NASCAR Fantasy Fusion: At the Monster Mile

By Carol D'Agostino

Drivers with Most Top 10s (Last 5 Years):
By Race
Martin Truex Jr. - 4
All with 3 - Kyle Larson, Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick, Brad Keselowski and Clint Bowyer

By Track
Both with 7 - Martin Truex Jr. and Jimmie Johnson
All with 6 - Kyle Larson, Matt Kenseth, Joey Logano, Brad Keselowski and Kyle Busch
Kevin Harvick - 5

Recent Pole Winners:  
2017 Kyle Busch
2016 Rained Out
2015 Denny Hamlin

Last Year's Race Winner: Jimmie Johnson

The Likely Suspects: Dover International Speedway is a challenging track, and it happens to be my home track. These Dover elites have a knack for good finishes at Dover: Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr., Kyle Larson, Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick and Brad Keselowski.

My 2 Cents:  My no-brainer pick this week is Kyle Busch. He runs well at Dover, and he's got momentum. My next picks are Kyle Larson, Clint Bowyer, Daniel Suarez, Chase Elliott and Ryan Newman. I will complete my team with Michael McDowell and Chris Buescher.

Second-Look Driver: This week's second-look driver is Bubba Wallace, who is no stranger to Dover. He won from the pole position in the 2011 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race. Then in 2012, Wallace won his first pole position and finished 12th in NASCAR’s national series at the age of 18. In 2016, he finished second in the Xfinity Series race at Dover.

Last week's second-look driver Trevor Bayne had a disappointing day at Talladega. He finished in 38th place after getting caught up in a wreck on Lap 72 involving five other cars. Joining Bayne in the garage were Erik Jones and Kyle Larson.

My Final Four: Kyle Busch, Ryan Newman, Daniel Suarez and Chris Buescher.

Points to Ponder:
  • Hendrick Motorsports has the most wins at Dover in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series with 19.
  • Nine different manufacturers have won in the MENCS at Dover, led by Chevrolet with 39 victories, followed by Ford with 25 and Toyota with five.
  • The second-place starting position is the most proficient starting position in the field, producing more winners (17) than any other starting spot at Dover International Speedway. 
  • Fifty-seven percent of the Monster Energy Series winners at Dover start in the top five.
  • Ryan Newman leads all active drivers in Busch poles at Dover with four.
  • Two active drivers have posted consecutive poles at Dover: Ryan Newman (fall 2005 and spring 2006), and Denny Hamlin (fall 2012 and spring 2013).
  •  A total of 35 different Monster Energy Series drivers have won at Dover, led by Jimmie Johnson with 11 wins (2002 sweep, 2005 Playoffs, 2009 sweep, 2010 Playoffs, Spring of 2012, 2013 Playoffs, Spring of 2014, Spring of 2015 and Spring of 2017).
  • Kyle Busch leads all active drivers in runner-up finishes at Dover with four.  
  • Jimmie Johnson leads all active drivers in top-five finishes at Dover with 17 as well as in top 10s with 23. 
  • Chase Elliott (four starts) leads all active drivers in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in average finishing position at Dover with a 3.3.
    Remember, if you're playing Driver Group Game, make your picks by 8 a.m. ET on Friday, May 4, and pick your starters by 2 p.m. ET on race day, Sunday, May 6.

    Enjoy the race! Post your comments here or follow me on Twitter @purplecatpr.
    NASCAR Fantasy Fusion: At the Monster Mile NASCAR Fantasy Fusion: At the Monster Mile Reviewed by Carol D'Agostino on Thursday, May 03, 2018 Rating: 5