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Fantasy NASCAR Rankings, Analysis and Reports
Do you want to win your fantasy NASCAR league this season? KFFL's fantasy NASCAR news, fantasy NASCAR reports and fantasy NASCAR rankings help take your game to the next level! Throughout the year, KFFL's fantasy NASCAR coverage takes you right into the driver's seat, letting you know which fantasy NASCAR drivers you can depend on and which ones you should stay away from. KFFL's fantasy NASCAR coverage will take you from the starting line to the checkered flag, so buckle up!
2011 Fantasy NASCAR Releases 
- Fantasy NASCAR: Understanding and utilizing loop data (02/03)
 | Eric McClung breaks down how to use loop data to better your fantasy NASCAR chances in 2012. |
- Fantasy NASCAR: Silly Season review (02/03)
 | KFFL's Eric McClung analyzes all of NASCAR's Silly Season changes to help prep you for 2012 fantasy drafts. |
- Fantasy NASCAR: 2012 Sprint Cup rankings (01/31)
 | KFFL's Brian Polking has released his preliminary fantasy NASCAR rankings for the 2012 season, and some placements may surprise you. |
- Fantasy NASCAR: 2012 sleeper drivers (01/31)
 | KFFL's Brian Polking breaks down his top sleeper choices for the upcoming fantasy NASCAR draft season in this can't miss analysis! |
- Fantasy NASCAR: 2012 bust drivers (01/31)
 | Several drivers that have changed teams find themselves in tough situations. Don't buy into the hype of one of NASCAR's most beloved drivers. |
- Fantasy NASCAR track analysis: Intermediates (01/31)
 | Intermediates make up the majority of NASCAR tracks. KFFL.com breaks down the individual tracks and how drivers have performed at each one. |
- Fantasy NASCAR track analysis: Short tracks (01/31)
 | A.J. Allmendinger may be an up-and-comer, but Bristol hasn't been kind to him. Check out how some of the sport's best perform on short tracks. |
- Fantasy NASCAR track analysis: Superspeedways (01/31)
 | KFFL.com has reviewed NASCAR's superspeedways and how Sprint Cup drivers have handled the tracks in recent years. |
- Fantasy NASCAR track analysis: Road courses (01/31)
 | Juan Pablo Montoya is strong at Infineon. Which drivers are improving their stock on road courses? |
- Fantasy NASCAR: 2012 rookie drivers to watch (01/23)
 | Can you find any value in rookie drivers in 2012? KFFL's Brian Polking steers you in the right direction. |
- Fantasy NASCAR: The Curse of the Runner-up Driver (01/23)
 | You know about the championship hangover, but is there merit to believe in a runner-up curse? |
- Fantasy NASCAR rankings: Ford 400 (11/19)
 | As title contenders Carl Edwards and Tony Stewart prepare for Sunday's season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, it may be worth mentioning that Stewart would win the championship if the two finish the year tied when the checkered flag waves based on total wins. |
- Fantasy NASCAR practice recap: Ford 400 (11/19)
 | 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. |
- Fantasy NASCAR race preview: Ford 400 (11/16)
 | It took several makeovers to get the racing at Homestead-Miami Speedway just right. After a failed attempt to produce 1.5-mile version of the rectangular Indianapolis Motor Speedway, track officials would finally settle on a more traditional oval design with progressive corner banking and flat straightaways. |
- Fantasy NASCAR rankings: Kobalt Tools 500 (11/12)
 | The battle heads to Phoenix International Raceway this weekend for a race that could prove to be a serious hurdle. Following the February event at PIR, the track was repaved and reconfigured. Drivers will be facing the new track for the first time this weekend during race conditions, and setups that have worked in the past may be ineffective. |
- Fantasy NASCAR practice recap: Kobalt Tools 500 (11/12)
 | Practice sessions are always important, but Friday's practices at Phoenix International Raceway took on an extra importance. With the changes to the track layout and surface following the February race, drivers and teams had no idea of what to expect, especially in race-like conditions. |
- Fantasy NASCAR race preview: Kobalt Tools 500 (11/09)
 | Following the second race of the season, Phoenix International Raceway underwent a repave and several modifications to enhance the quality of racing. The front straightaway has been widened and the famed dogleg has been reconfigured to eventually allow side-by-side racing. While the corners remain similarly shallow to the old setup, variable banking has been installed to also open things up. |
