NASCAR Fantasy Fusion: 2016 Quaker State 400 at Kentucky

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

Las Vegas Motor Speedway • New Hampshire Motor • Texas Motor Speedway

Distance: 1.5 Miles

The first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race was held at Kentucky Speedway in 2011. Just when we were starting to get some statistics under our belts a repave happened, along with the lower downforce rules package this year. Alas, we may be back to the proverbial drawing board.

Drivers with Most Top 10s (Last 3 Years):

By Race

All with 5 - Kyle Busch, Matt Kenseth and Jimmie Johnson
Brad Keselowski - 4
All with 3 - Joey Logano, Kevin Harvick and Kurt Busch

By Track

All with 4 - Matt Kenseth, Kyle Busch and Jimmie Johnson
All with 3 - Kevin Harvick, Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski
    

Recent Pole Winners:

2015 Rained Out

2014 Brad Keselowski

Last Year's Race Winner: Kyle Busch

The Likely Suspects: These drivers are members of my Kentucky elite squad: Kyle Busch, Joey Logano, Kevin Harvick, Brad Keselowski, Matt Kenneth, Jimmie Johnson and Ryan Newman. 

My 2 Cents: While making your picks this week, factor in the drivers who participated in mid-June’s organizational test at the repaved and reconfigured Kentucky track: Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch, Ryan Blaney, Martin Truex Jr., Paul Menard, Kasey Kahne, Michael Annett, Jamie McMurray, Joey Logano, A.J. Allmendinger, Matt DiBenedetto, Aric Almirola, Chris Buescher and Greg Biffle. This preview may give them a slight advantage.

My no-brainer pick this week is a tie between Kyle Busch and Brad Keselowski. I will round out my team with Carl Edwards, Ryan Newman, Martin Truex Jr. and Trevor Bayne. I will complete my team with Chase Elliott and Ty Dillon.

My Final Four: Kyle Busch, Ryan Newman, Martin Truex Jr. and Chase Elliott.

Points to Ponder:

• Joe Gibbs Racing and Team Penske are tied for the series lead in wins at Kentucky with two each: Joe Gibbs Racing (2011, 2013); Team Penske (2012, 2014).
• Three different NSCS drivers have won at Kentucky Speedway: Kyle Busch (07/09/2011 and 7/11/2015), Brad Keselowski (06/30/2012 and 6/28/2014) and Matt Kenseth (6/30/2013).
• Fourteen different drivers have posted top-five finishes at Kentucky, led by Kyle Busch with four, followed by Matt Kenseth with three.   
• Kyle Busch leads the series in average finishing position at Kentucky with a 3.8.
• The deepest in the field that a race winner has started at Kentucky is 16th, by Matt Kenseth in 2013.
• Brad Keselowski leads all active drivers in the Cup Series in average starting position at Kentucky with a 5.000, followed by Kyle Busch with a 6.800.
• Brad Keselowski and Kyle Busch lead the series in wins at Kentucky with two each.  
• The most laps led in a single race by an eventual NSCS winner at Kentucky is 199 laps by Brad Keselowski in 2014.

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