| | | | | | | | |  | | | | Fantasy picks for the Aaron's 499 at Talladega Superspeedway
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: David Gilliland. Now that I've built a substantial lead over my two rivals -- if you can dignify them with that description -- it's time to go with a relative long shot. Gilliland won the pole in his Talladega debut in 2006 and followed that with a second-place start and fourth-place finish last April. There's still some magic in those Yates restrictor-plate engines, and both Gilliland and teammate Travis Kvapil have run respectably this year without appreciable sponsorship.
Who Reid really thinks will win the race: Jeff Gordon. It's time for the four-time champ to break out of the doldrums. In the process, he will spoil the feel-good story of a win by his teammate, Dale Earnhardt Jr.
ROGER'S PICK: Juan Montoya. Oh Reid, I'm letting you lead because it'll be all the more fun to catch you at the end. My pick this weekend is Montoya, in part because the Ganassi cars ran well at Daytona. And did you know that Montoya has finished 20th or better in the last seven races? I'll take a top
15 finish from Montoya here and maintain my steady pace.
Who Roger really thinks will win the race: Denny Hamlin. He was very strong early at Daytona, leading 32 laps, and he has posted four straight finishes of sixth or better in the last four races. Provided he doesn't get caught up in anyone else's mess, he'll be winning his second race of the season.
BILL'S PICK: Brian Vickers. I think Vickers has the car and ability to deliver a solid finish. I'm so far behind in the standings, I can't afford anything less than top 15s from my "bench" drivers before I hit the big guns later in the season.
Who Bill really thinks will win the race: Dale Earnhardt Jr. To misquote Tony Stewart, "Here karma, karma, karma."
LAST WEEK:
Phoenix was a disaster for Bill. His "calculated" gamble on Elliott Sadler didn't work. Sadler was running in the top five when he lost his engine. He finished 40th. Reid added to his lead when Greg Biffle finished ninth for Reid's third straight top 10. Jamie McMurray delivered Roger a respectable 16th. In the real picks, Bill scored a win with Jimmie Johnson, Carl Edwards finished fourth for Reid, and Roger got a 10th from Kyle Busch.
POINTS STANDINGS:
One and done: Reid, 1,115; Roger, 952; Bill, 867.
Real picks: Roger 1,244; Bill, 1,215; Reid, 1,114.
| | | Permalink | Comments (0) | | | | | | Fantasy picks for the Subway Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix International Raceway
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: Greg Biffle. When Roush Fenway Racing embraced seven-post shaker rig and computer simulation technology to design their setups, Biffle's performance improved dramatically. Given Biff's talent and fearless approach to driving the No. 16 Ford, he'll be a contender at all the flat tracks this year.
Who Reid really thinks will win the race: Carl Edwards. The Carl already has gone back-to-back this year, at California and Las Vegas, and Phoenix gives him a chance to double up on his win at Texas. Edwards has shown a lot of versatility this year -- he can win with oil tank cover off or oil tank cover on.
ROGER'S PICK: Jamie McMurray. McMurray tested at Phoenix last month, and it already has paid off with an eighth-place qualifying effort for Saturday's race. After such a horrible start, McMurray has some momentum, and I think he has a great shot at his first ever top-10 run at this track.
Who Roger really thinks will win the race: Kyle Busch. The 22-year-old has won at Phoenix in the Cup, Nationwide and trucks series, so he should be oozing with confidence. In six Cup races, Busch has four top-10 finishes.
BILL'S PICK: Elliott Sadler. I need him to be my Paul Menard this week
-- just finish in the top 20, baby. Anything inside the top 15 is gravy.
He qualified on the outside pole, so I'm starting the race with extra hope.
Who Bill really thinks will win the race: Jimmie Johnson. It appears as though the only way to win twice at Phoenix is to win back-to-back, and Johnson won last fall.
LAST WEEK:
Reid expanded his lead when Matt Kenseth finished ninth at Texas. Roger moved into second place when David Ragan finished 13th, and Bill got the "finish" he was looking for when Paul Menard finished 17th. It was Menard's second-best finish of the season (he was 16th the week before). In the real picks, Roger got a victory from Carl Edwards, while Reid stuck with Kenseth and Bill went with Dale Earnhardt Jr., who finished 12th.
POINTS STANDINGS
One and done: Reid, 977; Roger, 837; Bill, 827.
Real picks: Roger 1,110; Bill, 1,020; Reid, 953.
| | | Permalink | Comments (0) | | | | | |  Fantasy picks for the Samsung 500 at Texas Motor 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: Matt Kenseth. Who can argue with Kenseth's record at Texas Motor Speedway? In 11 starts, the driver of the No. 17 Ford has one victory and five top-fives to his credit -- including hard-fought runner-up finishes in both Texas races last year. Kenseth needs a decent result at Texas to atone for an out-of control weekend at Martinsville, where he drew a penalty for aggressive driving and ran 30th.