- Fantasy NASCAR rankings: AAA Texas 500 (11/05)
 | It took seven races, but the major players in this year’s championship fight have finally emerged. Carl Edwards leads Tony Stewart by eight points, and unless they slip up, the two will decide the championship amongst themselves. Fittingly, the two are in position to battle it out for the title because they took care of business at Martinsville last weekend. |
- Fantasy NASCAR practice recap: AAA Texas 500 (11/05)
 | 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. |
- Fantasy NASCAR race preview: AAA Texas 500 (11/02)
| Texas Motor Speedway is one of three 1.5-mile cookie-cutter tracks on the NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule. The two others, Atlanta Motor Speedway and Charlotte Motor Speedway, share the same length and corner banking. The wear of the racing surface on each track is unique, which causes the speeds to vary somewhat. |
- Fantasy NASCAR rankings: Tums Fast Relief 500 (10/29)
 | With just four playoff races remaining, Carl Edwards has emerged as the favorite to claim the 2011 Sprint Cup. However, four drivers are within 19 points of the top spot, including former champs Matt Kenseth and Tony Stewart, along with breakout star Brad Keselowski. |
- Fantasy NASCAR practice recap: Tums Fast Relief 500 (10/29)
 | Mother Nature did her best to prevent the Cup Series drivers from practicing for Sunday’s race at Martinsville Speedway, but in the end, NASCAR managed to give teams one Saturday afternoon session to dial in their cars. While having just one practice means less data for fantasy owners to work with, one practice is a lot better than going into a race without any kind of data. |
- Fantasy NASCAR race preview: Tums Fast Relief 500 (10/26)
 | Shaped like a paperclip, Martinsville Speedway is among the oldest and most unique tracks on the circuit. The flat straightaways and sharp turns led to extreme braking conditions, as drivers come screaming into the corners. Patience and timing are the keys to making passes at Martinsville. Drivers who can set someone up and out-brake their rivals going through the turns will find it easiest to get to the front. |
- Fantays NASCAR rankings: Good Sam Club 500 (10/22)
 | On the heels of the tragic death of IndyCar driver Dan Wheldon, the Cup Series heads to Talladega Superspeedway this weekend. Thanks to the restrictor plates, NASCAR's biggest track has become famous for its three-wide racing, frequent lead changes, and above all else, its spectacular wrecks. |
- Fantasy NASCAR practice recap: Good Sam Club 500 (10/22)
| After dominating at Talladega earlier this year, Hendrick Motorsports looked strong again in practice as Mark Martin and Jeff Gordon ranked third and fourth. Richard Petty Motorsports driver Marcos Ambrose rounded out the top five, and his teammate A.J. Allmendinger ranked sixth. After placing four drivers in the top eight spots in the spring race, all four HMS drivers have to be considered by fantasy owners.z |
- Fantasy NASCAR race preview: Good Sam Club 500 (10/19)
 | The new two-car draft style of racing seen recently at Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway is already under siege from NASCAR. This week's race will see a larger opening in the restrictor plate to give the cars a bit more horsepower in hopes of allowing more passing opportunities. |
- Fantasy NASCAR rankings: Bank of America 500 (10/15)
 | Jimmie Johnson has flipped the switch and has turned into his dominant Chase self. Find out which racers should challenge him at Charlotte this week. |
- Fantasy NASCAR practice recap: Bank of America 500 (10/15)
 | In Happy Hour, Kasey Kahne climbed to the top of the charts, posting the fastest lap. Menard ranked second, and Greg Biffle was third on the charts. |
- Fantasy NASCAR race preview: Bank of America 500 (10/12)
| Charlotte Motor Speedway is one of three quad-oval, 1.5-mile tracks that feature 24 degrees of corner banking. Fantasy owners can review results from the other two cookie-cutter venues, Atlanta Motor Speedway and Texas Motor Speedway, the former coming just six races ago. |
- Fantasy NASCAR rankings: Hollywood Casino 400 (10/08)
| Does Matt Kenseth stand a chance at Kansas? Will Tony Stewart reclaim the top spot in the Chase? What could defending champ Jimmie Johnson have to say about this? |
