Fantasy NASCAR: Quaker State 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: Quaker State 400 presented by Walmart

Laps: 267

Date: July 14th

Venue: Kentucky Speedway

2017 Winner: Martin Truex Jr. (2:57:55)

Broadcast: NBSCN (Dale Earnhardt Jr., Steve Letarte, Jeff Burton)

Most Wins: Brad Keslowski (5)

Course: Kentucky Speedway. Opened in 2000, this 1.5 mile asphalt tri-oval speedway hosts the Quaker State 400 each year for the Monster Energy Cup Series. It has 4 turns with the first two at a 17 degree banking and the last two at a 14 degree banking. Side note - I don’t feel like this race gets a ton of notoriety but I really enjoy the optics of the course and racing on it, tends to be a competitive consumer oriented race.

Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images

Power Rankings

Favorites

1) Brad Keslowski (4^th selection this year). He has the most wins at Kentucky and outside of his wreck last year, his recent track record (1st in 2016 and 6^th in 2015). He has four top ten finishes in his last six races.

2) Erik Jones (2^nd selection this year). Fresh off three consecutive top ten finishes culminating in his first win last week he goes to Kentucky where he finished 6^th last year.

High Risk/High Reward

3) Jamie McMurray (5^th selection this year). A spotty recent record (three top 15 finishes and two above 30 in his last five races) has me nervous. He has a good track record here (7^th place both of the last two years) .

4) Ryan Newman (4^th selection this year). Every other year he does well at Kentucky. 2014 (3^rd), 2015 (20^th), 2016 (3^rd), 2017 (22^nd) so surely he’ll be third again this year right? He is starting to get back on track after six consecutive finishes above 20^th (his last two have been in the top 15).

Dark Horse

5) David Ragan (1st selection this year) some accidents aided him in a 15^th place finish last week. He comes to Kentucky where he finished 18^th, 22^ndand 24^th over the last few years. For a deep flier he could be a top 20 finisher.

Average Finish:

Favorites: avg finish 11th (29th percentile)

High Risk/High Reward: avg finish 17th (44thpercentile)

Dark Horse: avg finish 20th (54th percentile)