Fantasy Auto Racing: Can-Am 500

9th race of the 2017 Monster Energy Cup Series playoffs; 3rd race of the round of 8 (Martin Truex Jr, Kyle Busch, Brad Keslowski, Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick, Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney and Chase Elliott) after this race only 4 will remain.

Playoff update – Just 2 races remain this season. Kevin Harvick’s win last week opens up the field to 4 teams who are now in the final 2 races fighting for the win, the front runner (Martin Truex Jr.) is the only one who doesn’t have a NASCAR Cup Series Championship to his name. The other three: Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch and Brad Keslowski were the only non-Jimmy Johnson winners over the last 5 years.

What: Can-Am 500

When: November 12th

Where: Phoenix International Speedway

2016 Winner: Joey Logano

Track: Phoenix International Raceway opened in 1964. It runs at 1 mile asphalt track with turns curving between 8-11 degrees. Home to the Camping World 500 and CanAm 500 later in the playoffs, the desert is surrounded by Estrella Mountains. The introduction of a dog-leg coupled with bumping up the angle slightly on two turns to allow for more side by side racing due to the speed around the turns and multi-grooves.

A Driver.

Kyle Busch. The winner of 3 races this post season finds himself at Phoenix where he has finished in the top 5 each of the last 3 races here (4^th and 2^nd last year and 3^rd earlier this year at the Camping World 500.

B Drivers.

Kyle Larson. I am obstinate about the fact that he has to come down to earth again one of these races. He has three straight wrecks/DNF culminating in his car literally catching fire last week at Texas Motor Speedway. He has a good record here with a 12^th and 3^rd place finish last year and 3^rd place finish this year.

Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images

Ryan Blaney. He finished 10^th and 8^th here last year, he finished 23^rd earlier this year, but has three straight top 10 finishes going in his favor. I think he could be a top 5 finisher down the stretch at Phoenix.

C Driver.

Daniel Suarez. 7^th here earlier this year he came back down to Earth a bit over his last 3 races after starting the playoffs with 3 top 10’s in the first 4 races. I still think he’s a solid top 12 pick this week. Erik Jones wouldn’t be a bad backup if you have some starts left over there.

Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

Dark Horse.

Ryan Newman. I am out of Kyle Larson starts so I will be using the “Ryan’s” as my B-Drivers. Newman finished 12^th here during the playoffs last year and he was the winner here earlier this year. He has seen an up and down playoff run and I’m anticipating a 12^th place finish.

Year to date stats:

A Drivers: Avg Finish 12th (31st percentile)

B Drivers: Avg Finish 15th (41st percentile)

C Drivers: Avg Finish 18th (48th percentile)

Dark Horse Drivers: Avg Finish 19th (50th percentile)