- Fantasy NASCAR practice recap: Hollywood Casino 400 (10/08)
 | Which drivers performed well enough in practice to change your opinion of their chances at Kansas? |
- Fantasy NASCAR race preview: Hollywood Casino 400 (10/05)
 | Kansas Speedway will host its second of two Sprint Cup Series races this Sunday. While the track is 1.5 miles in length, like many others on the circuit, Kansas features a shallow amount of corner banking. Those looking for the best comparison should turn to Chicagoland Speedway, which opened the Chase. |
- Fantasy NASCAR rankings: AAA 400 (10/01)
 | Five-time defending champ Jimmie Johnson is off to a rough postseason start, sitting further back in the standings than he ever has since the inception of the Chase format. As the series heads to Dover this weekend, anyone counting out Johnson could be in for a rude awakening. He is a six-time winner at the "Monster Mile" and has won the last two Chase events at the track. |
- Fantasy NASCAR practice recap: AAA 400 (10/01)
 | Tony Stewart has struggled at Dover in his career, but will his recent momentum cancel that out? |
- Fantasy NASCAR race preview: AAA 400 (09/28)
 | With high-banked concrete racing surface with wide corners and narrow straightaways, Dover International Speedway has earned its nickname, The Monster Mile. It is considered by drivers to be among the most difficult tracks to race on; finding a setup that will allow the car to handle well in multiple grooves, not just at the bottom, is a challenge. |
- Fantasy NASCAR rankings: Sylvania 300 (09/24)
 | Stewart-Haas Racing teammates Ryan Newman and Stewart started and finished first and second at the 1.0-mile track earlier this year. The two have combined to win five times at NHMS, with Stewart winning twice. In other words, Stewart’s surprising victory may not be a fluke. |
- Fantasy NASCAR practice recap: Sylvania 300 (09/24)
 | Jimmie Johnson looks to claim the top spot in the Chase this Sunday. Does he have enough in the tank to capture his sixth straight title? |
- Fantasy NASCAR race preview: Sylvania 300 (09/21)
 | The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will make the second of its two stops this season at the Magic Mile known as New Hampshire Motor Speedway. |
- Fantasy NASCAR rankings: Geico 400 (09/17)
 | For the first time in the history of the Chase format, the postseason will begin at Chicagoland Speedway. The 1.5-mile track has hosted both night and day events in its short time on the schedule, but it has never hosted a race of this magnitude. It will be interesting to see how the racing plays out in the pressure-packed atmosphere that only the Chase can provide. |
- Fantasy NASCAR practice recap: Geico 400 (09/17)
 | While all eyes will be on the 12 drivers competing for the Sprint Cup title when the Chase kicks off at Chicagoland Speedway Sunday, it is a non-Chaser that could end up stealing the show. Defending race winner David Reutimann was on a mission to prove that his victory last year was no fluke. |
- Fantasy NASCAR race preview: Geico 400 (09/14)
 | Like so many other tracks on the schedule, Chicagoland Speedway is a 1.5-mile D-shaped oval, but is slightly different from most cookie-cutter tracks. In terms of corner banking, Chicagoland has the least amount any 1.5-mile track other than Kentucky Speedway and Kansas Speedway. The unique element of the track is the curved back stretch. |
- Fantasy NASCAR rankings: Wonderful Pistachios 400 (09/10)
 | Nine of the 12 spots in the Chase are already set in stone, but there are a number of scenarios at work for the final three spots. Needless to say, there will be plenty of different agendas at work when the green flag waves. Some drivers control their own fate, while others need a little help and a lot of luck in order to keep their playoff dreams alive. |
- Fantasy NASCAR practice recap: Wonderful Pistachios 400 (09/09)
| Last weekend at Atlanta, Hendrick Motorsports teammates Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson finished first and second. They picked up where they left off at Richmond this weekend, ranking first and second in the opening practice session Friday. Gordon and Johnson have a combined nine championships in their careers, and both are clearly in championship form. |
- Fantasy NASCAR race preview: Wonderful Pistachios 400 (09/07)
