The Coke Zero 400
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series returns to Daytona International Speedway for the 18th race of the 2010 season, the Coke Zero 400. NASCAR Fantasy Cheat Sheet took a look at past performances, practice sessions, and season trends to predict how the field should finish on Saturday.
When: Saturday, July 3; 7:49 p.m./et.
Weather: Scattered T-storms with a high around 86; wind out of the ENE at 10 mph. There is a 40% chance of precipitation.
The Track: Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Raceway is a 2.5-mile tri-oval with extreme 31 degree banking on the corners. The intense banking allows drivers to run wide-open nearly the entire way around the track. As a result of the incredible speeds NASCAR has made all Sprint Cup Series races at the track restrictor plate races. The plate on the engine limits air-intake thus reducing horsepower and slowing top-end speeds.
Key to Race: AVOID THE BIG WRECK
As is the case with all restrictor plate races the field always becomes bunched in groups. These freight-train like packs cruise around the track just inches away from each other. It takes just one car to have a flat tire or get loose to cause a massive accident. It isn't IF the big crash will happen it is WHEN. If a driver can get lucky and stay away from the inevitable carnage they have a great chance to finish inside the top 20.
Qualifying Procedures:
45 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 Friday, July 2 at 4:10 pm/et.
Fantasy Cheat Sheet:
Top 5
No. 18 Kyle Busch: Busch was awesome at Daytona in 2008 (fourth and first place finishes) but didn't quite have the same luck at the track the past three races. A top five finish won't surprise us this trip back.
No. 48 Jimmie Johnson: It is tough not to pick the four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion. He won the 2006 Daytona 500 and has been pretty dominant (nine top 10 finishes in 17 career starts) at Daytona during his career.
No. 29 Kevin Harvick: Harvick won the Budweiser Shootout at Daytona this year and should be fast on Saturday.
No. 14 Tony Stewart: Smoke has brought the fire at Daytona lately. He has won three of the last nine races at the track.
No. 2 Kurt Busch: Busch was great at Daytona in 2008 and led 33 laps during this year's Daytona 500. He is a solid pick this weekend.
6 to 10
No. 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Junior has been solid in restrictor plate races during his career and there is no track in the circuit that he wants to win at more than this one.
No. 1 Jamie McMurray: McMurray won this year's Daytona 500 and finished third in this year's Budweiser Shootout. We really like his chances on Saturday.
No. 17 Matt Kenseth: Kenseth had one of his only bright spots of the 2009 season when he won the Daytona 500. He could take the checkers again on Saturday.
No. 33 Clint Bowyer: Bowyer has cracked the top 10 in six of his eight career starts at Daytona. He should be in the top 10 once again when the checkers fly on Saturday.
No. 99 Carl Edwards: Edwards is a solid restrictor plate driver. He will be a top 10 pick.
11 to 20
No. 24 Jeff Gordon: Gordon has five career wins at Daytona, but he struggled at the track lately. He is worth using as the second driver on your team this week, but don't anchor your team around the No. 24.
No. 31 Jeff Burton: Burton has been driving well this year. He should have the No. 31 car inside the top 15 on Saturday.
No. 9 Kasey Kahne: Kahne has finished in the top 10 in three of the past six full-length races at Daytona. He is a good pick again this weekend.
No. 16 Greg Biffle: Biffle won the Pepsi 400 at Daytona in 2003 and finished third this year, but he hasn't had much luck other than those races at the famous speedway. In 15 career starts at Daytona he has just four top 10 finishes.
No. 42 Juan Pablo Montoya: Montoya hasn't had much success at Daytona so far during his career. He has averaged just a 22nd place finish at the track in the past eight races.
No. 11 Denny Hamlin: Hamlin has just one top 10 finish at Daytona during his career. There are better weekends to use the No. 11 car.
No. 5 Mark Martin: Daytona isn't a style of race that Martin cares for. We advise saving him for another race.
No. 6 David Ragan: Ragan's average finish at Daytona is 14th. This is a great weekend to use the No. 6 car as a top 20 finish should be expected.
No. 19 Elliott Sadler: Sadler has had success at Daytona in the past. He is worth using as a third or fourth driver in most fantasy teams.
No. 56 Martin Truex Jr: Truex Jr. has been a top 20 driver the past eight races at Daytona. He will keep the streak alive.
21 to 30
No. 39 Ryan Newman: Newman won the 2008 edition of the Daytona 500, but that was his last top 15 finish at the famous speedway. He isn't much more than a third driver in most fantasy leagues this weekend.
