Hey all, Schafe here. If you go onto the forums here at FNP, you may know me as my forum name, Schafendinger.

Now, the point of this weekly column I’ll be doing from this point forward is to find that potential deep B-list sleeper “diamond in the rough” that’ll hopefully give you a 10^th-15^th place finish, allowing you to save your studs for the run to the checkered flag at Homestead. Although my results in 2009 haven’t been spectacular (I have 519 points, and am mired in the 69^th percentile), I still have all 9 starts left on the likes of Ragan, Hamlin, Kahne, and Junior…and we all know that this early on in the season, that’s really all that counts.  So, without further ado…let’s get to it, shall we?

Last week, I took a flier on David Reutimann, and it really paid off. He managed a solid 14^th place finish, and even outperformed David Ragan, a bonafide B-list stud who only finished 20^th. Heck, Reuty had a top 10 car, but unfortunately the brakes went away on the Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota, allowing several cars to re-pass him before the checkered flag flew. I ended up with 269 points, and had it not been for Jimmie dropping back after dominating early, and my boy Dinger’s loose lugs, a 300 was not that far out of reach.

Now, here’s what y’all have been waiting for…my Vegas “gamble”. This week, I’m looking for at least a top 15 out of the driver of the #19 Best Buy Dodge, Elliott Sadler. Since Las Vegas Motor Speedway added progressive banking in 2007, Sadler has posted finishes of 14^th and 12^th, even leading 17 laps in his 2007 effort. In addition, Sadler has put together back-to-back strong qualifying efforts (3^rd and 10^th). Also, don’t be so quick to judge Sadler’s statline at Vegas: with a 23.9 average finish at the track, the casual player will most likely stay away. However, upon further review, his results from 1999-2003 went like so: 33^rd, 41^st, 20^th, 28^th, and 42^nd. Since then, he’s been a top 15 lock (not including the 29^th place anomale in 2005), with a career-high 6^th in 2004. Besides, with the progressive banking and all, this track has become a completely different animal than the flatter, slower version of yesteryear.

So, for now, don’t be afraid to put Sadler on your roster. If he runs well in preliminaries, then go for him. If not, avoid him. I’m not guaranteeing that I’ll be starting Sadler myself, either…that’s not the point of this post. Think of me as a promoter standing in front of a club, handing out flyers. Take it or leave it, but remember…what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.

Good luck to y’all this weekend!

Schafe, out…

 Comments? Questions? Email me at rschafe@eden.rutgers.edu. Thanks for reading!

Tags: B-list sleeper, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Schafe, Schafendinger, Shelby 427, sleeper pick, Vegas

This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 25th, 2009 at 12:16 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.