Picks/Chicagoland/SundayAfternoon
#1
09-08-2013, 09:31 AM
Picks/Chicagoland/SundayAfternoon
The Chase for the Sprint Cup is here!!!! But here on Fantasy, we don't have a chase... we just have an overall championship and 4 segments.... and Chicago will be the end of the 3rd segment.... but we'll get into all that in teh next section!!
Points and Congratulatory Remarks
Winning 3 of the last 7 races, Jerry Smith is the hottest guy in MCF NASCAR Fantasy right now!! He has risen to 4th in the overall points, and has a slim lead for the Segment 3 points championship as we go into the final race of the segment in Chicago!!!
And to make matters even better for him...
2011 Winner: 77GP ( a year I finished last here)
2012 Winer: zjerry
*Edit* However, the problem is that points penalties shook up everything! SupplySgt Drew now has the Segment lead and Keane retook the points lead!
This race is kind to people named Jerry!
Segment Points
1) SupplySgt 739 Leader
2) Leprechaun93 738 -1
3) 77GP 728 -11
4) Cowboy6622 725 -14
5) BlazedSS 717 -22
6) Mnte CarloSS47 712 -27
7) STUMPMI 669 -70
8) zjerry 663 -76
9) SSMeansSuperSexy 653 -86
10) KCFitz78 652 -87
11) carlm54stl 632 -107
12) 02Earnhardt 593 -146
13) Ricks 2006 SS 592 -147
14) RocknSS04 588
15) butch 049 585
16) monte carlo 3831 579
17) 03JGMonte 403
18) silverfish33 257
Overall
1) Leprechaun93 2497 Leader
2) Cowboy6622 2484 -13
3) MnteCrloSS47 2430 -67
4) SupplySgt 2385 -112
5) STUMPMI 2377 -120
6) BlazedSS 2371 -126
7) 77GP 2367 -130
8) SSmeansSuperSexy 2301 -196
9) 02 Earnhardt 2296 -200
10) monte carlo 3831 2290 -206
11) Ricks 2006 SS 2263 -233
12) zjerry 2246 -250
13) butch049 2239 -257
14) carlm54stl 2185 -311
15) RocknSS04 2057 -339
16) 03JGMonte 1915
17) silverfish33 1835
18) KCFITZ78 976
19) 05MistreSS 869
20) BocaReject 180
21) Evan 2000 160
22) DarrynSami 115
23) Lorenzo 114
My Thoughts entering the Chase
This is one of the tracks my Torino has graced with its presence... but not on the surface. This track is located right off the historic Route 66 and I stopped for a picture on my way by....
Every year, we come to Chicago not knowing at all what to expect. However, a few recent patterns have emerged....
1) Whoever wins Chicago has gone on to win the championship 2 years in a row. Tony Stewart in 2011, Brad K. in 2012. So you have to think some emphasis goes into winning this race!
2) There is always a driver who misses the chase, but then has a good chase. What I mean by that is like last year, Kyle Busch had the best run in the last 10 races ever, but wasn't in it. The year before, Kasey Khane had a great run after missing the chase and won a race in Phoenix. Before that, Jamie McMurray went on to win Charlotte and run great... one year Joey Logano ran really well with a top 5 average after missing the chase.
So that's what I'm looking for ... I'm going to pay attention to who wins this race, and I'm also paying attention to drivers outside teh chase to try ot figure out which one is going to put together a great run in the last 10 races, only not in the championship. Right now, I'm eyeing Jeff Gordon and Brad Keselowski, but I'm not ruling out Ryan Newman either....
This weeknd in the Chicago
When we look back on 1.5 mile tracks this season, we have to see who has ran well and that usually translates over to Chicago pretty well. also, whoever won this race in the past 2 years won the championship.... so we're watching out for that.
But we also have some drivers lately wh ohave abd luck. Matt Kenseth is finishing better than he starts. can Jimmie Johnson snap his bad luck streak and get back to championship form? Traditionally, he does.. but he's never had a bad luck streak like he has here lately.