No. 20 Joey Logano: Logano has struggled so far at Daytona during his young career. He isn't a great pick.
No. 12 Brad Keselowski: Keselowski has been awful so far at Daytona. He is bound to improve soon.
No. 43 A.J. Allmendinger: Allmendinger has been fast every trip to Daytona until this year's 500. He should be back inside the top 25 this race.
No. 00 David Reutimann: Reutimann ran a great last few laps at Daytona this year. He might pull another strong finish again this trip to Florida.
No. 82 Scott Speed: Speed led 12 laps and finished 19th during the Daytona 500. He is a great sleeper pick.
No. 77 Sam Hornish Jr.: Hornish has showed a little improvement the past two months and is a borderline fantasy option.
No. 7 Robby Gordon: Gordon has cracked the top 15 in six of the last nine races at Daytona. We like his chances to crack the top 30, but we don't see him breaking into the top 15.
No. 83 Reed Sorenson: Sorenson didn't make many friends last week at New Hampshire. He isn't much a choice this week.
No. 47 Marcos Ambrose: Ambrose blew an engine early on during this year's Daytona 500. We don't quite trust his equipment this visit either.
31 to 35
No. 98 Paul Menard: Menard isn't an option this weekend. There are much better choices.
No. 71 David Gilliland: Gilliland is always a sleeper at Daytona. He is guaranteed a spot in the field and could surprise.
No. 78 Regan Smith: Smith could finish in the top 20 if he picks the right draft partners late in Saturday's race, but I guess that is the same with everyone in the field.
No. 37 Robert Richardson Jr.: The former QB for SMU doesn't have a lot of experience driving stock cars, but he is guaranteed a spot in the race. Use him at your own risk.
Field Fillers
No. 09 Bobby Labonte
No. 13 Max Papis
No. 36 Steve Park
No. 38 Travis Kvapil
No. 64 Todd Bodine
No. 87 Joe Nemechek
No. 26 David Stremme
No. 55 Michael McDowell
No. 46 J.J. Yeley
No. 66 Dave Blaney
Brownie's Picks
Top Four:
1. Kyle Busch
2. Jimmie Johnson
3. Kevin Harvick
4. Tony Stewart
Sleepers:
1. Elliott Sadler
2. David Ragan
Bust of the Week:
Mark Martin
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series returns to Daytona International Speedway for the 18th race of the 2010 season, the Coke Zero 400. NASCAR Fantasy Cheat Sheet took a look at past performances, practice sessions, and season trends to predict how the field should finish on Saturday.
When: Saturday, July 3; 7:49 p.m./et.
Weather: Scattered T-storms with a high around 86; wind out of the ENE at 10 mph. There is a 40% chance of precipitation.
The Track: Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Raceway is a 2.5-mile tri-oval with extreme 31 degree banking on the corners. The intense banking allows drivers to run wide-open nearly the entire way around the track. As a result of the incredible speeds NASCAR has made all Sprint Cup Series races at the track restrictor plate races. The plate on the engine limits air-intake thus reducing horsepower and slowing top-end speeds.
Key to Race: AVOID THE BIG WRECK
As is the case with all restrictor plate races the field always becomes bunched in groups. These freight-train like packs cruise around the track just inches away from each other. It takes just one car to have a flat tire or get loose to cause a massive accident. It isn't IF the big crash will happen it is WHEN. If a driver can get lucky and stay away from the inevitable carnage they have a great chance to finish inside the top 20.
Qualifying Procedures:
45 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 Friday, July 2 at 4:10 pm/et.
Fantasy Cheat Sheet:
Top 5
No. 18 Kyle Busch: Busch was awesome at Daytona in 2008 (fourth and first place finishes) but didn't quite have the same luck at the track the past three races. A top five finish won't surprise us this trip back.
No. 48 Jimmie Johnson: It is tough not to pick the four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion. He won the 2006 Daytona 500 and has been pretty dominant (nine top 10 finishes in 17 career starts) at Daytona during his career.
No. 29 Kevin Harvick: Harvick won the Budweiser Shootout at Daytona this year and should be fast on Saturday.
No. 14 Tony Stewart: Smoke has brought the fire at Daytona lately. He has won three of the last nine races at the track.
No. 2 Kurt Busch: Busch was great at Daytona in 2008 and led 33 laps during this year's Daytona 500. He is a solid pick this weekend.
6 to 10
No. 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Junior has been solid in restrictor plate races during his career and there is no track in the circuit that he wants to win at more than this one.