 | Among the most popular venues with both drivers and fans, Richmond International Raceway, is a short, flat track with tight quarters that can lead to aggressive driving. The track allows for side-by-side racing and numerous passing opportunities. Like most flat tracks, brakes are among the most important pieces of equipment to monitor at Richmond. |
- Fantasy NASCAR rankings: AdvoCare 500 (09/04)
 | Just when the Chase picture was becoming clear, Brad Keselowski had to go and cloud things back up. It was a foregone conclusion that he was going to grab one of the wildcard spots, which was going to leave Tony Stewart and Clint Bowyer to battle it out for the final spot in the top 10 and the final spot in the playoffs. |
- Fantasy NASCAR practice recap: AdvoCare 500 (09/03)
| For the second week in a row, both practice sessions for the Cup race were held prior to qualifying. As a result, fantasy owners once again have to pay attention to the number of laps each driver ran before gauging average speeds. For the most part, the drivers locked in the top 35 spent time in race trim in both sessions. |
- Fantasy NASCAR race preview: AdvoCare 500 (08/31)
 | As of this year, Atlanta Motor Speedway has been reduced to just this single date. Owners facing prequalifying deadlines will get the benefit of a Friday night practice session prior to final practice and qualifying on Saturday. Checking these results is a huge benefit in order to see what drivers have unloaded with an early edge and are most likely to score a prime starting position. |
- Fantasy NASCAR rankings: Irwin Tools Night Race (08/27)
| A trip to a short track is always dangerous because small wrecks can quickly become a multi-car pileup, and even a minor issue can mean losing several laps on pit road. In short, Bristol is a big bullet to dodge for Chase hopefuls. |
- Fantasy NASCAR practice recap: Irwin Tools Night Race (08/26)
| With both practice sessions for Saturday night's race at Bristol being held before qualifying, fantasy owners need to take note when analyzing the practice data. While the drivers guaranteed a starting spot spent time in race trim throughout the first practice and some even in Happy Hour, the go or go home drivers focused on qualifying trim. |
- Fantasy NASCAR race preview: Irwin Tools Night Race (08/24)
 | Resurfaced in 2007, Bristol Motor Speedway added new variable banking and remained one of the steepest tracks on the schedule. The added room allows cars to run one of several lines but has reduced the physical racing that has made the track so beloved. |
- Fantasy NASCAR rankings: Pure Michigan 400 (08/20)
 | Heading to Michigan International Speedway for the second time this year, fantasy owners can expect pit strategy to be on full display once again. In June, Denny Hamlin opted for track position late and held off Matt Kenseth and his fresh tires to pick up the win. |
- Fantasy NASCAR practice recap: Pure Michigan 400 (08/20)
| That being said, it is worth noting that Matt Kenseth paced the opening session Friday. The two-time Michigan winner finished second at the track in June and has averaged a top-10 finish at MIS for the last decade. He was one of the favorites entering the weekend, and he only solidified his status by turning the best lap Friday. |
- Fantasy NASCAR: Michigan Picks and Points (08/20)
| In 14 starts at Michigan International Speedway, Carl Edwards has two wins (2007, 2008), nine Top Fives and 12 Top 10s with an Average Finish of 6.2. Where does he land in this week's rankings? |
- Fantasy NASCAR race preview: Pure Michigan 400 (08/17)
 | Michigan International Speedway is a long, wide track which allows the action to spread out. This produces long green flag runs and a lot of tough decisions to make in the late stages of the race. Several winners have received an assist from the leader running out of fuel in the closing moments. |
- Fantasy NASCAR rankings: Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at the Glen (08/13)
 | The Chase picture that seems so clear heading into this weekend's race at Watkins Glen could change dramatically Sunday. A road course event gives drivers like Juan Pablo Montoya, Marcos Ambrose and Tony Stewart a chance to score their first win of the year. Suddenly, there could be some new contenders for the final wildcard spot. |
- Fantasy NASCAR practice recap: Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at The Glen (08/13)
 | 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. Will Kyle Busch, a former Watkins Glen winner, get in his way? |
