The Bank of America 500
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series marches on to Charlotte Motor Speedway for the 31st race of the 2010 season, the Bank of America 500. NASCAR expert Brian Brown took a look at past performances, season trends, and spoke with NASCAR contacts to predict how the field should finish on Saturday night.
When: Saturday October 16, 2010; 7:30 p.m./et.
Weather: Sunny with a high around 71; wind out of the NNW at 7 mph There is a zero percent Chance of precipitation.
The Track: Charlotte Motor Speedway
CMS is a 1.5 mile quad-oval. It has 24 degree banking in the turns and five degree banking on the straight-aways.
Key to Race: THE TRACK THAT JOHNSON OWNS
Not only is Lowe's on the front of Jimmie Johnson's car, but it is also the former name of the track that he dominates. Johnson has finished in the top two in 11 of the last 19 races (including All-Star Challenges) at the track. It is tough to pick against J.J. this weekend.
Qualifying Procedures:
51 cars will attempt to qualify for 43 spots. Cars not in the top 35 in the 2010 owner point standings will have to qualify based on speed. Starting positions 1-43 will be determined by qualifying on Thursday, October 14 at 7:10 pm/et.
Fantasy Cheat Sheet:
Top 5
No. 48 Jimmie Johnson: Johnson has dominated Lowe's Motor Speedway in his career. He is a MUST use this week.
No. 2 Kurt Busch: Busch was awesome at CMS this spring. He is a candidate to win.
No. 18 Kyle Busch: Rowdy has been great at CMS the past two years. He will be fast again this weekend.
No. 24 Jeff Gordon: Gordon won the October race at CMS in 2007 for his fifth career win at the track. His past success at the track makes him a great option.
No. 17 Matt Kenseth: Kenseth had one of the top cars at CMS the past two races. He is a good pick.
6 to 10
No. 11 Denny Hamlin: Hamlin has been running great lately. If he can avoid an accident he is a lock to crack the top 10.
No. 9 Kasey Kahne: Kahne won the All Star Challenge and the Coca-Cola 600 at CMS in 2008. He will be fast again.
No. 5 Mark Martin: Martin has 18 top five finishes during his career at CMS. He looked strong last weekend and is worth sneaking onto your roster.
No. 20 Joey Logano: Logano has been awesome at CMS during his career. He will crack the top 10 again on Saturday.
No. 31 Jeff Burton: Burton has won three races at CMS so he knows his way around the oval. He should be the final car inside the top 10.
11 to 20
No. 29 Kevin Harvick: Harvick hasn't finished better than 11th in any full-length race at CMS since 2001. This could be the weekend that streak ends.
No. 99 Carl Edwards: Edwards has finished in the top 16 in all but two of his career starts at CMS. We like his chances on Saturday.
No. 16 Greg Biffle: Biffle had a great car during in both races at CMS in 2008, but he was average at the track the past few trips. He should be back with a top 15 finish this visit.
No. 33 Clint Bowyer: Bowyer has brought just three great cars to CMS in nine career starts. He is more of a top 15 driver this weekend than a top 10 driver.
No. 39 Ryan Newman: Newman has nine poles in 19 career starts at CMS. He should qualify strong and a top 20 finish is expected.
No. 00 David Reutimann: Reutimann has driven excellent in two of the past three races at CMS. His win in 2008 was a complete fluke, but he should be strong enough for another top 15 finish this weekend.
No. 14 Tony Stewart: CMS isn't one of Stewart's favorite tracks. He has averaged just a 17th place finish at the track during his career.
No. 42 Juan Pablo Montoya: Montoya hasn't had a ton of success at Charlotte during his career. He isn't a great choice this weekend.
No. 1 Jamie McMurray: McMurray was one of the fastest cars on the track at Charlotte this spring. He is worth using in all leagues.
No. 12 Brad Keselowski: Keselowski has cracked the top 20 in both his first trips to CMS. He is a great option this weekend.
21 to 30
No. 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Junior has finished in the top 11 in seven of his last 12 starts at CMS, but he has been mediocre for most of the past three months. He is a risky pick due to his recent struggles.
No. 56 Martin Truex Jr.: Truex has two top 10 finishes in 10 career starts at CMS. He will be doing well to crack the top 20 on Saturday.
No. 98 Paul Menard: CMS was never been a strong track for Menard, until this spring. He has some sleeper potential.
