A List
Jimmie Johnson (8 Starts Remaining)
Johnson has won four of the last eight races at Auto Club Speedway and finished 2nd in this race one year ago. I originally had Jimmie off my roster due to Chad Knaus’ potential suspension, but since that has been overturned, there is no reason to avoid Johnson.
Hendrick Motorsports and the 48 team feel disrespected by NASCAR regarding the C-post issue from Daytona and will be showing up in Fontana with something to prove.
Matt Kenseth (9)
It’s important to note that Auto Club and Michigan are sister racetracks with very similar characteristics, so I put a strong emphasis on the three races at these tracks last year to help determine my roster for this week.
Kenseth had both an average starting position and average finish of 5.3 in three combined races at Auto Club and Michigan last season while spending 97% of laps in the Top 15.
Auto Club is known as a “Roush Racetrack” which makes Kenseth the perfect complement to Johnson in this week’s A List.
B List
Greg Biffle (7)
Going with the Roush theme, I’m not leaving Biffle off simply because I’ve run him twice already this season. Biffle is hot and contending for qualifying bonus points as well, so get him on your roster, even if you’d started him in every race so far this season.
Ryan Newman (8)
I have to admit, Newman’s stats at Michigan and Auto Club last season were very surprising to me. The Rocketman led all current B List drivers in average finish (5.3), average start (8.3) and ran more laps in the Top 15 (98%) than any other Sprint Cup driver.
At this style of racetrack, Newman starts up front, stays up front and finishes up front.
Clint Bowyer (9)
Bowyer was very fast at Auto Club and Michigan last season for Richard Childress Racing, averaging a 7.7 finish. I spent the offseason bashing Michael Waltrip Racing and, in classic fashion, I was completely wrong.
All three cars have been fast this season and, after finishing 6th at Las Vegas (which drivers say is similar to Auto Club), Bowyer and crew chief Brian Pattie proved they have a solid setup for this type of racetrack.
Mark Martin (9)
It wasn’t too shocking to see Martin run well in the #55 car earlier this season. However, watching Brian Vickers’ performance at Bristol last week showed that this car is fast no matter who is behind the wheel.
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First time poster, long time follower. I’d suggest Casey Mears this week as a second option on the C list. I have yet to use Almirola this year, and I want to save as many of those starts as possible this year. I’ll probably start him this week, but Mears is my definite second choice.