- Fantasy NASCAR race preview: Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at the Glen (08/10)
 | Watkins Glen International in the second and final road course track on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule. The first, Infineon Raceway, is a more technical track and requires more finesse to get around. The straightaways at The Glen allow for more speed and passing zones. |
- Fantasy NASCAR rankings: Good Sam RV Insurance 500 (08/06)
 | As the Cup Series heads to Pocono this weekend, reality is setting in for several teams. The Chase for the Sprint Cup is less than two months away, and any driver hoping to make the playoffs needs to start making their move. From the drop off the green flag Sunday until the checkered flag waves at Richmond in September, any mistake could be the difference between making and missing the playoffs. |
- Fantasy NASCAR practice recap: Good Sam RV Insurance 500 (08/06)
| How did your favorite driver run in practice for the Good Sam RV Insurance 500 at Pocono? |
- Fantasy NASCAR race preview: Good Sam RV Insurance 500 (08/03)
 | Pocono Raceway is one of the few independently owned tracks on the NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule and hosts two events per season. Pocono's three distinct turns are all banked differently and inspired by other race tracks. Finding a setup that will play well in all three turns can be a quite a challenge. |
- Fantasy NASCAR rankings: Brickyard 400 presented by Big Machine Records.com (07/30)
 | There are a few races each season when drivers care more about getting to Victory Lane than having a good day in the points. This weekend's Brickyard 400 at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway is one of those races. Even with the Chase drawing every closer, winning at the 2.5-mile track and earning the opportunity to kiss the bricks will be the only thing on the minds of all 43 drivers when the green flag waves Sunday. |
- Fantasy NASCAR practice recap: Brickyard 400 presented by BigMachineRecords.com (07/30)
| With its sweeping, tight corners and massive straightaways, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a track that demands a good handling car. Drivers that can't get back in the gas quick enough in the corners are going to struggle down the long straightaways. Any driver that isn't up to speed on those straightaways isn't going to be kissing the bricks this weekend. |
- Fantasy NASCAR: Brickyard Picks and Points (07/30)
 | Juan Pablo Montoya had back-to-back meltdowns at The Brickyard. Whatever the reason, be it mental mistakes or bad luck, this time around excuses will not cut it. JPM has zero margin for error. |
- Fantasy NASCAR Nationwide Series: Indianapolis (07/29)
| In this Nationwide Series preview: There are no ringers on the entry list at Lucas Oil Raceway, meaning Carl Edwards and Brad Keselowski will dominate the rankings - as usual. After those two, Fantasy owners have some serious decisions to make. |
- Fantasy NASCAR race preview: Brickyard 400 presented by BigMachineRecords.com (07/27)
| Starting position is very important at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, but here is an early look at which drivers have promising fantasy NASCAR outlooks for this weekend. |
- Fantasy NASCAR rankings: Lenox Industrial Tools 301 (07/16)
| Coming off a trip to a fast, banked, 1.5-mile track in Kentucky Speedway, the Cup Series team will have to shift gears as the series heads to New Hampshire Motor Speedway this weekend. NHMS puts the handling of a car and the patience of a driver to the test each and every lap. |
- Fantasy NASCAR practice recap: Lenox Industrial Tools 301 (07/16)
| For the first time in several weeks, fantasy owners have the luxury of a traditional practice format before making their picks for Sunday's race at New Hampshire. Rain didn't wash out any sessions, and every driver was in race trim Saturday because both practices were held following qualifying. |
- Fantasy NASCAR Nationwide Series: New Hampshire (07/15)
| Kevin Harvick posted a second-place finish at Kentucky, his best of the season. Can he improve on it this weekend? Find out in this week's Picks or Points for the Nationwide Series Race. |
- Fantasy NASCAR: Loudon Picks and Points (07/15)
| Jeff Gordon finished 10th at Kentucky, giving him three consecutive Top 10s. Can he make it four in a row in this weekend's Sprint Cup Series race? Find out now.... |
