This week we don’t get to see any practice sessions before locking down our Yahoo Fantasy Racing qualifying rosters, so I’m looking at the combined stats from both races at Richmond last year, as well this season’s races at Phoenix and Martinsville to pick my drivers.
A List
Denny Hamlin (8 Starts Remaining)
In the four races I analyzed, Hamlin led all drivers in average finish (4.5), laps run in the Top 15 (89%) and average running position (7.3). Denny also won at Phoenix (another flat track) earlier this season and is coming off a win last week at Kansas.
Kyle Busch (8)
Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon are all legitimate options after Hamlin and I seriously considered all three, but, after reading Kyle’s Richmond Driver Rankings, Busch’s stats are simply too good for me to ignore.
B List
Martin Truex Jr. (8)
Truex has entered “Brad Keselowski territory” from last season where it doesn’t matter the racetrack, he has to be on your roster. Keselowski eventually became a must-start and Truex isn’t quite there yet, but he should not be left off any Yahoo Fantasy Racing rosters until further notice.
Mark Martin (8)
Martin was not in the 55 car at Martinsville, but won the pole and finished 9th at Phoenix in March. Michael Waltrip Racing is hot and there is no reason to keep Martin off the roster this week.
Clint Bowyer (7)
Yup, you guessed it, Bowyer is on my team to complete the MWR trifecta. If starts weren’t an issue, Greg Biffle would get this spot, but he’s been destroying the 1.5 racetracks this season so he gets a break. Richmond is one of Bowyer’s best racetracks and, to be honest, I’d take almost any B List driver in a MWR car.
Ryan Newman (8)
Much like Biffle, if we didn’t have to manage starts, I’d have Dale Earnhardt as my final B List driver but Jr. too has been killing the intermediates.
In the four races I analyzed, Newman ranked 3rd out of all B List drivers (behind Biffle and Martin) in average running position (12.5) and will be my fourth driver of the grouping.
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