Who Reid really thinks will win the race: Matt Kenseth. See above.
ROGER'S PICK: David Ragan. I scored well with Jeff Gordon last week, but I'm going back to my strategy of saving the best drivers for later in the season and going with the middle-of-the-pack drivers now who are primed to do well.
Ragan is that guy because he has qualified in the top-10 in the past two races, and he also finished seventh at Las Vegas, another intermediate track. Roush Fenway Racing is strong at Texas, and Ragan will benefit from that.
Who Roger really thinks will win the race: Carl Edwards. This is one of his favorite tracks, and no one has been better at intermediate tracks than Edwards this season.
BILL'S PICK: Paul Menard. Don't laugh. This is a situational pick, and I'm playing a hunch. I'm not asking Menard to win, although he is welcome to. Just give me a top 20. A top 15? That's a victory. My heart tells me to use Juan Pablo Montoya now, but I'm saving him for later.
Who Bill thinks will win. Dale Earnhardt Jr. This is the week.
LAST WEEK
Reid picked up his first win of the season with Denny Hamlin's victory at Martinsville, and Roger kept pace when Jeff Gordon finished second. Bill lost major points when Bobby Labonte finished 25th after getting caught up in a wreck while running in the top five early.
Reid and Bill went with Jimmie Johnson for their real picks, and Roger stuck with Gordon. Johnson finished fourth.
POINTS STANDINGS
One and done: Reid, 834; Bill, 715; Roger, 713.
Real picks: Roger 915; Bill, 888; Reid, 810.
| | | Permalink | Comments (0) | | | | | | Fantasy picks for the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor 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: Carl Edwards. Not only did Edwards win the first race on the resurfaced track at Bristol last August, but his team also has the hang of the new racecar, as his two wins in four 2008 races attest. If Edwards' car holds together for 500 laps, he should be in victory lane.
And he'll be doubly motivated to climb back into the top 12 and overcome the 100-penalty he incurred at Las Vegas.
Who Reid really thinks will win the race: Carl Edwards. An excellent choice for both categories this week.
ROGER'S PICK: David Reutimann. Oddly enough, Reutimann has not raced at Bristol in a Sprint Cup car, but he was fastest in practice Friday and has four finishes of 11th or better in six tries at Bristol between the Nationwide and Craftsman Truck Series. Watch out for the Dream Machine!
Who Roger really thinks will win the race: Kyle Busch. The winner of the inaugural COT race at this track last year, Busch's worst finish in six short track races in 2007 was 20th. His other five finishes were top-10 runs (four were top fives). He's money.
BILL'S PICK: Jeff Burton. It's time to use Burton, who finished second in this race last year. Because of the qualifying washout, he starts eighth. And for the second week in a row, I don't want to give up big points by going with a long shot. Though my strategy didn't work last week with Kasey Kahne, I'm trying again because I'm feeling desperate -- and we are only five races in.
Who Bill really thinks will win the race: Carl Edwards. Coin flip between Edwards and Matt Kenseth. I'm feeling very Roushy.
LAST WEEK
What a power move by Reid. He goes with Dale Earnhardt Jr., who finishes third, and Roger (Reed Sorenson, 31st) and Bill (Kahne,
28th) get pummeled. When you go with the big names when playing one-and-done, you have to score big, and Reid did just that. On the real picks, Bill had Earnhardt, Roger had Greg Biffle (fourth) and Reid went with Jimmie Johnson (13th). Roger maintains the lead.
POINTS STANDINGS
One and done: Reid, 529; Roger, 435; Bill, 432.
Real picks: Roger 623; Bill, 608; Reid, 530.
| | | Permalink | Comments (0) | | | | | | Fantasy picks for the UAW-Dodge 400 at Las Vegas Motor 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: Kyle Busch. The Sprint Cup points leader continues his early-season success. The native son of Las Vegas will become the first to win there from the pole.
Who Reid really thinks will win the race: Jimmie Johnson. He'll come from 33rd starting position to win his fourth straight Vegas race.
ROGER'S PICK: Greg Biffle. Biff is back. He had a good piece at California last week and now has qualified in the top 10 at Las Vegas in four of five tries. I want to use him before he really goes off so I can tell my cohorts, "I told you so."
Who Roger really thinks will win the race: Matt Kenseth. His average finish of 7.6 over eight career Las Vegas races is remarkable, as are his two wins there. He even qualified well Friday, which means he's on his game.
BILL'S PICK: Mike Skinner. I feel the need to go with another driver outside the top 35 in owner points, and Skinner is the highest qualifier from that group. I splurged on Matt Kenseth last week, but I always knew I was going to use him early. I'm saving my big guns for later in the year.
Who Bill really thinks will win the race: Kyle Busch. Surely he won't finish fourth three weeks in a row. It's tough passing up on Carl Edwards, though.