Hendrick Motorsports
Traditionally, Jimmie Johnson doesn't run well at Richmond anyway, and he is known to have some abd luck somewhere between Indy and the Chase.. and always snaps back . But never has he finished so poorly in every race between Indy and Chicago! So it's interesting to see if he bounces back this time... I think he will, but it's hard to say.
Jeff Gordon might be teh guy I mentioned earlier who misses the chase but then runs well in the chase. I'll be keeping an eye on him in the next couple of races.
Dale Jr is just Jr... he runs well a couple times a year, then puts together 10th-15th place runs that are solid enough to make the chase... I don't look for him to contend for wins and championships just yet...
Kasey Kahne has been great on those 1.5's... he;s run 2nd to Matt Kenseth a few times too.....
Stewart Haas
Newman has run okay these past couple of weeks and might do okay again. He did miss the chase, so he is one of those guys I look at as possibly having a great chase without being in the chase.
Mark Martin is there and seems to be finding seom stride at Stewart Haas. But I don't feel like he is driving for wins, he's just trying ot keep the car in contention for top 20's.
Richard Childress
Kevin Harvick has had good runs at Chicagoland, and does have a win on a 1.5 (charlotte) this year. Never can tell if he will win or just run 12th...
Burton and Menard are both having flahses of brilliance here lately, but they're tough bets anyway.
Furniture Row
It's hard to think that Kurt Busch and this crew will hold up under pressure... traditonally, Busch falls apart under it, and his pit crew falters at the worst of times.
FORD TEAMS
Roush Fenway
Another hard to read team is Carl Edwards and the Roush gang. Edwards has won twice this year, but on low banked ,fast tracks. AT the beginning of the year, he ran really well on these things until May, and then has slipped ot being a 10th-20th place car. At Atlanta, he ran really well all night until he got back in traffic and then he never recovered.... so I have to wonder what will happen if he gets back in traffic here.
Greg Biffle has been okay lately but it's hard ot say if he will contend for those championship points or not.
Penske Racing
Honestly, I believe either of these guys could win any race in the next 10.
Joey Logano had a bad run at one of his worst tracks. But prior to this, Joey has been great in every 1.5 mile track. BUT, can he hold up to the pressure of the chase?
Brad K has run well in the chase before, and I look for Brad to be that team that goes into the chase and runs well, but isn't in it to make a difference.
TOYOTA TEAMS
Gibbs
Kyle Busch and Matt Kenseth have both been great on a lot of tracks, so we have to think maybe they're poised to bounce back at Chicago and start winnign races, championships, etc. Kenseth has three wins on these low banked 1.5 mile tracks and it's hard ot think he won't go for a fourth. Busch seems to be the man on the higher banked tracks lately.
MWR
I hope this team doesn't win another race for a LOOONNNNGGG Time. What Bowyer did at Richmond was just cheating. I hope they run 11-12 for this championship... but they probably won't.
Truex is the better driver of th etwo traditonally on a 1.5 But, Bowyer has picked up his game lately too. Either guy could end up being a contender.
My Picks
Man, this is a tough one... but I've got to go with...
1) Jimmie Johnson
2) Matt Kenseth
3) Kasey Kahne
But honeslty, I might switch the hwole team after practice and qualifying...
Points and Congratulatory Remarks
Winning 3 of the last 7 races, Jerry Smith is the hottest guy in MCF NASCAR Fantasy right now!! He has risen to 4th in the overall points, and has a slim lead for the Segment 3 points championship as we go into the final race of the segment in Chicago!!!
And to make matters even better for him...
2011 Winner: 77GP ( a year I finished last here)
2012 Winer: zjerry
*Edit* However, the problem is that points penalties shook up everything! SupplySgt Drew now has the Segment lead and Keane retook the points lead!
This race is kind to people named Jerry!