- Fantasy NASCAR race preview: Lenox Industrial Tools 301 (07/13)
| After an extended absence of flat track races, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will make the first of two stops this season at the Magic Mile known as New Hampshire Motor Speedway. |
- Fantasy NASCAR rankings: Quaker State 400 (07/08)
| Since qualifying was canceled, the starting lineup was set by top speeds from the lone practice session held Friday. The end result is a rather fantasy-friendly mixture of big names and sleepers starting inside the top 10. In fact, owners may want to lean toward starting a few more sleepers than usual. |
- Fantasy NASCAR practice recap: Quaker State 400 (07/08)
 | Drivers and teams are already scrambling to find the right setup for the inaugural race at the 1.5-mile bumpy track, and one fewer practice session won’t help matters any. Unfortunately for fantasy owners, it looks like one practice is going to be all there is to go by when setting lineups for Saturday night’s race. |
- Fantasy NASCAR preview: Quaker State 400 (07/06)
 | After years of legal wrangling, Kentucky Speedway has finally landed on the NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule. Even though there are no previous Cup races to extract data and trends from, fantasy owners have plenty of opportunities to get fully prepared for the inaugural race. |
- Fantasy NASCAR rankings: Coke Zero 400 (07/01)
| The last time the Cup Series visited a restrictor-plate track, Hendrick Motorsports dominated from start to finish. All four HMS drivers qualified in the top four, and all four drivers finished in the top eight. The organization is off to a similar start this weekend, with all four drivers starting in the top eight spots and Mark Martin on the pole. |
- Fantasy NASCAR practice recap: Coke Zero 400 (07/01)
| Mother Nature did her best to keep the Cup Series drivers off the track Thursday afternoon at Daytona, but in the end, the rain faded away long enough for one session to be run. The abbreviated, 45-minute practice featured the two-car drafting packs that have become the norm at restrictor-plate tracks in 2011. Drivers topped out just under 200 mph, and it appears Saturday night's race will be an awful lot like February’s season opener. |
- Fantasy NASCAR Nationwide Series: Daytona (07/01)
| In 11 starts at Daytona International Speedway, Tony Stewart has six wins, seven Top Fives, eight Top 10s and one pole with an Average Finish of 7.5. How does he rank against the other drivers for this weekend's Nationwide Series race? |
- Fantasy NASCAR race preview: Coke Zero 400 (06/29)
| The newly repaved track at Daytona International Speedway has led to big changes to the style of restrictor plate racing. The long packs of cars drafting in line are gone. The field will break into pairs of drivers working together to form a two-car aerodynamic advantage. In the past, the two-car breakaway has been successful but never for extended runs and in such high numbers like this. |
- Fantasy NASCAR rankings: Toyota/Save Mart 350 (06/25)
| A typical track on the Cup Series schedule consists of four turns and some variation of an oval shape. Drivers will get a serious break from the norm this weekend when the series heads to the Infineon Raceway in Sonoma. |
- Fantasy NASCAR practice recap: Toyota/Save Mart 350 (06/25)
| Practice at Infineon Raceway is as much about determining fuel mileage as it is dialing in the handling of a car. The race is scheduled for 110 laps, and on a full tank of gas, some teams have been able to run 35 laps. A fast car is still important, but it won't end up in Victory Lane without the right calls on pit road. |
- Fantasy NASCAR race preview: Toyota/Save Mart 350 (06/22)
 | Located in California's wine country, Infineon Raceway is the first of only two road courses on the NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule. When compared to the other, Watkins Glen International, Infineon is the more technical of the two. Built on the hilly landscape at Sears Point, several blind turns are created by the changes in elevation. Pit strategy is huge, as there are a limited number of pit stops required to run the entire race. |
2010 Fantasy NASCAR Releases
For additional fantasy NASCAR information and NASCAR fantasy news, please be sure to check out these other great KFFL resources:
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