Yahoo! Qualification Story – Indy

Indianapolis Motor Speedway is one of the most weather sensitive tracks on the circuit and that means winners can come from anywhere in the field. Pole sitters are also not always the best value as you will see in this week's Yahoo! Qualification story (.pdf).

Yahoo! Indy Preview

Indy quickly became one of the most anticipated races of the season when it was added to the schedule 17 years ago. This week, nothing takes the place of winning and that is the same for fantasy owners as it is for Cup drivers. Check out this week's Yahoo! Fantasy Racing preview (.pdf).

Night Race Favorites Emerging as NASCAR Schedule Approaches Atlanta

Small Group of Drivers Performing Exceptionally Well in 2010 Night Races


From: Atlanta PR

HAMPTON, Ga. (July 15, 2010) – Breaking down the numbers from 2010 NASCAR night races reveals a clear class of contenders for Atlanta Motor Speedway’s Labor Day NASCAR night racing weekend.

Jeff Gordon, Carl Edwards and David Reutimann have outperformed the field in 2010 night races based on their average finishes. And while the trio has just one combined win in night races – Reutimann’s victory in the most-recent evening race at Chicago – their consistently strong night race finishes may make them instant favorites entering Atlanta’s Sept. 5 race date.

Despite failing to win an event thus far in 2010, Gordon has been near unmatched in the year’s night races, posting an average finish of 3.3 and finishing no worse than sixth in the six evening affairs. With four top-three finishes in 2010 night events and four-career wins in Atlanta, Gordon should enter Atlanta Motor Speedway with high expectations for a race he finished eighth in a year ago.

Like Gordon, Edwards has been held winless in the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, yet has been exceptional in races held at night. Edwards has an average finish at night of 8.5 and has twice finished in the top-five positions, with his best showing a second-place in last weekend’s night contest in Chicago. Also like Gordon, Edwards has a history of success at Atlanta Motor Speedway, further making the Missouri native more likeable on Labor Day Weekend; Edwards has three Sprint Cup Series wins in Atlanta, included his first ever.

Having just claimed his first victory of 2010 in last week’s night race, David Reutimann has had tremendous success in 2010’s evening events. With three top-10 finishes and an average night-time finish of 10.3, Reutimann will likely be among the preferred drivers entering Atlanta on Labor Day weekend, an event he finished fourth in a year ago.

Furthermore for Reutimann, if you remove his worst night-race finish – a 20th-place showing in the year’s first evening event - his average finish increases to 8.4.

When showing similar statistical courtesy to other drivers, an additional pair of contenders emerges for Atlanta’s Labor Day weekend of night racing. By removing Kevin Harvick’s most-recent finish at Chicago, a 34th-place showing, the points leader’s average night race finish jumps to 6.8 from 11.16, besting Edwards and Reutimann. After finishing second at Atlanta last summer and performing well in this year’s night races, Harvick should be a contender again in 2010.

Kyle Busch, statistically hampered by a 40th-place finish in Daytona’s evening event, also has a tremendous average night race finish when removing this outlier; withholding Daytona, Busch has an average result of 7.2 in 2010 night races. With his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory coming at Atlanta and with four additional Camping World Truck Series wins at the track, Busch should also enter Atlanta with high hopes.

While these drivers – Gordon, Edwards, Reutimann, Harvick and Busch – aren’t guaranteed success entering Atlanta on Labor Day weekend, their results in 2010 night races warrant consideration for favor entering Atlanta Motor Speedway’s weekend of NASCAR night racing.

The biggest Labor Day party in the USA is at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Labor Day weekend, as the NASCAR Sprint Cup stars head to the high banks for night racing on Sept. 4 and 5. For more information or to purchase tickets, call (770) 946-4211, (877) 9-AMS-TIX, or visit www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.

Atlanta Motor Speedway: A Weekend at the Track



Atlanta Motor Speedway - 1992 Hooters 500 Commemorative Collector's Edition Nov. 15, 1992 Petty Farewell & PATCH!

Yahoo! Qualification Story – Chicagoland

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#FantasyRacing |
#LifeLock400 |

Qualification doesn't mean a thing at Chicagoland Speedway—or does it? Find out in this week's Yahoo! Qualification story (.pdf).

Yahoo! Chicagoland Preview

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#LifeLock.com400 |

Cookies were never as sweet as when they follow a Restrictor-plate superspeedway race. This week, look for consistency to help set your lineup. Check out this week's Yahoo! Fantasy Racing preview (.pdf).

