NASCAR Fantasy Fusion: Crowning the 2017 champion at Homestead

By Carol D'Agostino

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

By Race

Kevin Harvick - 5

All with 4 - Matt Kenseth, Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch and Jimmie Johnson
All with 3 - Joey Logano, Brad Keselowski and Clint Bowyer

By Track

Kevin Harvick -9
Both with 7 - Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kyle Busch
All with 6 - Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin and Kurt Busch

Recent Pole Winners:  

2016 Kevin Harvick
2015 Denny Hamlin

Last Year's Race Winner: Jimmie Johnson

The Likely Suspects: With this being the last race of the season and with a championship on the line the excitement, particularly at the end of stages one and two, will be epic. I will focus my picks on my Homestead go-tos: Kevin Harvick, Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch, Jimmie Johnson, Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski.  

My 2 Cents: My no-brainer pick at Homestead is a repeat offender from last week: the laser focused Kevin Harvick. He has an amazing record at Homestead and his eye on the championship. My next pick has to be Martin Truex Jr. My next picks are Jamie McMurray, Clint Bowyer, Ryan Newman and Chase Elliott. I will complete my team with Ty Dillon and David Ragan. 

My Final Four: Kevin Harvick, Jamie McMurray, Chase Elliott and Ty Dillon

Points to Ponder:

• Playoff contenders have won 10 of the 13 (75%) previous Playoff races at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Two non-Playoff drivers have won the Homestead-Miami Playoff race: Greg Biffle (2004 and 2006) and Denny Hamlin (2013).      
• Roush Fenway Racing leads the series in Playoff race wins at Homestead-Miami Speedway with six, including five consecutive: Greg Biffle (2004 – 2006), Matt Kenseth (2007) and Carl Edwards (2008). 
• A total of 14 different drivers have won a Coors Light Pole Award at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Among active drivers Kurt Busch, Jimmie Johnson and Kasey Kahne lead with two each. 
• There have been 12 different Monster Energy NASCAR Series race winners at Homestead-Miami Speedway; with four of the 12 having multiple wins. Denny Hamlin is the only active driver among them with two wins.
• 12 of the 18 (66.7%) Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races at Homestead-Miami have been won from a starting position inside the top 10 – most recently – Kyle Busch (third starting position; 2015). 
• A total of 15 different MENCS drivers have finished runner-up at Homestead-Miami Speedway, led by Kevin Harvick with three second-place finishes; followed by Jimmie Johnson with two.  
• A total of 35 different MENCS drivers have finished in the top-five at Homestead-Miami. Among active drivers Kevin Harvick leads with eight top fives; followed by Jimmie Johnson with five. 
• A total of 52 different MENCS drivers have finished in the top-10 at Homestead-Miami. Among active drivers Kevin Harvick leads with 14 top 10s; followed by Jimmie Johnson with 11. 
• Kevin Harvick leads the series in average finish position at Homestead-Miami Speedway with a 6.938

Remember, if you're playing Yahoo! Fantasy Auto Racing, your pick deadline is Friday, November 17, at 5 a.m. EST.

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