Alright guys for the last time this year top 10 cars are; 29, 5, 31, 2, 11, 14, 1, 42, 18, 9. Just missing is 48, 47, 24, 99, 16. B list sleepers are 88, 20 and 07. Top C list drivers are 47, 44, and 77 in that order and i think both AJ and Ambrose challenge for top 10’s or top 15’s. Yes, i’m picking Kevin Harvick to win. RCR looks very fast. Roush looks very average.
Jeff Gordon did his usual poor practice but seemed to hit on something late. I only noticed 3 sub 33.00 sec laps late in practice and one was by Gordon and 2 by Truex Jr. Little worried with Gordon starting 20th but Biffle didn’t look great and was loose like everyone else.
Martin Truex Jr. seemed to have a top 5 car, my only question is can he continue to build momentum for 2010 by actually getting to finish line without crashing or having a mistake. His teammate Juan Pablo Montoya was loose as well and spun out in 1st practice and scraped the wall today. This track should fit Montoya’s strengths though and i expect another top 10.
Tony Stewart is a top 10 car and should also challenge for the win. If anybody knows how to drive a loose track it’s Smoke. His teammate Ryan Newman was decent and is more of a top 20 car. Ryan qualified 7th, so he’s got track position and won’t have to come through the field like usual.
Kasey Kahne looks to have a strong car on long runs as he usually does. He will get my other B list start with Truex Jr. Of course the engine woes RPM has faced and the news that he may look to leave RPM are negatives but i’m about picking strong cars not predicting mistakes or mechanical failures.
David Reutimann looks very similiar to last week. Mediocre practice times and a midfield starting position. The team will have to improve the car throughout the race again to get inside the top 10, look for them to finish top 20 not top 10. His teammate Marcos Ambrose is on a roll and just missed out on a top 10 last week. I look for Ambrose to be in the top 10 again but just miss finishing there.
A.J. Allmendinger loves slick tracks and Homestead is definitely that. AJ’s taken to his Ford and should finish top 15. He has track position and a strong car, let’s just hope its a good long run car as he didn’t do that many long runs.
Brad Keselowski starts way in the back and doesn’t seem fast to start a run. He is however pretty good over the long run but start too far back for me to run him over AJ. His teammate Kurt Busch’s crew improved the car in Happy Hour and i look for him to challenge for the win yet again. For those of you who saved Kurt Busch starts a tip of the hat you get. I figured they would be in turmoil by now and have a different crew chief. Sam Hornish isn’t bad and has his car setup for long runs, if he stays out of trouble a top 20 is attainable.
Jimmie Johnson looks to be a top 10 car but i expect them to be very conservative and that’s why i have him outside my top 10. He doesn’t have a race winning car going in but Chad Knaus is the best in the business at adjusting on a car with ever changing track conditions. Mark Martin is a top 5 car and should challenge for the win but ultimately i think it comes down to the RCR cars of Harvick and Burton. Odd i know.
Ok guys and gals hope you all have enjoyed the practice roundup this year and i look forward to doing it again next year
Good luck at the final race gang and i’ll see you at Daytona.
Kyle Wiseman
