NASCAR Fantasy Fusion: Indy season closer

Drivers with Most Top 10s (Last Five Years):
By Race
Kevin Harvick - 5
All with 4 -  Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano and Kyle Busch  
Both with 3 - Brad Keselowski and Kyle Larson

Driver Rating - Top 10 (Since 2005 to Present)
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: NASCAR Statistics


Recent Pole Winners:
2018 Rained Out
2017 Kyle Busch
2016 Kyle Busch

Last Year's Race Winner: Brad Keselowski

The Likely Suspects: Although I think we can expect some bold moves this weekend, I do believe sticking to the Indy elites will reap the best outcomes for fantasy players. Here are my Indy go-tos: Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick, Brad Keselowski, Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano, Kyle Larson, Jimmie Johnson and Erik Jones.

My 2 Cents: I can't believe we are at the end of the regular season. This race should be packed with action as the racers on the bubble try to race their way into the playoffs. One or two of them can only hope for a win to make it in. My no-brainer pick this week is Kyle Busch. My next picks are Kevin Harvick, Daniel Suarez, Clint Bowyer, Jimmie Johnson, and Ryan Newman. I will complete my team with Michael McDowell and Chris Buescher.

My Final Four: Kyle Busch, Ryan Newman, Jimmie Johnson, and Chris Buescher.

Second-Look Driver: This week's second-look driver is Daniel Hemric. Although this is Daniel inaugural Cup race at Indy he is pretty good at Pocono which is a good indication of how he may run at Indy. In Pocono's July race he finished in seventh and in June he finished 13th. Last week's second-look driver Alex Bowman had an average day at Darlington. He started 16th on the grid, and raced in the top 15 for most of the time. That is until he hit the wall with 20 laps to go. When the checkered flag waved he ultimately finished in 18th.

Points to Ponder:
  • Kevin Harvick (2003, 2014) and Kyle Busch (2016, 2017) lead all active drivers in poles at Indianapolis with two each.
  • Jimmie Johnson leads all active series drivers in wins at Indianapolis with four victories (2006, 2008, 2009, 2012)
  • Kyle Busch is the only other active driver with multiple wins (2015, 2016)
  • Jimmie Johnson (2008-09) and Kyle Busch (2015-16) are the only two drivers to win consecutive Monster Energy Series races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
  • The pole position is the most prolific starting positions in the field, producing four winners - more than any other starting position. 
  • Six of the 25 (24%) Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races at Indianapolis have been won from the front row: four from the pole and two from second place.
  • Hendrick Motorsports leads the series in wins at Indianapolis in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series with 10, followed by Joe Gibbs Racing (five) and Richard Childress Racing (three).
  • Kyle Busch leads all active Monster Energy Series drivers in runner-up finishes with two. Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick lead all active drivers in top fives with six each.   
  • Kevin Harvick leads all active series drivers in top 10s at Indianapolis with 12.
  • Daniel Suarez leads the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in average finishing position at Indianapolis with a 7.0 in one start.
Remember, if you're playing Driver Group Game, make your picks by 8 a.m. EST on race day Sunday, September 8th, and your final picks by 2 p.m. EST the same day.

Enjoy the race!
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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 in 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: Indy season closer NASCAR Fantasy Fusion: Indy season closer Reviewed by Carol D'Agostino on Friday, September 06, 2019 Rating: 5