NASCAR Cash Game and GPP Picks: Sonoma
I hope everyone had an amazing Father’s Day. I know I’m excited that NASCAR is back this week, and I just want to say “thank you” to everybody for the kind words after my big week two weeks ago. I can’t wait to be at the race in Daytona next weekend, and will have my article up Saturday morning. I’m running way behind on the article this week, my best friend is getting married this weekend, and I have been the muscle moving everything.
This week is a lot different than most, as we head to Sonoma for one of two road course races this season. This race is only 110 laps, and will be much different than the last few races. Nailing start/finish differential, pass differential, and laps led will be huge this weekend.
Cash Game Drivers
Jeff Gordon – Traveling back to his home state this weekend, Gordon will be making his 23rd start here. In 22 career races, Gordon has 18 top-tens and 14 top-fives. Gordon ranks in the top five among active drivers in Average Running Position, Driver Rating, Fastest Laps, Average Green Flag Speed, Laps in the Top 15, and Quality Passes. Gordon will start fifth this week, and will try to continue his dominance at this track.
Carl Edwards – Edwards did us a huge favor on Saturday, and will be starting 14th on Sunday afternoon. Edwards has already picked up a win in 2015, and will be hungry to pick up another win this weekend. Edwards has 3 top-three finishes in his last four races here and picked up the win at this event last season. Comparing road courses isn’t a bad idea this weekend, and looking at Watkins Glen, Edwards has four top-five finishes in his last six races. Not a lot of talk about Edwards this week, but he’s one of my favorites to win this weekend.
AJ Allmendinger – Allmendinger should be the highest owned driver in all formats this weekend. He started second at this race last year and went on to lead 35 laps before some late-race issues. He’s one of few that has raced both NASCAR type cars and open wheeled cars like Indy. He has a lot going for him this weekend and was the race winner at Watkins Glen last season. This is one of two chances to pick up a win for this team, and I like his chances to rack up laps led right from the drop of the green flag.
Tournament Style Drivers
Martin Truex Jr. – A lot of people will target Kurt Busch this weekend, and I think it’s a really solid pick. With that said, I’m liking Truex Jr. a lot more than Busch this weekend. Truex Jr. is starting 12th this weekend and started 14th when he won this event in 2013. He’s having a career season, and this team is completely locked in right now. He had a fast car in Happy Hour practice and has a ton of upside starting 12th compared to Busch starting second.
Kasey Kahne – Kahne has some really solid performances at Sonoma in the last six years. He started 30th and finished sixth last year, and has four top-tens with a win in the last six races. Kahne struggled in qualifying on Saturday, and will be starting 26th this weekend. He has strong potential for pass differential and finish differential. He’s presenting a lot of upside at his price and is one of my top targets for GPPs this weekend.
Austin Dillon – I think Clint Bowyer is a fantastic option this weekend, and I will have some exposure to him. I expect him to be highly owned at his price this weekend, and Dillon to be overlooked for $100 less. Dillon struggled in qualifying this weekend and really did us a huge favor, providing a ton of upside outside of Allmendinger and Bowyer. He started 26th at Sonoma last season and was able to run good and finish 17th. We have seen similar results from him at Watkins Glen, he started 31st and finished 16th. I don’t expect a lot of people to be on him this weekend, and he’s my top value play for GPPs.
Daytona is my home track and is a track I’ve been going to my whole life. I will have a much more detailed article next week, and will be live tweeting from the pPits on Sunday for the race. As always, if you guys have any questions, I will do my best to answer them before the green flag drops.