NASCAR Fantasy Fusion: 1st race to the Chase - Chicagoland



Track Classification: Intermediate
Similar Tracks: Atlanta Motor Speedway • Charlotte Motor Speedway • Darlington Raceway  Homestead-Miami Speedway • Kansas Speedway • Kentucky Speedway
Las Vegas Motor Speedway  • New Hampshire Motor Speedway • Texas Motor Speedway
Distance: 1.5 Miles

Drivers with Most Top 10s (Last 5 Years):
By Race
Tony Stewart - 5
Both with 4 -  Jimmie Johnson, Ryan Newman and Clint Bowyer 
Kasey Kahne - 3

By Track
Both with 4 - Tony Stewart and Clint Bowyer
All with 3 -  Kasey Kahne, Ryan Newman and Jimmie Johnson

Recent Pole Winners:
2012 Jimmie Johnson
2011 Matt Kenseth

The Likely Suspects: This race will set the tone for the Chase. It will be interesting to see if the Chase drivers will take the spotlight or if non-Chase drivers will be the spoilers. Look for the following drivers to run well this week:  Jimmie Johnson, Ryan Newman, Clint Bowyer and Kyle Busch.

My 2 Cents: This week has been a wild emotional roller coaster ride filled with conspiracy theories and penalties effecting who is in, and who is out. My no-brainer pick this week is Ryan Newman. He consistently runs well at Chicagoland, and he has the momentum coming in due to end-of-the-race dominance at Richmond and NASCAR's penalties to Michael Waltrip Racing that secured his wild card entry into the Chase. Martin Truex Jr., who became the odd man out due to the same infraction, is my next pick. Martin runs well at intermediate tracks and definitely has something to prove this week.

I will be rounding out my team with Dale Earnhardt Jr., Aric Almirola, Clint Bowyer, Kasey Kahne, A.J. Allmendinger and Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. Keep in mind that if you have Jimmie Johnson and Kyle Busch starts left, you may want to consider either of them carefully.

Enjoy the race and hang on because this Chase has made history even before it officially started!
Post your comments here or email me at ssfantasyracing@skirtsandscuffs.com.
NASCAR Fantasy Fusion: 1st race to the Chase - Chicagoland NASCAR Fantasy Fusion: 1st race to the Chase - Chicagoland Reviewed by Carol D'Agostino on Thursday, September 12, 2013 Rating: 5