NASCAR By The Numbers: Good Sam 500
NASCAR is staying out west for the Good Sam 500 at Phoenix Raceway, aka the Kevin Harvick 500, like I said in the Daily Fantasy Pitstop.
In all honesty, I’m going to be on a different page than a lot of the other NASCAR guys this weekend. I’m going to be really right or really wrong this weekend.
Don’t forget to check out our new Starting Position Page before setting your lineups!
Kevin Harvick – $10,800 – Starting 18th – I think Harvick is so important this weekend, for the first time I’m putting a driver in my article and my video. Harvick starting this far back, is a lock for my cash game lineup this weekend, and I want 90% exposure to him in my GPP lineups. Harvick has won seven times here, and he’s won four of the last five races. He has led 855 of 1,155 over the last four races here. In November of 2012, Harvick started 19th and won the race.
Brad Keselowski – $9,700 – Starting 19th – This is shaping up a lot with what happened last November for Keselowski. They struggled in qualifying last November, and he started the race from 18th. He finished with a 9th place finish, and I really like his chances for a top ten again this weekend. Keselowski comes in with the second highest average running position over the last six races here, and I’m expecting him and Harvick to move up fast on Sunday.
Joey Logano – $9,900 – Starting 9th – I’m building my teams around Harvick and Penske guys this weekend. I will have some exposure to JGR in GPPs this weekend, but I’m sticking to my gut with Penske in cash games. Logano comes in with five straight top ten finishes, and the third highest average running position over the last six races. Since joining Penske, Logano has greatly improved at this track, and he comes in with the fifth highest driver rating over the last three years.
Ryan Newman – $7,500 – Starting 20th – The thing about starting towards the back, you have to be able to pass at this track. Newman comes in with the third highest quality pass percentage, and should have no trouble moving up here. He’s finished 11th or better in all four races here since joining RCR, and is coming off an 11th place in November after starting 22nd. I really like Newman for place differential this weekend, and I think he’s in play in all formats.
Value Plays
Ty Dillon – $5,400 – Starting 28th – Dillon is going to be a very popular value play this weekend, and it’s for good reason. He already has the best equipment out of these 5k options, and now he’s starting towards the back. He has four straight top tens in the XFINITY series at Phoenix, and will be sharing ideas with teammate Kevin Harvick. I really like him for cash games this weekend, and I think he’s a great option for GPPs as well.
Danica Patrick – $6,000 – Starting 36th – Since I used Harvick in my video and the article, I figured I would write up one more play. Patrick has been decent or bad at Phoenix, but I can’t overlook where she’s starting this week. She has finished 26th or better in three straight races, but she finished 33rd or worse in the three races before that. I think she’s a great GPP option this weekend, and I wouldn’t be shocked if she gets +10 place differential this week.