I just hope they don't wreck each other on the first lap.
LAST WEEK
Bill expanded his lead with Kenseth's fifth-place finish.
Reid's pick, Kasey Kahne, finished ninth; and Roger made a great call with Brian Vickers, who finished 11th.
On the "real" side, Roger opened up a 20-point lead on Reid when Jimmie Johnson finished second. Bill and Reid went with Kenseth.
POINTS STANDINGS
One and done: Bill, 275; Reid, 224; Roger, 200.
Real picks: Roger, 350; Reid, 330; Bill 303.
| | | Permalink | Comments (0) | | | | | | Fantasy picks for the Auto Club 500 at Auto Club 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: Kasey Kahne. The Dodge boys will be 2-for-2. Forget last year -- Kahne has a pole, a win and three top-five finishes at Auto Club Speedway.
Who Reid really thinks will win the race: Matt Kenseth. The two-time defending race winner's record speaks for itself: eight top-10s in 12 starts at Fontana.
ROGER'S PICK: Brian Vickers. Auto Club Speedway was one of Vickers' strongest tracks last year, as he had top-10 runs in both events. I don't like the fact he is starting 39th for this race, but he should be fast enough to make his way to the front.
Who Roger really thinks will win the race: Jimmie Johnson. In six of his 10 career races at Fontana, Johnson has finished third or better six times. And he's starting from the pole.
BILL'S PICK: Matt Kenseth (twice). He always runs well at California -- Cup and Nationwide -- and I have been waiting all offseason to make this pick. Plus, he's traditionally stronger early in the season. I can always use Dario Franchitti or another long shot next week at Las Vegas.
LAST WEEK
Bill grabbed the lead after Daytona when Dale Jarrett finished 16th. Reid's pick, Michael Waltrip, finished 29th, and Mark Martin posted his worst Daytona 500 finish, 31st, since finishing last in 2004 when his engine failed after seven laps.
On the "real" side, Reid and Roger almost got a win out of Tony Stewart, who finished third. Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished ninth for Bill.
POINTS STANDINGS
One and done: Bill, 115; Reid, 81; Roger, 70.
Real picks: Reid and Roger, 170; Bill 143.
| | | Permalink | Comments (0) | | | | | | Fantasy picks for the Daytona 500.
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.
We can pick a driver only once during the season. But for good measure, we'll also pick our favorite to win the race.
REID'S PICK: Michael Waltrip. If Michael wins a race this year, it probably will be on a restrictor-plate track. His car was strong enough to push Dale Jarrett to the front in the second Duel 150 qualifying race.
Who Reid really thinks will win the race: Tony Stewart. Toyota wins its first Sprint Cup points race.
BILL'S PICK: Dale Jarrett. I'm going with Jarrett because I know I have only five races to use him, and I think this race is his best shot to do well of the five.
Who Bill really thinks will win the race: Dale Earnhardt Jr. Can you say, "Storybook?"
ROGER'S PICK: Mark Martin. Much like Bill, I'm going with Martin because of his limited schedule. I also like the fact that Martin has no enemies on the track and keeps his car clean.
Who Roger really thinks will win the race: Tony Stewart. His 399 laps led in the past six Daytona races is nearly triple that of second-place Kurt Busch (141). It's his time.
| | | Permalink | Comments (0) | | | | | | Fantasy picks for the Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway
Vinnie: Just like Jimmie Johnson, I expect to celebrate my second consecutive championship season, but I need a special way to do it. I’ll try not to hurt myself emulating the winning back flip of Carl Edwards, whom I like to break through for his first Homestead victory. Edwards has three top 10s in three races at Homestead.
Sleeper: Clint Bowyer.
Not so fast: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Roger: Jeff Gordon needs everything he can get in the final race, and I’m not about to bet against the four-time champ to get it done. I’m not encouraged by his struggles in recent races at 1.5-mile tracks in Texas and Atlanta, but I do like that he won at Charlotte for the first time since 1999. A win for him would be so much better than a Jimmie — and a Vinnie — repeat.
Sleeper: Martin Truex.
Not so fast: Kasey Kahne.
Last week: Even though Roger scored a fourth-place finish with Tony Stewart, he still lost 30 points to Vinnie, who won once again with Johnson. Vinnie takes a 111-point lead into the final race at Homestead, which means he’s in better shape than Johnson is in the real Chase.
Standings after 35 races: Vinnie: 4,868; Roger: 4,757.
| | | Permalink | Comments (0) | | | | | | Fantasy picks for the Checker Auto Parts 500 at Phoenix International Raceway.
Roger: Tony Stewart’s stinker at Atlanta has tightened up our race, Vinnie, but there’s no way I can go wrong with Jeff Gordon. He’s every bit the MVP Steve Nash is in this town, with 14 top 10 finishes in 17 career Phoenix races.
