NASCAR Fantasy Fusion: Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond

by Carol D'Agostino

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

By Race

Brad Keselowski - 4
All with 3 - Kevin Harvick, Jamie McMurray, Kurt Busch, Clint Bowyer, Ryan Newman, Joey Logano and Matt Kenseth

By Track
Joey Logano - 8
Kurt Busch - 7

All with 6 - Kevin Harvick, Martin Truex Jr. and Matt Kenseth     

Both with 5 - Jamie McMurray and Brad Keselowski
All with 4 -Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Ryan Newman, Aric Almirola, Jimmie Johnson and 

Clint Bowyer  

Recent Pole Winners:

2016 Denny Hamlin
2015 Joey Logano

Last Year's Race Winner: Denny Hamlin

The Likely Suspects: As the regular season draws to a close, the drama will intensify. Your fantasy picks this week will be an interesting concoction of part desperados and part elite, making for an interesting night race on Saturday. Look for these drivers to run well: Kevin Harvick, Jamie McMurray, Brad Keselowski, Kurt Busch, Ryan Newman, Matt Kenseth and Kyle Busch. Joey Logano and Clint Bowyer usually run well here, but this season I am not as confident in their potential performances.

My 2 Cents: My no brainer pick this week is Kevin Harvick. My next choices are Kyle Busch, Ryan Newman, Jamie McMurray, Kurt Busch and Aric Almirola. I'll complete my team with Michael McDowell and Daniel Suarez.

My Final Four: Kevin Harvick, Ryan Newman, Kurt Busch and Michael McDowell.

Points to Ponder:

• The pole starting position is the most proficient starting spot in the field, producing more winners than any other at Richmond (24). 
• Denny Hamlin leads all active drivers in poles at Richmond with three (2006, 2008 and 2016).
• Petty Enterprises has the most wins at Richmond in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series with 15, followed by Joe Gibbs Racing with 12, Hendrick Motorsports with 10, and Richard Childress Racing with nine.
• More than three-quarters (96 of 122) of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup races at Richmond Raceway have been won from a top-10 starting position.
• Only five active MENCS drivers have won from the pole: Kasey Kahne (2005), Jimmie Johnson (2007), Kyle Busch (2010), Brad Keselowski (2014) and Denny Hamlin (2016). 
• Kyle Busch leads all active drivers in the MENCS in average finishing position at Richmond International Raceway with a 7.333 as well as in runner-up finishes, top-five finishes and top-10 finishes.
• Trailing Kyle Busch in runner-up finishes are Dale Earnhardt Jr., Denny Hamlin, Kurt Busch, Kevin Harvick and Ryan Newman with two each, while Kevin Harvick (12) and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (10) follow Kyle in top-five finishes.
• Kevin Harvick leads all active drivers in top-10 finishes at Richmond with 21, followed by Kyle Busch and Ryan Newman (17 each).

Remember, if you're playing Yahoo! Fantasy Auto Racing, your pick deadline is Friday, September 8, at 5 a.m. EDT.

I'll be covering the race weekend at Richmond for Skirts and Scuffs. Check back for my articles and visit our Facebook page to see my photos.

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