Fantasy NASCAR: Pocono 400

The rules I have implemented for myself are:
1.I will not pick a driver more than 10 times this season.
2.Due to #1 these are “Power Rankings” (in quotations) I’m looking for value here.

My general format for my power rankings:
•Top 2 picks will generally be the favorites, the ones who should be top 5 or top 10 finishes.
• #3 and #4 will be your riskier picks, could be top 5 or bottom 15.
• Pick #5 is the dark horse.

Race Information
Race: Pocono 400
Laps: 160
Date: June 3rd
Venue: Pocono Raceway
2017 Winner: Ryan Blaney (2:48:40)
Broadcast: Fox (Darrel Waltrip & Jeff Gordon)

Course: Pocono Raceway -built in 1969 and opened in 1971, this 2.5 mile asphalt triangle is best known for it’s distinctive non-oval or circular shape. Turn one (14 degrees) is modeled after Trenton Speedway, turn two (8 degrees) after Indianapolis Motor Speedway and turn three (6 degrees) is after the Milwaukee Mile. Due to the different angles and styles, drivers have to make constant adjustments for each turn, mental fortitude is a must here.

Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images

Power Rankings
Favorites
1) Chase Elliot (4th selection this year). 8th here last year and 4th here in 2016, Chase has a handful of 11th and 12th place finishes lately and I think he cracks the top ten AND five this week at the Poconos.

2) Kurt Busch (4th selection this year). He has now finished in the top 10 in four consecutive races as he has worked his way up to 6th in the Monster Energy Cup Rankings. He won here in 2016 and finished fourth last year.

High Risk/High Reward
3) Ryan Blaney (3rd selection this year) After back to back wrecks, Ryan goes to Pocono where he won last year and finished 10th in his rookie year in 2016.

4) Erik Jones (1st selection this year). He has only had one top 15 finish in his last four races but as a rookie he finished third here last year after similar struggles in the races leading up to the Pocono. He could be a good value pick here.

Dark Horse
5) Ricky Stenhouse (2nd selection this year). He is sitting middle of the pack in most finishes lately and I think he’s due for a top ten finish where he finished 11th last year.

Average Finish:
Favorites: avg finish 11th (29th percentile)
High Risk/High Reward: avg finish 16th (42nd percentile)
Dark Horse: avg finish 19th (50th percentile)