No. 6 David Ragan: Ragan has finished has averaged a 24th place at CMS during his career. We expect he will finish right around his average this weekend.
No. 77 Sam Hornish Jr.: Charlotte has been one of Hornish Jr.'s better tracks. He should crack the top 25 this weekend.
No. 43 A.J. Allmendinger: A.J. has finished in the top 20 in three of his seven career starts at CMS. He will miss the top 20 this weekend.
No. 82 Scott Speed: Speed should have his car inside the top 30 against this weekend.
No. 47 Marcos Ambrose: Ambrose continues to be mediocre this season. He is just a fair-to-middlin' pick.
No. 83 Reed Sorenson: Reed the Rocket hasn't done much since taking over the No. 83 ride. He isn't even worth taking a gamble on.
No. 19 Elliott Sadler: Sadler has been bad in eight of the last nine races at CMS. He is a risky pick this weekend.
31 to 35
No. 07 Robby Gordon: Gordon somehow stumbled and bumbled into a third place finish at CMS in the 2008 May race. He will finish about 25 spots worse this visit to CMS.
No. 10 Bobby Labonte: Labonte has been terrific at CMS during his career. If you are ever going to have the No. 10 car on your team this is the weekend.
No. 34 Travis Kvapil: Kvapil will struggle to finish inside the top 30.
No. 78 Regan Smith: Smith should be saved for those in the deepest leagues.
No. 21 Bill Elliott: Awesome Bill won't be awesome this weekend.
Field Fillers
No. 13 Casey Mears
No. 7 Kevin Conway
No. 38 David Gilliland
No. 36 J.J. Yeley
No. 26 Patrick Carpentier
No. 87 Joe Nemechek
No. 81 Scott Riggs
No. 71 Andy Lally
No. 37 Dave Blaney
No. 66 Jason Leffler
No. 55 Mike Bliss
No. 64 Jeff Green
No. 92 Brian Keselowski
No. 46 Michael McDowell
No. 09 Landon Cassill
No. 23 Johnny Sauter
Brownie's Picks
Top Four:
1. Jimmie Johnson
2. Kurt Busch
3. Kyle Busch
4. Jeff Gordon
Sleepers:
1. Joey Logano
2. Paul Menard
Bust of the Week:
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series marches on to Charlotte Motor Speedway for the 31st race of the 2010 season, the Bank of America 500. NASCAR expert Brian Brown took a look at past performances, season trends, and spoke with NASCAR contacts to predict how the field should finish on Saturday night.
When: Saturday October 16, 2010; 7:30 p.m./et.
Weather: Sunny with a high around 71; wind out of the NNW at 7 mph There is a zero percent Chance of precipitation.
The Track: Charlotte Motor Speedway
CMS is a 1.5 mile quad-oval. It has 24 degree banking in the turns and five degree banking on the straight-aways.
Key to Race: THE TRACK THAT JOHNSON OWNS
Not only is Lowe's on the front of Jimmie Johnson's car, but it is also the former name of the track that he dominates. Johnson has finished in the top two in 11 of the last 19 races (including All-Star Challenges) at the track. It is tough to pick against J.J. this weekend.
Qualifying Procedures:
51 cars will attempt to qualify for 43 spots. Cars not in the top 35 in the 2010 owner point standings will have to qualify based on speed. Starting positions 1-43 will be determined by qualifying on Thursday, October 14 at 7:10 pm/et.
Fantasy Cheat Sheet:
Top 5
No. 48 Jimmie Johnson: Johnson has dominated Lowe's Motor Speedway in his career. He is a MUST use this week.
No. 2 Kurt Busch: Busch was awesome at CMS this spring. He is a candidate to win.
No. 18 Kyle Busch: Rowdy has been great at CMS the past two years. He will be fast again this weekend.
No. 24 Jeff Gordon: Gordon won the October race at CMS in 2007 for his fifth career win at the track. His past success at the track makes him a great option.
No. 17 Matt Kenseth: Kenseth had one of the top cars at CMS the past two races. He is a good pick.
6 to 10
No. 11 Denny Hamlin: Hamlin has been running great lately. If he can avoid an accident he is a lock to crack the top 10.
No. 9 Kasey Kahne: Kahne won the All Star Challenge and the Coca-Cola 600 at CMS in 2008. He will be fast again.
No. 5 Mark Martin: Martin has 18 top five finishes during his career at CMS. He looked strong last weekend and is worth sneaking onto your roster.