Yahoo! Qualification Story – Daytona

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#FantasyRacing |
#CokeZero400 |

Qualification was rained out for the Coke Zero 400—not that it matters. Winners can come from anywhere in the field and the pole sitter is as likely to crash as a back marker, as we point out in this week's Yahoo! Qualification story (.pdf).

Yahoo! Daytona Preview

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#FantasyRacing |
#CokeZero400 |

Restrictor-plate superspeedway races are defined more by luck than skill, so we dug out our lucky coin and came up with the favorites in this week's Yahoo! Fantasy Racing preview (.pdf).

Yahoo! Qualification Story – New Hampshire

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#FantasyRacing |
#LenoxTools301 |

This week, we've added two new features: in addition to where the winner has started, you will now find a chart detailing where the pole sitter has finished. Beginning with the Lenox Industrial Tools 301, the highest qualified driver in each Group will always be detailed, so check out this week's Yahoo! Qualification story (.pdf) and let me know if the new features are helpful.

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Yahoo! New Hampshire Preview

If not for the threat of retaliation from half the field against the other half, this would be an easy race to handicap. After the shenanigans at Infineon, check out our best choices in this week's Yahoo! Fantasy Racing preview (.pdf).

Yahoo! Qualification Story – Infineon

It can be extremely difficult to pass on the road courses, but in recent years coming from the back of the field has been the norm. Who'll earn top-10s from the front and who'll come from the back? Check out this week's Yahoo! Qualification story (.pdf) for our best guesses.

Yahoo! Infineon Preview

Cup drivers are not accustomed to turning right and left in a race, but some are better than others. For the top regulars and road ringers, check out this week's picks in the Yahoo! Fantasy Racing preview (.pdf).

Yahoo! Qualification Story – Michigan

"You've got what you've got?" Not quite here at Michigan International Speedway. Find out who'll be coming and who'll be going in this week's Yahoo! Qualification story (.pdf).

Oh yeah, and please send me a note to tell me if the next stats under each showcased driver are helpful.

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Yahoo! Michigan Preview

Another green-white-checkered finish wrecked the finish of the Gillette Fusion ProGlide 500 last week. Undaunted, it's time to reload and check out this week's picks in the Yahoo! Fantasy Racing preview (.pdf).

Yahoo! Qualification Story – Pocono

This week, you will find two new stats that should help you set your Gillette Fusion ProGlide 500 roster. Check them out in this week's Yahoo! Qualification story (.pdf), and then Tweet me @FantasyRace to tell me if you believe they were helpful.

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Yahoo! Pocono Preview

Parity continues to reign supreme as only four drivers have swept the top 10 at Pocono Raceway during the last two seasons. There are still some solid picks in this week's Yahoo! Fantasy Racing preview (.pdf).

Yahoo! Charlotte Preview

Only 12 weeks into the season and NASCAR is coming off yet another off-week. Refreshed, the drivers are ready to tackle 600 miles at Charlotte Motor Speedway, so check out our best picks in this week's Yahoo! Fantasy Racing preview (.pdf).

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Kahne wins Dover HH

Kasey Kahne posted the quickest average speed in Dover's Happy Hour with a 151.805 mph during 33 laps. That far outpaced his fastest single lap of 152.912 mph, which was only 17th best.

Our View Kahne has not yet cracked the top five at Dover, but last year, he swept the top 10. If he fits the final niche on your roster, he's worth considering, but you don't want to build a roster around him.

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Ky Busch posts fastest lap in Dover HH

Kyle Busch posted the single fastest lap in Dover's Happy Hour with a speed of 154.209 mph; his average speed of 151.387 mph in 56 laps was fifth-best on that chart.

Our View Since winning the spring 2008 race, Busch has not cracked the top 20 at Dover in the Cup series. That makes him a questionable pick this week regardless of his speed.

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Hamlin wins Dover Sat. a.m. practice

Denny Hamlin had only the seventh fastest single lap in Dover's morning session, but he posted the quickest average speed of 152.955 during 26 laps.

Our View Last week, he proved just how tough he is by sweeping victory lane at Darlington Raceway in the Cup and Nationwide Series. Dover is not his best track, but with the momentum he has this season, he should still be considered a favorite.

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Johnson posts fastest lap in Dover Sat. a.m. practice

Jimmie Johnson set the fastest single lap in the Saturday morning practice session at Dover International Speedway with a speed of 154.999 mph; his average speed of 152.099 during 33 laps was eighth best.

Our View Johnson continues to try and prove that the accidents he suffered in two of the last three races are not going to affect him. By the numbers alone, he should be considered a favorite, but the intangible factor of luck may not be on his side.

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