Sleeper: Martin Truex.
Not so fast: Greg Biffle.
Vinnie: I’m not about to let up now. Pit Box and NASCAR are all about winning, so I’m going with Jimmie Johnson as my penultimate pick of the season. He’s ready to get his first win at Phoenix after three top fives in eight races.
Sleeper: Bobby Labonte.
Not so fast: Ryan Newman.
Last week: Vinnie took Johnson for the fourth time in five weeks – Surprise! – and picked up another win. Roger’s pick, Clint Bowyer, struggled and finished 19th. That spread was enough for Vinnie to leap past Roger into the lead with two races to go – and, one would suspect, two more opportunities to pick Johnson.
Standings after 34 races: Vinnie: 4,678; Roger: 4,623.
| | | Permalink | Comments (0) | | | | | | Fantasy picks for the Dickies 500 at Texas Motor Speedway
Roger: Clint Bowyer is the only RCR driver who has a shot to win the Chase. Lucky for him, teammate Jeff Burton won the spring race at Texas.
If Burton knows any secrets to make his car go fast, Bowyer will know them, too.
Sleeper: Casey Mears.
Not so fast: Kyle Busch.
Vinnie: Jimmie Johnson has never won at Texas. Neither has teammate Jeff Gordon, the guy he’s chasing in the Chase. Gordon was better than Johnson in the spring race, but the time is now for Johnson to make his move.
Sleeper: Martin Truex.
Not so fast: Ryan Newman.
Last week: Vinnie stepped off the Johnson train and went with Carl Edwards, who finished second to Johnson at Atlanta. Roger’s pick Tony Stewart, finished 30th. As a result, Vinnie took a big bite out of Roger’s once meaty lead with three races remaining.
Standings through 33 races: Roger: 4,512; Vinnie: 4,488.
| | | Permalink | Comments (0) | | | | | | Fantasy picks for the Georgia 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Roger: The Home Depot doesn’t sponsor a race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, but Tony Stewart still gives the company good publicity in its back yard. Stewart ran second to Jimmie Johnson in the spring race, but the roles were reversed last October, when Stewart picked up the second of his three wins in Chase races. His seven top fives in 17 races at Atlanta are too many to overlook.
Sleeper: Reed Sorenson.
Not so fast: Kevin Harvick.
Vinnie: Let’s just make this the Depot Duel, shall we? I’ll be taking care of business with Carl Edwards, who happens to drive the No. 99 Office Depot Ford. Edwards always gets hot in Atlanta, where he has won twice and finished in the top 10 in five of six career Cup races. After rolling to consecutive seventh-place finishes there, it’s time for him to surge back to victory lane.
Sleeper: Juan Pablo Montoya.
Not so fast: Kyle Busch.
Last week: Vinnie went with Johnson (again) and this time got a win. But Roger’s pick of Jeff Gordon finished third, thwarting any opportunity for Vinnie to pick up significant points with four races to go. Sounds sort of like the Chase, doesn’t it?
Standings through 32 races: Roger: 4,439; Vinnie: 4,318.
| | | Permalink | Comments (0) | | | | | | Fantasy picks for the Subway 500 at Martinsville.
Roger: Jeff Gordon is ridiculously good at NASCAR’s oldest track, with two victories and an average finish of 2.2 over the past five Martinsville races. He’s on his game, he’s hungry and he’ll win.
Sleeper: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Not so fast: Jeff Burton.
Vinnie: I’m going to answer with Jimmie Johnson, Gordon’s equally mighty Hendrick teammate and the defending Cup champion. Johnson has won the past two races at Martinsville.
Sleeper: Jamie McMurray.
Not so fast: Matt Kenseth.
Last week: Roger stretched his lead over Vinnie to 136 points with five races to go when Carl Edwards finished fifth and Johnson finished 14th.
Standings through 31 races: Roger: 4,264; Vinnie: 4,128. | | | Permalink | Comments (0) | | | | | | Fantasy picks for the Bank of America 500 at Lowe's Motor Speedway
Roger: Carl Edwards is solid on intermediate tracks. Before his 15th-place finish at Lowe's in May, he had four top 10 finishes in four starts at the track. This is Jimmie Johnson's track, but Edwards will be renting space in victory lane.
Sleeper: Casey Mears.
Not so fast: Kevin Harvick.
Vinnie: I don't like to take the same driver twice in a row, but how can I pick against Johnson at Lowe's? He has five wins and 11 top 10s in 12 starts there. I need to make up some ground fast, and I know Johnson will help me.
Sleeper: Brian Vickers.
Not so fast: Kurt Busch.
Last week: Vinnie took a nibble out of Roger's lead when Jimmie Johnson finished second while Tony Stewart was shuffled back to eighth.
