NASCAR Fantasy Fusion: Monster Energy Cup Series Championship Race


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

Top 10 Driver Ratings at Homestead 
Kyle Larson.............................. 108.7
Kevin Harvick........................... 108.2
Martin Truex Jr......................... 105.5
Kyle Busch................................. 99.8
Denny Hamlin............................. 96.7
Chase Elliott............................... 95.1
Jimmie Johnson.......................... 94.0
Joey Logano............................... 93.8
Brad Keselowski......................... 91.0
Ryan Newman............................ 85.3
Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2018 races (14 total) among active drivers at Homestead-Miami Speedway. SOURCE: NASCAR Media

Recent Pole Winners:  
2018 Denny Hamlin
2017 Denny Hamlin
2016 Kevin Harvick
2015 Denny Hamlin

Last Year's Race Winner: Joey Logano

The Likely Suspects: Here are my Homestead elite drivers: Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Martin Truex Jr., Joey Logano Brad Keselowski, Kyle Larson, and Jimmie Johnson.  

My 2 Cents: The weather has thrown us an interesting curve ball this weekend. I usually watch practices to hone in on whose car is not only fastest, but also seems dialed in for drivability. I'll be interested to see who opts not to use all of the full hour practice tomorrow. That kind of confidence can only be positive in the fantasy picking game!

My no-brainer pick this week is Kevin Harvick. My next picks are Kyle Larson, Ryan Newman, William Byron, Austin Dillon and Aric Almirola. I will complete my team with Chris Buescher and Ty Dillon.

My Final Four: Kevin Harvick, Austin Dillon, Aric Almirola, and Chris Buescher.

Second-Look Driver: This week's second-look driver is a tie between Jimmie Johnson and Joey Logano. Both drivers have the motivation and skill to play spoiler. Last week's second-look driver Ryan Blaney finished third at ISM Raceway. He started in 10th place and even was battling race winner Denny Hamlin on the final restart with three laps to go. Blaney started inside on the second row while Hamlin took the top lane and couldn't compete against the preferred top line. Unfortunately, Blaney fell short of the points he needed to make the championship four.

Points to Ponder:
  • Denny Hamlin leads all active drivers in wins at Homestead-Miami Speedway with two victories (2009, 2013).
  • Roush Fenway Racing leads the series in wins at Homestead-Miami with seven, followed by Joe Gibbs Racing with six.
  • Kevin Harvick leads the series in runner-up finishes with three (2003, 2008, 2015) as well as Top 10s with 16 and average finish position at Homestead-Miami Speedway with a 6.6.
  • The 2019 Championship 4 average finishing positions at Homestead-Miami Speedway are Kevin Harvick (6.6), Denny Hamlin (10.6), Martin Truex Jr. (10.8) and Kyle Busch (17.4).
    Remember, if you're playing Driver Group Game, make your picks by 8 a.m. ET on Saturday, November 16th, and your final picks by 3 p.m. ET on race day Sunday, Nov. 17th.

    Enjoy the race!
    ________

    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: Monster Energy Cup Series Championship Race NASCAR Fantasy Fusion: Monster Energy Cup Series Championship Race Reviewed by Carol D'Agostino on Friday, November 15, 2019 Rating: 5