No. 20 Joey Logano: Logano has been awesome at CMS during his career. He will crack the top 10 again on Saturday.
No. 31 Jeff Burton: Burton has won three races at CMS so he knows his way around the oval. He should be the final car inside the top 10.
11 to 20
No. 29 Kevin Harvick: Harvick hasn't finished better than 11th in any full-length race at CMS since 2001. This could be the weekend that streak ends.
No. 99 Carl Edwards: Edwards has finished in the top 16 in all but two of his career starts at CMS. We like his chances on Saturday.
No. 16 Greg Biffle: Biffle had a great car during in both races at CMS in 2008, but he was average at the track the past few trips. He should be back with a top 15 finish this visit.
No. 33 Clint Bowyer: Bowyer has brought just three great cars to CMS in nine career starts. He is more of a top 15 driver this weekend than a top 10 driver.
No. 39 Ryan Newman: Newman has nine poles in 19 career starts at CMS. He should qualify strong and a top 20 finish is expected.
No. 00 David Reutimann: Reutimann has driven excellent in two of the past three races at CMS. His win in 2008 was a complete fluke, but he should be strong enough for another top 15 finish this weekend.
No. 14 Tony Stewart: CMS isn't one of Stewart's favorite tracks. He has averaged just a 17th place finish at the track during his career.
No. 42 Juan Pablo Montoya: Montoya hasn't had a ton of success at Charlotte during his career. He isn't a great choice this weekend.
No. 1 Jamie McMurray: McMurray was one of the fastest cars on the track at Charlotte this spring. He is worth using in all leagues.
No. 12 Brad Keselowski: Keselowski has cracked the top 20 in both his first trips to CMS. He is a great option this weekend.
21 to 30
No. 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Junior has finished in the top 11 in seven of his last 12 starts at CMS, but he has been mediocre for most of the past three months. He is a risky pick due to his recent struggles.
No. 56 Martin Truex Jr.: Truex has two top 10 finishes in 10 career starts at CMS. He will be doing well to crack the top 20 on Saturday.
No. 98 Paul Menard: CMS was never been a strong track for Menard, until this spring. He has some sleeper potential.
No. 6 David Ragan: Ragan has finished has averaged a 24th place at CMS during his career. We expect he will finish right around his average this weekend.
No. 77 Sam Hornish Jr.: Charlotte has been one of Hornish Jr.'s better tracks. He should crack the top 25 this weekend.
No. 43 A.J. Allmendinger: A.J. has finished in the top 20 in three of his seven career starts at CMS. He will miss the top 20 this weekend.
No. 82 Scott Speed: Speed should have his car inside the top 30 against this weekend.
No. 47 Marcos Ambrose: Ambrose continues to be mediocre this season. He is just a fair-to-middlin' pick.
No. 83 Reed Sorenson: Reed the Rocket hasn't done much since taking over the No. 83 ride. He isn't even worth taking a gamble on.
No. 19 Elliott Sadler: Sadler has been bad in eight of the last nine races at CMS. He is a risky pick this weekend.
31 to 35
No. 07 Robby Gordon: Gordon somehow stumbled and bumbled into a third place finish at CMS in the 2008 May race. He will finish about 25 spots worse this visit to CMS.
No. 10 Bobby Labonte: Labonte has been terrific at CMS during his career. If you are ever going to have the No. 10 car on your team this is the weekend.
No. 34 Travis Kvapil: Kvapil will struggle to finish inside the top 30.
No. 78 Regan Smith: Smith should be saved for those in the deepest leagues.
No. 21 Bill Elliott: Awesome Bill won't be awesome this weekend.
Field Fillers
No. 13 Casey Mears
No. 7 Kevin Conway
No. 38 David Gilliland
No. 36 J.J. Yeley
No. 26 Patrick Carpentier
No. 87 Joe Nemechek
No. 81 Scott Riggs
No. 71 Andy Lally
No. 37 Dave Blaney
No. 66 Jason Leffler
No. 55 Mike Bliss
No. 64 Jeff Green
No. 92 Brian Keselowski
No. 46 Michael McDowell
No. 09 Landon Cassill
No. 23 Johnny Sauter
Brownie's Picks
Top Four:
1. Jimmie Johnson
2. Kurt Busch
3. Kyle Busch
4. Jeff Gordon
Sleepers:
1. Joey Logano
2. Paul Menard
Bust of the Week:
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
