NASCAR Fantasy Fusion: Quaker State 400 at Kentucky
Las Vegas Motor Speedway • New Hampshire Motor • Texas Motor Speedway
Distance: 1.5 Miles
Drivers with Most Top 10s (Last 5 Years):
By Race & Track
Kevin Harvick - 5
All with 4 - Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski, and Joey Logano
Driver Rating Since 2011 - This factors in wins, finishes, top-15 finishes, average running position while on lead lap, average speed under green, fastest lap, led most laps and lead-lap finish. A driver can score a maximum driver rating of 150 points per race. Updated prior to the 2019 race.
SOURCE: MRN.com
By Race & Track
Kevin Harvick - 5
All with 4 - Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski, and Joey Logano
Driver Rating Since 2011 - This factors in wins, finishes, top-15 finishes, average running position while on lead lap, average speed under green, fastest lap, led most laps and lead-lap finish. A driver can score a maximum driver rating of 150 points per race. Updated prior to the 2019 race.
SOURCE: MRN.com
Rank
|
Driver
|
High Rating
|
Avg. Rating
|
1
|
Kyle Busch
|
148.4
|
124.4
|
2
|
Brad Keselowski
|
150.0
|
109.6
|
3
|
Martin Truex Jr.
|
149.0
|
105.7
|
4
|
Kevin Harvick
|
131.3
|
105.5
|
5
|
Erik Jones
|
102.7
|
99.2
|
6
|
Jimmie Johnson
|
138.8
|
95.1
|
7
|
Ryan Blaney
|
121.4
|
94.7
|
8
|
Joey Logano
|
123.3
|
91.2
|
9
|
Chase Elliott
|
104.4
|
90.5
|
10
|
Kurt Busch
|
118.5
|
89.3
|
Recent Pole Winners:
2018 Martin Truex Jr.
2017 Kyle Busch
The Likely Suspects: My traditional Kentucky go-tos are: Martin Truex Jr., Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano and Kevin Harvick.
My 2 Cents: We could very well see a very different Kentucky race on Saturday night. We not only have the new package to contend with, but also for the first time here -- traction compound. I believe our best bet is to stick with the drivers who have excelled at this track and pray that there are no additional anomalies to mess up our strategy.
My no-brainer pick this week is Martin Truex Jr. My next picks are Kyle Busch, Erik Jones, Ryan Blaney, Jimmie Johnson, and Kurt Busch. I will complete my team with Chris Buescher and Michael McDowell.
My Final Four: Martin Truex Jr., Ryan Blaney, Erik Jones, and Chris Buescher
Second-Look Driver: This week's second-look driver is William Byron. Although Byron finished 20th in his only Cup start at Kentucky last season, he does have a Truck Series win here. His last four races at 1.5-mile tracks haven't been too shabby either with a 10.8 average finish and a 9.8 average running position. Lasts week's second-look driver, Alex Bowman, had a disappointing day. He started ninth, but finished 21st. He unfortunately got caught up in the multi-car wreck on Lap 118.
Points to Ponder:
- Brad Keselowski leads the series in wins at Kentucky with three; followed by Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr. with two each.
- The first starting position is the most proficient starting position in the field producing more winners (three) than any other position on the grid.
- Brad Keselowski (2014) and Martin Truex Jr. (2018) won at Kentucky in the Monster Energy Series from the Busch pole.
- Five of the eight (62.5%) Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races at Kentucky have been won from the front row – Three from the first starting position (2011, 2014 and 2018) and two from the second starting position (2016, 2017).
- Seven of the eight (87.5%) Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races at Kentucky have been won from a top-10 starting position.
- A total of 21 different Monster Energy Series drivers have posted top-five finishes at Kentucky; led by Kyle Busch with six top fives; followed by Brad Keselowski with four.
- A total of 26 different Monster Energy Series drivers have posted top-10 finishes at Kentucky; among active drivers are Kyle Busch with seven; followed by Brad Keselowski, and Kevin Harvick with six each.
- Kyle Busch leads the series in average finishing position at Kentucky with a 5.0.
Remember, if you're playing Driver Group Game, make your picks by 8 a.m. ET on Fri., July 12th, and your final picks by 7:30 p.m. ET on race day Sat., July 13th.
Enjoy the race! Post your comments here or follow me on Twitter @purplecatpr.
________
Carol D’Agostino wields fantasy-racing superpowers. Each week, Carol researches statistics and combs through her personal racing notes to provide fans with fantasy racing advice at NASCAR Fantasy Fusion, a column she has written for Skirts & Scuffs since October 2011. Carol also does race coverage for Skirts & Scuffs at Richmond Raceway, and occasionally at her home track, Dover International Speedway. This year she joins the NASCAR Expert Picks panel at
________

Fantasy Racing Cheat Sheet When she isn’t crunching numbers, you’ll find Carol in business meetings or hammering out a news release or creating a marketing strategy at a small niche public relations firm she founded called Purple Cat.
NASCAR Fantasy Fusion: Quaker State 400 at Kentucky
Reviewed by Carol D'Agostino
on
Thursday, July 11, 2019
Rating:
