Rankings were updated Friday (2/12) at 2:01 p.m. EST:
A-List
1. Kurt Busch
2. Tony Stewart
3. Kyle Busch
4. Jimmie Johnson
5. Juan Pablo Montoya
B-List
1. Kevin Harvick
2. Kasey Kahne
3. Clint Bowyer
4. Brian Vickers
5. Matt Kenseth
Archive for February, 2010
Yahoo Fantasy NASCAR Driver Rankings – Daytona 500
Thursday, February 11th, 2010Yahoo Fantasy NASCAR Preview – Daytona 500
Thursday, February 11th, 2010Qualifying is over. The Bud Shootout is in the books. And the Duels have been run, solidfying the field for the 52nd running of the Great American Race. So as the immortal Joe Kane said in the movie “The Program”, “Let’s put the women and children to bed and go lookin’ for dinner.”
A-List
1. Kurt Busch (9 starts remaining)
Since the Sprint Cup Series went to the COT, Kurt Busch has scored more points than any other driver in restrictor plate races. So it should be no surprise that the Penske cars (Ku. Busch, Keselowski, Hornish Jr.) all looked great in the second Duel, with Kurt leading the way.
Busch started third and led the most laps, en route to a fourth place finish. The Blue Deuce spent most of the race running in the top 5, but Busch showed just how strong his car was by busting his was back into contention after getting shuffled back late in the race. Last week I outlined the reasons why I like Busch to win this year’s Daytona 500, and his performance in the Duel proved that he’s a contender.
1. Can anyone unseat Jimmie Johnson at the top?
Thursday, February 11th, 2010Is it possible? Yes. Is it probable? I really don’t know. Is there any other sport where you can make an argument before the season starts that taking one team (or driver) is a better bet than the field? It really is hard to go against Chad Knaus, the smartest man in NASCAR, but this is the year that Jimmie’s streak gets broken.
Before each season, the media picks the driver they believe will unseat Johnson at the top. They mistakenly base their selections on the previous season, each and every year. In 2007, Jeff Gordon pushed Johnson, winning seven races and posting 30, yes 30, Top 10’s in 36 races, yet still fell short.
#2. Which 12 drivers will make the 2010 Chase for the Cup?
Wednesday, February 10th, 2010I’ve spent the last week predicting breakout drivers, rebounders, sleepers and duds, and now it’s time to put them all together and name the 2010 Chase. In no particular order, this season’s Chase for the Cup will consist of the following drivers:
1. Jimmie Johnson
2. Mark Martin
3. Jeff Gordon
4. Tony Stewart
5. Kyle Busch
6. Denny Hamlin
3. Which 2009 Chase participants will fall short in 2010?
Tuesday, February 9th, 20101. Kasey Kahne -
Kahne can leave his current team, Richard Petty Motorsports, after the 2010 season. He has not yet made up his mind whether or not he will return, and how well the team runs this season will be the biggest factor.
Either way, I fully expect Joe Gibbs and Tony Stewart to be knocking on his door with a deal for 2011. Kasey has admitted that he really admires Stewart, so it’s reasonable to think a possible ride with Stewart/Haas can distract Kahne this year. I don’t see Kahne in the Chase this season, but I do in 2011 driving the third Stewart/Haas car.