Standings through 30 races: Roger: 4,109; Vinnie 3,997. | | | Permalink | Comments (0) | | | | | | Fantasy picks for UAW-Ford 500 at Talladega.
Roger: Tony Stewart is a great restrictor plate racer despite never having won at Talladega. He has eight top five finishes in 17 starts there, and it’s time he cashed in on all those near misses with a big win. Joe Gibbs Racing’s strength in the Car of Tomorrow plays into my pick. Stewart will run up front all day so he can avoid the wrecks back in the pack.
Sleeper: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Not so fast: Matt Kenseth.
Vinnie: Coming to the big track this weekend: Talladega Day: The Legend of Jimmie Johnson. Johnson has his eyes on winning the whole thing again, and it’s time for him to rock October by beating teammate Jeff Gordon, who edged him in the season’s first Talladega race, and Stewart. The Driver of Today comes through again in the Car of Tomorrow.
Sleeper: Martin Truex.
Not so fast: Jeff Burton.
Last week: Johnson overcame having to start from the back of the pack (as if we doubted he would return to the front) to give Roger a third-place finish. Vinnie’s week with Stewart went south when (1) NASCAR decided to wait out the long rain delay with Stewart in the lead (the right call) and (2) Stewart stayed on the track when it was obvious his left front fender was rubbing the tire and could cause a flat at any moment (the wrong call). It did, causing a multicar accident, and Stewart finished 39th.
Standings through 29 races: Roger: 3,962; Vinnie: 3,822. | | | Permalink | Comments (0) | | | | | | Fantasy picks for the LifeLock 400.
Roger: Jimmie Johnson led the most laps at Kansas last year, but an ill-timed caution and a penalty for speeding on pit road cost him a great finish. There will be no denying the 48 team a victory this time, especially considering Hendrick Motorsports’ excellent record at this track. OK, so it’s Jeff Gordon who has two victories at Kansas; Johnson is due for his first.
Sleeper: Greg Biffle.
Not so fast: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Vinnie: Smell that Smoke, Roger? It’s not from the great K.C. barbeque — it’s Tony Stewart still steaming that he missed last year’s Chase. He’ll be fired up to repeat at Kansas, one of his better tracks. Yeah, his average finish there is 6.5. I’ve still got plenty of time to come out on top in the Pit Box. This week, I’ll answer your big gun with another and hope for the best.
Sleeper: Casey Mears.
Not so fast: Kasey Kahne.
Last week: Just like in the real Chase, Pit Box is neck and neck after
28 races. Vinnie scored a victory with Carl Edwards while Roger’s Kurt Busch ignited a 10-car wreck and finished 29th. If it makes Roger feel any better, his sleeper (Dale Earnhardt Jr.) finished third, and his not so fast (Kevin Harvick) finished 20th.
Standings through 28 races: Roger: 3,792; Vinnie: 3,771.
| | | Permalink | Comments (0) | | | | | | Fantasy picks for Dodge Dealers 400
Roger: I like Kurt Busch here. You may remember the Dover race in June, when Busch was parked for doing a drive-by on Tony Stewart’s car in the pits after Stewart wrecked Busch on the track. Busch will be racing Stewart at some point Sunday, but he’ll play nice because of the bigger prize on the line — which is my points title over you, Vinnie.
Sleeper: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Not so fast: Kevin Harvick.
Vinnie: Roger, I need to start flexing my muscles if I want to make up the difference in our version of the Chase, so I’ll go with Carl Edwards, the most in-shape driver in Nextel Cup. Expect him to work out at Dover, where he has posted two top fives, including a third-place finish in June. Get ready for a backflip and a trip to victory lane.
Sleeper: Ryan Newman.
Not so fast: Jeff Burton.
Last week: Roger and Vinnie did well at New Hampshire. Roger’s pick, Jeff Gordon, finished second, and Vinnie’s pick, Jimmie Johnson finished sixth. The spread was worth 20 points to Roger.
Standings after 27 races: Roger: 3,708; Vinnie: 3,581.
| | | Permalink | Comments (0) | | | | | | Fantasy picks for Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire
Roger: Now that the Chase is here, we’ll see the Jeff Gordon we saw earlier in the season. He has the second-most wins (three) at New Hampshire among active drivers, and no one has more top five finishes
(11) there than Gordon. It has been a while since he visited victory lane with the Car of Tomorrow. There’s no time like the present.
Sleeper: Jeff Burton.
Not so fast: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Vinnie: Roger, it must be the nature of our rivalry as part of Team Sporting News for me to pick Gordon’s teammate, Jimmie Johnson, to bring home New Hampshire. With back-to-back wins, Johnson enters the Chase with momentum in his tank. Johnson has six top 10s in 11 races at Loudon, and he’ll tie Gordon with a third career win at the track.
Sleeper: Kasey Kahne.
Not so fast: Clint Bowyer.
