toyota	170.063	31.753	168.638	7
24	55	J.J. Yeley	Ingersoll Rand Ford	168.161	32.112	167.547	8
19	30	David Stremme	Inception Racing Chevrolet	168.424	32.062	167.396	7
34	87	Joe Nemechek	AM/FM Energy Pellet & Wd Stves Toyota	167.593	32.221	167.119	7
40	46	Scott Speed	Green Stuff Abosorbent Ford	167.074	32.321	166.446	3
23	88	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	National Guard/AMP Energy Chevrolet	168.240	32.097	166.061	32
31	4	Kasey Kahne	Red Bull Toyota	167.843	32.173	166.059	39
21	42	Juan Pablo Montoya	Target Chevrolet	168.329	32.080	165.970	20
27	71	Mike Bliss	School Media Ford	167.963	32.150	165.962	13
43	37	Mike Skinner	MaxQ Motorsports Ford	166.185	32.494	165.939	3
35	7	Reed Sorenson	Caterpillar Chevrolet	167.582	32.223	165.714	7
26	39	Ryan Newman	U.S. ARMY Chevrolet	167.978	32.147	165.624	36
9	35	Dave Blaney	Golden Corral Chevrolet	168.982	31.956	165.527	9
5	51	Landon Cassill	Security Benefit/ThnkATeacher Today Chevrolet	169.609	31.838	165.482	27
12	24	Jeff Gordon	Drive To End Hunger Chevrolet	168.856	31.980	165.454	40
25	1	Jamie McMurray	Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Chevrolet	168.025	32.138	165.423	27
4	43	A.J. Allmendinger	Best Buy Ford	169.705	31.820	165.372	20
29	22	Kurt Busch	Shell Pennzoil Dodge	167.910	32.160	165.356	45
18	29	Kevin Harvick	Budweiser Chevrolet	168.445	32.058	165.350	43
11	16	Greg Biffle	3M/Novec Ford	168.887	31.974	165.243	46
7	33	Clint Bowyer	Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet	169.306	31.895	165.232	30
28	14	Tony Stewart	Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet	167.926	32.157	165.157	52
16	18	Kyle Busch	Interstate Batteries Toyota	168.524	32.043	165.122	45
42	92	Dennis Setzer	BBI Waste Industries/Melling Chevrolet	166.277	32.476	165.112	8
10	2	Brad Keselowski	Miller Lite Dodge	168.966	31.959	165.111	48
38	9	Marcos Ambrose	Stanley Ford	167.234	32.290	165.099	31
22	5	Mark Martin	GoDaddy.com Chevrolet	168.303	32.085	164.996	47
41	00	David Reutimann	Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota	166.436	32.445	164.984	31
37	11	Denny Hamlin	FedEx Express Toyota	167.541	32.231	164.972	39
15	17	Matt Kenseth	Crown Royal Ford	168.655	32.018	164.967	37
14	48	Jimmie Johnson	Lowe's Chevrolet	168.697	32.010	164.960	44
6	56	Martin Truex Jr.	NAPA Auto Parts Toyota	169.465	31.865	164.893	39
33	83	Brian Vickers	Red Bull Toyota	167.629	32.214	164.804	52
32	21	Trevor Bayne	Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford	167.749	32.191	164.609	22
20	47	Bobby Labonte	Reese Towpower Toyota	168.387	32.069	164.556	20
17	78	Regan Smith	Furniture Row Chevrolet	168.481	32.051	164.402	37
45	32	T.J. Bell	GreenSmoke.com Ford	165.690	32.591	164.305	8
8	27	Paul Menard	Duracell/Menards Chevrolet	169.141	31.926	164.283	52
30	20	Joey Logano	The Home Depot Toyota	167.874	32.167	164.183	37
36	31	Jeff Burton	SPEED Energy Dodge	167.582	32.223	163.902	51
39	13	Casey Mears	Hard Rock Vodka Toyota	167.084	32.319	163.778	36
44	38	Travis Kvapil	Long John Silver's Ford	165.939	32.542	163.511	18
46	34	David Gilliland	Front Row Motorsports Ford	165.309	32.666	162.200	26
47	93	Grant Enfinger	Hewe's Concrete Polishing Chevrolet	162.925	33.144	162.011	10
48	36	Geoff Bodine	Luke & Associates Chevrolet	162.734	33.183	159.432	21

