NASCAR Fantasy Fusion: Identity Crisis Racing at New Hampshire

Track Classification: Intermediate

Similar Tracks: Atlanta Motor Speedway • Charlotte Motorspeedway • Chicagoland Speedway   Darlington Raceway • Homestead-Miami Speedway • Kansas Speedway •  Kentucky Speedway 

Las Vegas Motor Speedway  • Texas Motor Speedway

Distance: 1.058 Miles

New Hampshire Motor Speedway is definitely a short track, but in many ways it drives like an intermediate track. Yes, it has a bit of a personality crisis. Short flat tracks like New Hampshire have a certain rhythm to them, so when picking your fantasy drivers look for the likely suspects, not your sleepers, and you should do well.

Note: As the new, new rules package continues to evolve, so may our fantasy strategy. I can't wait to see what kind of car we end up with this season going into the Chase. And I bet drivers like Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon are anxious to find out, too.

Drivers with Most Top 10s (Last 5 Years):

By Race

Both with 4 - Ryan Newman and Jimmie Johnson  

All with 3 -Clint Bowyer, Denny Hamlin, Tony Stewart, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, Brad Keselowski and Kevin Harvick 

By Track

Brad Keselowski -6
All with 4 - Matt Kenneth, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon, Brian Vickers, Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin and Ryan Newman  

Recent Pole Winners:  

2014 Kyle Busch
2013 Brad Keselowski

The Likely Suspects:  The New Hampshire elites include: Brad Keselowski, Denny Hamlin, Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch and Jimmie Johnson. When I do my final picks after qualifying and practice, I will focus on the cars that ran well, and then I'll compare that data to Phoenix International Raceway statistics since New Hampshire and Phoenix are "twins."

My 2 Cents:  My no-brainer pick this week is Brad Keselowski. My next picks are Ryan Newman, Kyle Larson, Kasey Kahne, Clint Bowyer and Jamie McMurray. I will complete my team with Danica Patrick and David Ragan.

My final four: Brad Keselowski, Kyle Larson, Clint Bowyer and David Ragan.

Enjoy the race! Post your comments here or follow me on Twitter @purplecatpr.