Last week: Roger put some space between himself and Vinnie by trouncing Vinnie at Richmond. Roger’s pick, Tony Stewart, finished second, while Vinnie’s pick, Kyle Busch, finished an uncharacteristic 20th. Not only that, but Roger’s sleeper, David Ragan, finished third. And if Vinnie’s looking for moral victories, Carl Edwards, his not-so-fast pick, blew an engine and finished 42nd.
Standings after 26 races: Roger: 3,538; Vinnie: 3,431.
| | | Permalink | Comments (0) | | | | | | Fantasy picks for Chevy Rock & Roll 400
Roger: Joe Gibbs Racing has won two of the past three COT races, and Tony Stewart won one of them in August at Watkins Glen. That, combined with Stewart’s historical strength at Richmond, will give him the edge in Saturday night’s race. Stewart led only one lap in the spring race, but he posted the 16 fastest lap times in that event.
Sleeper: David Ragan.
Not so fast: Jeff Burton.
Vinnie: I didn’t need to look long for a Saturday night special. Kyle Busch has done everything but win at Richmond, and he’ll finally break through and go to victory lane. In Busch’s previous races at the track, his No. 5 Chevy is 5-for-5 in top fives, including a second-place finish in May. Watching brother Kurt get hot down the stretch should light a fire under Kyle.
Sleeper: Ryan Newman.
Not so fast: Carl Edwards.
Last week: Vinnie nibbled into Roger's lead for the second week in a row when Carl Edwards recovered from a collision on pit road to finish second. Roger didn't exactly stumble: Matt Kenseth finished seventh.
Standings after 25 races: Roger: 3,363; Vinnie: 3,328.
| | | Permalink | Comments (0) | | | | | | Fantasy picks for the Sharp Aquos 500
Roger: Matt Kenseth has yet to win the late-summer race at California, but he’s the two-time defending champ of the early-spring event. And he recently led 32 laps at Michigan, a track similar to California. This is Kenseth’s best shot to get another win before the Chase starts. Roush
Fenway cars are strong at this type of fast track.
Sleeper: Jamie McMurray.
Not so fast: Kevin Harvick.
Vinnie: The song says there’s “more bounce in California,” and drivers can expect a bumpy ride on this challenging track. Judging from his back flips, Carl Edwards has enough bounce to match. He’s usually good at California and will want to rebound after finishing 29th there in February. This win, coming after his Bristol win, will make him a favorite in the Chase.
Sleeper: Elliott Sadler.
Not so fast: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Last week: Vinnie ate into Roger’s 103-point lead when Kurt Busch finished sixth at Bristol and Roger’s pick, Jeff Gordon, finished 19th.
Standings after 24 races: Roger, 3,217; Vinnie, 3,158.
| | | Permalink | Comments (0) | | | | | | Fantasy picks for the Sharpie 500
Vinnie: Bristol couldn’t come at a better time for Kurt Busch -- a solid showing at Bristol, and the 2004 Cup champ will put an end to his Chase bubble status. A five-time winner at the track, Busch finished 29th in March and watched his brother Kyle pull into victory lane. Kurt is due to come through in prime time and move closer to Kyle and the rest of the top 10 in points -- and even further from Ryan Newman and Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Sleeper: Greg Biffle.
Not so fast: Carl Edwards.
Roger: Kurt Busch definitely is the momentum pick, but Jeff Gordon is the right pick. All three short track races run this season have been won by Hendrick Motortsports cars, but none of them by Gordon. However, he qualified on the pole twice and started third in the other. His finishes, you ask? None worse than fourth. With Gordon racing for victories and those 10 Chase bonus points, he is ready to win for the sixth time at Bristol.
Sleeper: Casey Mears.
Not so fast: Juan Pablo Montoya.
Last week: Oh, those late-race spins. Vinnie took a fall when Jeff Gordon spun out with a handful of laps to go and went from a top 10 finish to finishing 27th. Not Jimmie Johnson. Roger’s pick finished third for the second consecutive week, allowing Roger to move from 20 points ahead of Vinnie to 103.
Standings after 23 races: Roger, 3,106; Vinnie 3,003. | | | Permalink | Comments (0) | | | | | | Fantasy picks for 3M Performance 400
Roger: How fitting that crew chief Chad Knaus’ first race back from suspension is at Michigan, where Jimmie Johnson was in contention to win before running out of gas with seven laps remaining in the June race.
Johnson led the second-most laps that day and also posted more of the fastest lap times than anyone in the field. Knaus and Co. won’t make such a huge mistake this time, and the 48 team will reclaim its place as a major championship contender.
Sleeper: Kurt Busch.
Not so fast: Jeff Burton.
Vinnie: In case you missed it, Roger, Jimmie Johnson is so last year.
This year is all about Jeff Gordon, his Hendrick Motorsports teammate.