No. 1 Jamie McMurray: McMurray won this year's Daytona 500 and finished third in this year's Budweiser Shootout. We really like his chances on Saturday.
No. 17 Matt Kenseth: Kenseth had one of his only bright spots of the 2009 season when he won the Daytona 500. He could take the checkers again on Saturday.
No. 33 Clint Bowyer: Bowyer has cracked the top 10 in six of his eight career starts at Daytona. He should be in the top 10 once again when the checkers fly on Saturday.
No. 99 Carl Edwards: Edwards is a solid restrictor plate driver. He will be a top 10 pick.
11 to 20
No. 24 Jeff Gordon: Gordon has five career wins at Daytona, but he struggled at the track lately. He is worth using as the second driver on your team this week, but don't anchor your team around the No. 24.
No. 31 Jeff Burton: Burton has been driving well this year. He should have the No. 31 car inside the top 15 on Saturday.
No. 9 Kasey Kahne: Kahne has finished in the top 10 in three of the past six full-length races at Daytona. He is a good pick again this weekend.
No. 16 Greg Biffle: Biffle won the Pepsi 400 at Daytona in 2003 and finished third this year, but he hasn't had much luck other than those races at the famous speedway. In 15 career starts at Daytona he has just four top 10 finishes.
No. 42 Juan Pablo Montoya: Montoya hasn't had much success at Daytona so far during his career. He has averaged just a 22nd place finish at the track in the past eight races.
No. 11 Denny Hamlin: Hamlin has just one top 10 finish at Daytona during his career. There are better weekends to use the No. 11 car.
No. 5 Mark Martin: Daytona isn't a style of race that Martin cares for. We advise saving him for another race.
No. 6 David Ragan: Ragan's average finish at Daytona is 14th. This is a great weekend to use the No. 6 car as a top 20 finish should be expected.
No. 19 Elliott Sadler: Sadler has had success at Daytona in the past. He is worth using as a third or fourth driver in most fantasy teams.
No. 56 Martin Truex Jr: Truex Jr. has been a top 20 driver the past eight races at Daytona. He will keep the streak alive.
21 to 30
No. 39 Ryan Newman: Newman won the 2008 edition of the Daytona 500, but that was his last top 15 finish at the famous speedway. He isn't much more than a third driver in most fantasy leagues this weekend.
No. 20 Joey Logano: Logano has struggled so far at Daytona during his young career. He isn't a great pick.
No. 12 Brad Keselowski: Keselowski has been awful so far at Daytona. He is bound to improve soon.
No. 43 A.J. Allmendinger: Allmendinger has been fast every trip to Daytona until this year's 500. He should be back inside the top 25 this race.
No. 00 David Reutimann: Reutimann ran a great last few laps at Daytona this year. He might pull another strong finish again this trip to Florida.
No. 82 Scott Speed: Speed led 12 laps and finished 19th during the Daytona 500. He is a great sleeper pick.
No. 77 Sam Hornish Jr.: Hornish has showed a little improvement the past two months and is a borderline fantasy option.
No. 7 Robby Gordon: Gordon has cracked the top 15 in six of the last nine races at Daytona. We like his chances to crack the top 30, but we don't see him breaking into the top 15.
No. 83 Reed Sorenson: Sorenson didn't make many friends last week at New Hampshire. He isn't much a choice this week.
No. 47 Marcos Ambrose: Ambrose blew an engine early on during this year's Daytona 500. We don't quite trust his equipment this visit either.
31 to 35
No. 98 Paul Menard: Menard isn't an option this weekend. There are much better choices.
No. 71 David Gilliland: Gilliland is always a sleeper at Daytona. He is guaranteed a spot in the field and could surprise.
No. 78 Regan Smith: Smith could finish in the top 20 if he picks the right draft partners late in Saturday's race, but I guess that is the same with everyone in the field.
No. 37 Robert Richardson Jr.: The former QB for SMU doesn't have a lot of experience driving stock cars, but he is guaranteed a spot in the race. Use him at your own risk.
Field Fillers
No. 09 Bobby Labonte
No. 13 Max Papis
No. 36 Steve Park
No. 38 Travis Kvapil
No. 64 Todd Bodine
No. 87 Joe Nemechek
No. 26 David Stremme
No. 55 Michael McDowell
No. 46 J.J. Yeley
No. 66 Dave Blaney
Brownie's Picks
Top Four:
1. Kyle Busch
2. Jimmie Johnson
3. Kevin Harvick
4. Tony Stewart
Sleepers:
1. Elliott Sadler
2. David Ragan
Bust of the Week:
Mark Martin
