My apologies, race fans, for the delay is posting a race-preview update for Chicagoland, and for the brief update I’m posting now. I’m on vacation out in San Diego and am finding my computer time severely limited.
So, I did manage to crunch Friday’s practice and qualifying data, and I used the results of that analysis to come up with updated rankings for tonight’s race:
- Jimmie Johnson
- Jeff Gordon
- Kasey Kahne
- Kurt Busch
Johnson’s wife delivered their baby, so the champ should be ready to roll tonight. He looked good yesterday, and he’s my pick to win tonight.
Gordon is pretty close to Johnson, however, and he could easily win, too. And Kahne and Kurt Busch should show very well tonight as well.
My Yahoo! Fantasy Picks
Group A
When I heard Johnson was no longer under the threat of a baby attack, I sat Tony Stewart and activated the 48 alongside Gordon. I’ll likely run Gordon tonight and save Johnson because I think they offer similar value.
I do think Stewart will show well, however, and Juan Pablo Montoya appears to have a good car, too.
Group B
I’ll start Kahne and David Reutimann purely for value based on Friday’s preliminaries, and bench Clint Bowyer and Ryan Newman.
I do still rate Bowyer #3 in Group B, and I’m liking Jamie McMurray, too.
Group C
I rate A.J. Allmendinger tops in C and will run him over Scott Speed. I rate Sam Hornish Jr. #2, and Paul Menard #3.