Gordon knows Michigan well; he has 15 top five finishes in 29 races there over his career. He’ll be hungry to shoot back up the charts after settling for ninth place back in June. As for the big chart, the Nextel Cup standings, this is just another chance to pull away before the Chase.
Sleeper: Reed Sorenson.
Not so fast: Kevin Harvick.
Last week: A huge swing in points. Vinnie picked winner Tony Stewart and pulled to 20 points of Roger, whose pick, Kevin Harvick, got tangled up with Juan Pablo Montoya and finished 36th.
Standings after 22 races: Roger, 2,936; Vinnie, 2,916.
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Roger: I watched at Sonoma in June when Richard Childress Racing, led by Kevin Harvick, finished 2-3-4 in the first road course race of the season. Harvick has six top 10 finishes in 13 road course races and once again is a threat to finish in the top five every week. You also might remember he’s the defending champion of this race.
Sleeper: Boris Said.
Not so fast: Jimmie Johnson.
Vinnie: It’s good you’re looking to the past with Harvick, Roger, but history tells me a different story – that Tony Stewart is the best bet to win. He’s 3-for-8 at this track, and Smoke is again as hot as the weather in August. Harvick, meanwhile, has cooled off since he won at The Glen last season and will be the one finishing second behind his good friend. Here, kitty, kitty.
Sleeper: Robby Gordon.
Not so fast: Matt Kenseth.
Last week: Vinnie scored a third place with Mr. Pocono, Denny Hamlin, but didn’t pick up much ground because Roger’s pick, Ryan Newman, finished seventh.
Standings after 21 races: Roger, 2,881; Vinnie 2,726.
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Vinnie: The only thing that stopped Denny Hamlin’s two-race reign in Pennsylvania back in June was the rain. Hamlin led the most laps, but Jeff Gordon benefited from pit strategy that put him in the lead when the race was halted after 106 of 200 laps. Now Hamlin needs to solidify his No. 2 spot behind Gordon in the Nextel Cup standings. As long as the race goes the distance at Pocono, the No. 11 Chevy will get a huge win.
Sleeper: Martin Truex Jr.
Not so fast: Carl Edwards.
Roger: Hamlin did have the highest driver rating at Pocono in June, but No. 2 in that category was Ryan Newman, who finished second in the race and recorded the 10 fastest lap times in that event. Newman has hit a lull of late and he hasn’t won since 2005, but that victory came at New Hampshire – another flat track. Newman has five top fives in 11 races at Pocono, and this is his time to win.
Sleeper: Casey Mears.
Not so fast: Greg Biffle.
Last week: The boys didn’t fare well in their first race after the break. Roger went with Denny Hamlin, who had another looooong pit stop (70 seconds) and finished 22nd. But at least Roger’s choice finished the race. Vinnie went with Jimmie Johnson, who had to flee a burning car after smacking the wall. Johnson finished 39th.
Standings after 20 races: Roger, 2,730; Vinnie, 2,561. | | | Permalink | Comments (0) | | | | | | Fantasy picks for Allstate 400 at the Brickyard
Vinnie: This year’s news at Hendrick Motorsports has been all about the resurgence of Jeff Gordon and the addition of Dale Earnhardt Jr., but it’s time for Hendrick’s defending Nextel Cup champ to make some headlines. Jimmie Johnson hasn’t had the same magic this season, but after breaking through at the Brickyard last year, he has a good chance to repeat. No. 48 can’t afford another lapse in the standings.
Sleeper: Clint Bowyer.
Not so fast: Greg Biffle.
Roger: Given the Denny Hamlin-Tony Stewart brouhaha at Daytona, and then Stewart’s win at Chicagoland, it will be perfect theater when Hamlin one-ups the No. 20 and 41 other competitors at Indy. Flat tracks have been a strength for Hamlin, and Indianapolis qualifies as such. Hamlin finished sixth at Pocono and won at New Hampshire (the other flat tracks), so prepare to watch the No. 11 team kiss some bricks.
Sleeper: Casey Mears.
Not so fast: Kasey Kahne.
Last week: Roger and Vinnie and the rest of the Nextel Cup Series took the week off. Word out of Charlotte is the two are well-rested and well-prepared to battle for Pit box supremacy over the final 17 races.
Standings after 19 races: Roger, 2,633; Vinnie, 2,515.
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Roger: I like drivers with a little something extra to prove, and Matt Kenseth certainly has that heading into the Chicagoland race. If not for Jeff Gordon’s bump last year, Kenseth might have hung on and won the race. Kenseth is at his best at intermediate tracks like this 1.5-miler, and he’ll have all the fans from nearby Wisconsin there to spur him to victory. Ah, the power of cheese.
Sleeper: Juan Pablo Montoya.
Not so fast: Jamie McMurray.
