Fantasy NASCAR: Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Brickyard

Race Information

Race: Big Machine Vodka 400

Laps: 160

Date: September 9^th

Venue: Indianapolis Motor Speedway

2017 Winner: Kasey Kahne (3:39:00)

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

Most Wins: Jeff Gordon (5)

Course:

Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Opened in 1909 (yes you read that right), this asphalt/brick 2.5 mile oval track really allows the racers to open up a bit. It has 9 degree banking on its turns and is good old open racing. This track, which can hold over 250,000 spectators (the highest capacity sports venue in the world) is the first to be called a “speedway”.

Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images

Favorites

1) Joey Logano (7^th selection this year). Clearly one of my favorites, I want to save some Logano shares for the playoffs but he has an average of 5^thplace finish at Indianapolis Motor Speedway over the last four years (always finishing in the top 7). He comes into the last regular season race with three consecutive top 10 finishes (including a 2^ndplace finish at Darlington last week).

2) Kevin Harvick (4th selection this year). He has an average finish of 7^th place with no finish outside the top 10 in the last four years. Harvick has been sink or swim (according to his elite standards this season) with five top five finishes to go with two tenth place finishes over his last seven races. I think he is a top five finisher this week.

High Risk/High Reward

3) Matt Kenseth (2^nd selection this year). With an average 5^th place finish, Matt has become the staple of consistency at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. With that said, he has not finished in the top 10 across nine races this year so hopefully something gives during the last regular season race.

4) Daniel Suarez (3^rd selection this year). He finished 7^th here as a rookie last year; however, his recent races have not been as optimistic with no finishes in the top 10 in his last three races. It is par for the course though, as he struggled at the previous Bristol and Darlington races last year, he should rebound well at Indianapolis.

Dark Horse

5) Chris Buescher (3rd selection this year). After a 13^th place finish last week, I’m doubling down on Chris who finished 14^th here as a rookie in 2016 and then 9^th here last year.

2018 Stats

Favorites: avg finish 11^th (28th percentile)

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

Dark Horse: avg finish 19th place (50^th percentile)

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.