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

Rk	Car	Driver	From Lap	To Lap	Avg. Speed
1	24	Jeff Gordon	1	10	166.611
2	33	Clint Bowyer	1	10	166.587
3	29	Kevin Harvick	1	10	166.357
4	2	Brad Keselowski	1	10	166.354
5	17	Matt Kenseth	1	10	166.335
6	27	Paul Menard	1	10	166.307
7	88	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	17	26	166.283
8	39	Ryan Newman	1	10	166.268
9	14	Tony Stewart	1	10	166.255
10	4	Kasey Kahne	30	39	165.947
11	48	Jimmie Johnson	26	35	165.896
12	18	Kyle Busch	31	40	165.737
13	11	Denny Hamlin	28	37	165.403
14	43	A.J. Allmendinger	1	10	165.399
15	5	Mark Martin	34	43	165.276
16	22	Kurt Busch	35	44	165.206
17	47	Bobby Labonte	1	10	165.142
18	83	Brian Vickers	20	29	165.113
19	00	David Reutimann	10	19	165.019
20	31	Jeff Burton	37	46	164.976
21	78	Regan Smith	22	31	164.711
22	20	Joey Logano	24	33	164.228
23	13	Casey Mears	13	22	163.398

First Practice Speeds (sorted by Avg. Speed)

Rk indicates Best Lap standing

Rk	Car	Driver	Team	Best Lap	Best Time	Avg. Speed	Laps
30	66	Michael McDowell	HP Racing LLC Toyota	170.009	31.760	168.636	8
31	84	Cole Whitt	Kangaroo Express Toyota	169.940	31.780	168.585	11
26	35	Dave Blaney	Golden Corral Chevrolet	170.315	31.710	168.446	8
1	88	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	National Guard/AMP Energy Chevrolet	173.193	31.180	168.243	23
24	21	Trevor Bayne	Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford	170.379	31.690	168.118	12
6	4	Kasey Kahne	Red Bull Toyota	171.920	31.410	168.022	22
29	55	J.J. Yeley	Ingersoll Rand Ford	170.138	31.740	167.743	13
35	13	Casey Mears	Hard Rock Vodka Toyota	169.332	31.890	167.588	13
9	29	Kevin Harvick	Budweiser Chevrolet	171.652	31.460	167.556	27
15	14	Tony Stewart	Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet	171.249	31.530	167.418	30
14	16	Greg Biffle	3M/Novec Ford	171.380	31.510	167.211	26
3	17	Matt Kenseth	Crown Royal Ford	172.298	31.340	167.207	27
21	78	Regan Smith	Furniture Row Chevrolet	170.751	31.620	167.175	9
37	87	Joe Nemechek	AM/FM Enrgy Pllt & Wood Stoves Toyota	168.782	31.990	167.132	9
20	33	Clint Bowyer	Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet	170.870	31.600	167.125	36
41	30	David Stremme	Inception Racing Chevrolet	167.400	32.260	167.030	7
4	39	Ryan Newman	U.S. ARMY Chevrolet	172.068	31.380	166.930	24
28	22	Kurt Busch	Shell Pennzoil Dodge	170.191	31.730	166.886	18
10	42	Juan Pablo Montoya	Target Chevrolet	171.581	31.470	166.863	26
18	18	Kyle Busch	Interstate Batteries Toyota	171.011	31.580	166.763	27
17	6	David Ragan	UPS My Choice Ford	171.119	31.560	166.739	37
22	31	Jeff Burton	Caterpillar Chevrolet	170.600	31.650	166.565	30
39	71	Mike Bliss	School Media Ford	167.989	32.140	166.548	10
23	83	Brian Vickers	Red Bull Toyota	170.395	31.690	166.524	25
40	34	David Gilliland	Front Row Motorsports Ford	167.937	32.160	166.511	6
27	9	Marcos Ambrose	Stanley Ford	170.202	31.730	166.464	30
2	99	Carl Edwards	Aflac Ford	172.678	31.270	166.431	49
38	46	Scott Speed	Green Stuff Abosorbent Ford	168.450	32.060	166.303	9
12	11	Denny Hamlin	FedEx Express Toyota	171.472	31.490	166.277	29
42	7	Reed Sorenson	SPEED Energy Dodge	166.914	32.350	166.218	7
11	5	Mark Martin	GoDaddy.com Chevrolet	171.478	31.490	166.216	33
43	37	Mike Skinner	MaxQ Motorsports Ford	166.831	32.370	166.154	6
19	00	David Reutimann	Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota	170.978	31.580	166.152	30
8	24	Jeff Gordon	Drive To End Hunger Chevrolet	171.674	31.460	166.149	25
25	2	Brad Keselowski	Miller Lite Dodge	170.347	31.700	166.139	25
13	56	Martin Truex Jr.	NAPA Auto Parts Toyota	171.467	31.490	166.060	27
16	27	Paul Menard	Duracell/Menards Chevrolet	171.233	31.540	165.888	36
36	1	Jamie McMurray	Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Chevrolet	168.988	31.960	165.773	28
7	51	Landon Cassill	Security Benefit/Thank A Teacher Today Chev	171.887	31.420	165.502	39
5	48	Jimmie Johnson	Lowe's Chevrolet	172.013	31.390	165.247	31
33	20	Joey Logano	The Home Depot Toyota	169.694	31.820	165.217	32
32	43	A.J. Allmendinger	Best Buy Ford	169.758	31.810	165.046	51
34	47	Bobby Labonte	Reese Towpower Toyota	169.422	31.870	164.522	39
44	92	Scott Riggs	BBI Waste Industries/Melling Chevrolet	166.744	32.380	164.329	12
45	38	Travis Kvapil	Long John Silver's Ford	165.781	32.570	163.485	35
46	32	T.J. Bell	GreenSmoke.com Ford	164.549	32.820	161.578	36
47	93	Grant Enfinger	Hewe's Concrete Polishing Chevrolet	164.004	32.930	161.522	19
48	36	Geoff Bodine	Luke & Associates Chevrolet	161.189	33.500	159.263	29