Vinnie: Don’t worry, Roger, Matt Kenseth isn't alone – Jeff Gordon has pretty much bumped everyone out of the way this season on his way to the top of the Nextel Cup standings. With Denny Hamlin lurking behind him, No. 24 will kick it into gear at a track where he has had unbelievable success. He’ll repeat and make it five top five finishes in seven Chicagoland races.
Sleeper: Reed Sorenson.
Not so fast: Kasey Kahne.
Last week: Roger regained the lead and gave himself some cushion when Vinnie’s pick at Daytona went up in smoke. Vinnie went with heavy favorite Tony Stewart, who took out teammate Hamlin on Lap 14 and paid the price, limping home 38th. Roger’s pick, Jimmie Johnson, finished 10th.
Standings after 18 races: Roger 2,458; Vinnie 2,377.
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Vinnie: They say lightning doesn’t strike twice, so I’m going for broke with Smoke despite crashing down with Tony Stewart when I picked him to win the Daytona 500. Stewart is still looking for his first win of this season, but he’s about to turn the corner at the right time. Stewart won for the second time in his career here last July, and he’ll deliver a much-needed repeat performance to boost his Chase standing.
Sleeper: Kurt Busch.
Not so fast: Carl Edwards.
Roger: Chad Knaus is one heck of a crew chief, but he’s not a security blanket for Jimmie Johnson. Johnson is a big boy – he won the Daytona 500 last year when Knaus was suspended for a rear window alteration on the No. 48. The Hendrick cars will still be plenty good, and I’m confident Johnson will be the fastest of the four – and faster than Stewart.
Sleeper: Casey Mears.
Not so fast: Greg Biffle.
Last week: Just when you think Pit box can’t get any tighter ... it does. Johnson gave Vinnie 160 points with a fifth-place finish, while Kevin Harvick picked up 142 points for Roger with an eighth-place finish. But a closer look reveals why Vinnie now leads Roger by four points – Johnson picked up five bonus points for leading a lap (12, actually); Harvick didn’t lead one.
Standings after 17 races: Vinnie, 2,328; Roger, 2,324. | | | Permalink | Comments (1) | | | | | | Fantasy experts Roger Kuznia and Vinnie Iyer pick Nextel Cup race winners.
Roger: Kevin Harvick hasn’t won since Daytona – he came close last week at Sonoma – but New Hampshire is the place for him to get back to victory lane. Harvick and the No. 29 team appear to be turning a corner with their performance, and it comes at the perfect time – Harvick ran fifth here last July and won in September. Vinnie, I’m losing sight of you in my rearview mirror.
Sleeper: Kurt Busch.
Not so fast: Kyle Busch.
Vinnie: A couple of weeks ago, I let Roger lap me and take the Pit box lead. With our battle heating up, I must go into July with the big guns blazing, and few drivers have the fire of Jimmie Johnson. He needs a big win to help his Nextel Cup championship defense, and he’ll get his third career victory at New Hampshire – and hold off Harvick, the defending Busch Series champion.
Sleeper: Ryan Newman.
Not so fast: Casey Mears.
Last week: Vinnie avoided a disaster when Jeff Gordon worked his way from 41st to a seventh-place finish. Roger's pick, Kurt Busch, finished 22nd, enabling Vinnie to cut into Roger's big lead. By the way, Roger's sleeper, Boris Said, finished ninth, despite a terrible pit stop. And his “not so fast,” red-hot Casey Mears, finished 27th. Two good calls.
Not so with Vinnie. He had the right sleeper, sort of. Robby Gordon led the most laps but his gas mileage was weak, and he finished 16th. It was his “not so fast” that really stands out, though. Harvick finished second.
Standings after 16 races: Roger, 2,182; Vinnie, 2,168.
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Roger: Say this about Kurt Busch: At least he’s more mature than his little brother. Well, not by much. I still love the guy enough to pick him to win at Infineon. Busch qualified on the pole for both road course races last season, and if he stays up front, he’ll be looking at the first Nextel Cup road course victory of his career and his first win of the season.
Sleeper: Boris Said.
Not so fast: Casey Mears.
Vinnie: This is becoming the year for Jeff Gordon, and Infineon is the track for Jeff Gordon. He has won at Sonoma in five of 14 starts, including an easy victory last year. He has made a habit of acing all kinds of venues, and the road course nestled in the rolling hills of Northern California will be the latest. The best Busch can hope for is second.
Sleeper: Robby Gordon.
Not so fast: Kevin Harvick.
Last week: After two weeks of running neck-and-neck, Roger knocked Vinnie for a loop at Michigan. Roger’s pick, Carl Edwards, posted his first victory since 2005, while Greg Biffle produced a 39th-place finish for Vinnie. The difference in their points, 195-49, enabled Roger to grab the lead.
Standings after 15 races: Roger, 2,085; Vinnie, 2,022. | | | Permalink | Comments (0) | | | | | | | |
