Fantasy picks for the LENOX Industrial Tools 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway.
Reid Spencer, Bill Marx and Roger Kuznia of the Sporting News are matching wits in the Pit box in 2008. The rules are different this year.
They can pick a driver only once during the season. But for good measure, each also will pick his favorite to win the race.
REID'S PICK: Clint Bowyer. I'm not going out on a limb here, considering that Bowyer won the last race at New Hampshire in a runaway. But why not go with a guy who loves to run the flat tracks and is consistently near the top of the speed charts in practice? Besides, I've got to pad my lead over the two turkeys in this contest so I can spend a pick on a long shot next week at Daytona.
Who Reid really thinks will win: Jimmie Johnson. Another flat track ace, Johnson will back up his Phoenix win with another at Loudon.
ROGER'S PICK: Denny Hamlin. All four of Hamlin's career wins have come on flat tracks, and that number includes a victory at Loudon last July. Track position is key at New Hampshire, and Hamlin did himself a favor by qualifying reasonably well (12th).
Who Roger really thinks will win: Kasey Kahne. Despite last week's disappointment at Infineon, I bet his success continues.
BILL'S PICK: Kevin Harvick. This guys needs to snap out of his malaise at some point. Why not New Hampshire? He too likes flat tracks, and his history on such tracks (New Hampshire, Richmond and Phoenix) gives me confidence, too. C'mon, Kevin. Snap that 51-race winless streak.
Who Bill really thinks will win the race: Tony Stewart. Speaking of droughts . . . I think Stewart's ongoing preoccupation with his future is wearing on him. But, like Harvick, at some point he will get a win. He has the top driver rating at NHMS.
LAST WEEK:
Reid's smart selection of Jeff Gordon paid off in a big way, as Gordon finished third. Meanwhile, the sleeper picks of Bill (Jamie McMurray, 18th) and Roger (Boris Said, 41st) didn't pan out, so Spencer continues to build on his impressive lead. In the real picks, Spencer kept with Gordon and gained ground on Bill, who picked Jeff Burton (13th). Roger was the real loser, with his pick of Kurt Busch finishing 32nd.
POINTS STANDINGS
One and done: Reid, 2,176; Roger, 1,935; Bill, 1,843.
Real picks: Bill, 2,385; Reid, 2,307; Roger 2,204.
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