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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.
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Power Rankings
Favorites
1) Brad Keslowski (4th 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 6th in 2015). He has four top ten finishes in his last six races.
2) Erik Jones (2nd selection this year). Fresh off three consecutive top ten finishes culminating in his first win last week he goes to Kentucky where he finished 6th last year.
"HOW BOUT THAT RACE, BOYS AND GIRLS?"@Erik_Jones was in disbelief and ecstatic. His first @NASCAR Cup Series win comes Saturday night at @DISUpdates! #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/NqKUygX8gg
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) July 8, 2018
High Risk/High Reward
3) Jamie McMurray (5th 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 (7th place both of the last two years) .
Here ya go! pic.twitter.com/Sug4L9DNY5
— Chip Ganassi Racing (@CGRTeams) July 12, 2018
4) Ryan Newman (4th selection this year). Every other year he does well at Kentucky. 2014 (3rd), 2015 (20th), 2016 (3rd), 2017 (22nd) so surely he’ll be third again this year right? He is starting to get back on track after six consecutive finishes above 20th (his last two have been in the top 15).
Dark Horse
5) David Ragan (1st selection this year) some accidents aided him in a 15th place finish last week. He comes to Kentucky where he finished 18th, 22ndand 24th over the last few years. For a deep flier he could be a top 20 finisher.
Let's get David Ragan and the #38 team up front
— Ann Hollis (@AnnHollis68) July 8, 2018
Poll
Which car manufacturer wins Quaker State?
This poll is closed
-
40%
Toyota
-
40%
Ford
-
20%
Chevrolet
Average Finish:
Favorites: avg finish 11th (29th percentile)
High Risk/High Reward: avg finish 17th (44thpercentile)
Dark Horse: avg finish 20th (54th percentile)