NASCAR Fantasy Fusion: KOBALT 400 at Las Vegas

By Carol D'Agostino

Drivers with Most Top 10s:

By Race and Track

Dale Earnhardt Jr. - 5
Both with 4 -  Brad Keselowski and Jimmie Johnson
All with 3 - Joey Logano, Paul Menard, Kasey Kahne, Ryan Newman, Kevin Harvick and Matt Kenseth 

2016 Race Winner: Brad Keselowski

Recent Pole Winners:

2016 Kurt Busch
2015 Jeff Gordon

The Likely Suspects: When you combine an intermediate track with low downforce you may as well call it the "Brad/Joey effect." Of course, Paul Menard may have something to say about that. In addition to those three drivers, expect these Las Vegas intermediate elites to run well this weekend: Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne, Ryan Newman, Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr., Ryan Blaney and Matt Kenseth.

My 2 Cents: My no-brainer pick this week is Brad Keselowski. My next choices are Joey Logano, Paul Menard, Ryan Blaney, Austin Dillon and Kasey Kahne. I will round out my team with Erik Jones and Ty Dillon.

My Final Four: Brad Keselowski, Ryan Blaney, Austin Dillon and Erik Jones

Points to Ponder:

• Roush Fenway Racing leads the series in wins at Las Vegas with seven; followed by Hendrick Motorsports with five; Joe Gibbs Racing, Team Penske and Stewart-Haas Racing with two each; Chip Ganassi Racing with one.
• Las Vegas native Kyle Busch became the first and only driver to win from the pole, in 2009.
• Eleven different Monster Energy drivers have won at LVMS, led by Jimmie Johnson with four (2005, 2006, 2007 and 2010).
• Three active drivers have multiple Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series wins at Las Vegas: Jimmie Johnson (four), Matt Kenseth (three), and Brad Keselowski (two).
• Two active drivers have won consecutive races at Las Vegas: Matt Kenseth (2003, 2004) and Jimmie Johnson -- the only driver to win three consecutive races (2005, 2006 and 2007).
• Only three of the 19 LVMS races (15.8%) have been won from the front row: Kyle Busch, 2009 (pole); Carl Edwards, 2008 (outside pole); Brad Keselowski, 2014 (outside pole).

Remember if you are playing Yahoo! Fantasy Auto Racing your pick deadline is Friday, March 10 at 5 a.m. EST.

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