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

Rk	Car	Driver	From Lap	To Lap	Avg. Speed
1	88	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	1	10	168.517
2	99	Carl Edwards	1	10	168.115
3	14	Tony Stewart	1	10	168.018
4	9	Marcos Ambrose	7	16	166.655
5	33	Clint Bowyer	27	36	166.650
6	56	Martin Truex Jr.	7	16	166.146
7	39	Ryan Newman	7	16	165.914
8	48	Jimmie Johnson	7	16	165.669
9	27	Paul Menard	26	35	165.610
10	51	Landon Cassill	21	30	165.474
11	24	Jeff Gordon	13	22	165.348

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

Car	Driver	Team	Average Speed	Total Laps
66	Michael McDowell	HP Racing LLC Toyota	168.651	9
84	Cole Whitt	Kangaroo Express Toyota	168.606	18
55	J.J. Yeley	Ingersoll Rand Ford	167.668	21
30	David Stremme	Inception Racing Chevrolet	167.213	14
6	David Ragan	UPS My Choice Ford	167.210	44
87	Joe Nemechek	AM/FM Energy Pellet & Wd Stves Toyota	167.126	16
88	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	National Guard/AMP Energy Chevrolet	166.973	55
35	Dave Blaney	Golden Corral Chevrolet	166.901	17
4	Kasey Kahne	Red Bull Toyota	166.767	61
99	Carl Edwards	Aflac Ford	166.699	52
42	Juan Pablo Montoya	Target Chevrolet	166.475	46
46	Scott Speed	Green Stuff Abosorbent Ford	166.339	12
33	Clint Bowyer	Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet	166.265	66
71	Mike Bliss	School Media Ford	166.217	23
29	Kevin Harvick	Budweiser Chevrolet	166.201	70
39	Ryan Newman	U.S. ARMY Chevrolet	166.146	60
37	Mike Skinner	MaxQ Motorsports Ford	166.082	9
14	Tony Stewart	Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet	165.984	82
7	Reed Sorenson	Caterpillar Chevrolet	165.966	14
16	Greg Biffle	3M/Novec Ford	165.954	72
17	Matt Kenseth	Crown Royal Ford	165.912	64
21	Trevor Bayne	Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford	165.847	34
22	Kurt Busch	Shell Pennzoil Dodge	165.793	63
9	Marcos Ambrose	Stanley Ford	165.770	61
18	Kyle Busch	Interstate Batteries Toyota	165.737	72
24	Jeff Gordon	Drive To End Hunger Chevrolet	165.721	65
1	Jamie McMurray	Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Chevrolet	165.601	55
0	David Reutimann	Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota	165.558	61
11	Denny Hamlin	FedEx Express Toyota	165.529	68
5	Mark Martin	GoDaddy.com Chevrolet	165.499	80
51	Landon Cassill	Security Benefit/ThnkATeacher Today Chevrolet	165.494	66
2	Brad Keselowski	Miller Lite Dodge	165.463	73
56	Martin Truex Jr.	NAPA Auto Parts Toyota	165.370	66
83	Brian Vickers	Red Bull Toyota	165.362	77
43	A.J. Allmendinger	Best Buy Ford	165.138	71
48	Jimmie Johnson	Lowe's Chevrolet	165.079	75
78	Regan Smith	Furniture Row Chevrolet	164.945	46
27	Paul Menard	Duracell/Menards Chevrolet	164.940	88
31	Jeff Burton	SPEED Energy Dodge	164.888	81
13	Casey Mears	Hard Rock Vodka Toyota	164.789	49
20	Joey Logano	The Home Depot Toyota	164.663	69
92	Scott Riggs	BBI Waste Industries/Melling Chevrolet	164.642	20
47	Bobby Labonte	Reese Towpower Toyota	164.534	59
38	Travis Kvapil	Long John Silver's Ford	163.494	53
34	David Gilliland	Front Row Motorsports Ford	163.008	32
32	T.J. Bell	GreenSmoke.com Ford	162.074	44
93	Grant Enfinger	Hewe's Concrete Polishing Chevrolet	161.691	29
36	Geoff Bodine	Luke & Associates Chevrolet	159.334	50

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.