Segment Points
1) SupplySgt 739 Leader
2) Leprechaun93 738 -1
3) 77GP 728 -11
4) Cowboy6622 725 -14
5) BlazedSS 717 -22
6) Mnte CarloSS47 712 -27
7) STUMPMI 669 -70
8) zjerry 663 -76
9) SSMeansSuperSexy 653 -86
10) KCFitz78 652 -87
11) carlm54stl 632 -107
12) 02Earnhardt 593 -146
13) Ricks 2006 SS 592 -147
14) RocknSS04 588
15) butch 049 585
16) monte carlo 3831 579
17) 03JGMonte 403
18) silverfish33 257
Overall
1) Leprechaun93 2497 Leader
2) Cowboy6622 2484 -13
3) MnteCrloSS47 2430 -67
4) SupplySgt 2385 -112
5) STUMPMI 2377 -120
6) BlazedSS 2371 -126
7) 77GP 2367 -130
8) SSmeansSuperSexy 2301 -196
9) 02 Earnhardt 2296 -200
10) monte carlo 3831 2290 -206
11) Ricks 2006 SS 2263 -233
12) zjerry 2246 -250
13) butch049 2239 -257
14) carlm54stl 2185 -311
15) RocknSS04 2057 -339
16) 03JGMonte 1915
17) silverfish33 1835
18) KCFITZ78 976
19) 05MistreSS 869
20) BocaReject 180
21) Evan 2000 160
22) DarrynSami 115
23) Lorenzo 114
My Thoughts entering the Chase
This is one of the tracks my Torino has graced with its presence... but not on the surface. This track is located right off the historic Route 66 and I stopped for a picture on my way by....
Every year, we come to Chicago not knowing at all what to expect. However, a few recent patterns have emerged....
1) Whoever wins Chicago has gone on to win the championship 2 years in a row. Tony Stewart in 2011, Brad K. in 2012. So you have to think some emphasis goes into winning this race!
2) There is always a driver who misses the chase, but then has a good chase. What I mean by that is like last year, Kyle Busch had the best run in the last 10 races ever, but wasn't in it. The year before, Kasey Khane had a great run after missing the chase and won a race in Phoenix. Before that, Jamie McMurray went on to win Charlotte and run great... one year Joey Logano ran really well with a top 5 average after missing the chase.
So that's what I'm looking for ... I'm going to pay attention to who wins this race, and I'm also paying attention to drivers outside teh chase to try ot figure out which one is going to put together a great run in the last 10 races, only not in the championship. Right now, I'm eyeing Jeff Gordon and Brad Keselowski, but I'm not ruling out Ryan Newman either....
This weeknd in the Chicago
When we look back on 1.5 mile tracks this season, we have to see who has ran well and that usually translates over to Chicago pretty well. also, whoever won this race in the past 2 years won the championship.... so we're watching out for that.
But we also have some drivers lately wh ohave abd luck. Matt Kenseth is finishing better than he starts. can Jimmie Johnson snap his bad luck streak and get back to championship form? Traditionally, he does.. but he's never had a bad luck streak like he has here lately.
Hendrick Motorsports
Traditionally, Jimmie Johnson doesn't run well at Richmond anyway, and he is known to have some abd luck somewhere between Indy and the Chase.. and always snaps back . But never has he finished so poorly in every race between Indy and Chicago! So it's interesting to see if he bounces back this time... I think he will, but it's hard to say.
Jeff Gordon might be teh guy I mentioned earlier who misses the chase but then runs well in the chase. I'll be keeping an eye on him in the next couple of races.
Dale Jr is just Jr... he runs well a couple times a year, then puts together 10th-15th place runs that are solid enough to make the chase... I don't look for him to contend for wins and championships just yet...
Kasey Kahne has been great on those 1.5's... he;s run 2nd to Matt Kenseth a few times too.....
Stewart Haas
Newman has run okay these past couple of weeks and might do okay again. He did miss the chase, so he is one of those guys I look at as possibly having a great chase without being in the chase.
Mark Martin is there and seems to be finding seom stride at Stewart Haas. But I don't feel like he is driving for wins, he's just trying ot keep the car in contention for top 20's.
Richard Childress
Kevin Harvick has had good runs at Chicagoland, and does have a win on a 1.5 (charlotte) this year. Never can tell if he will win or just run 12th...
Burton and Menard are both having flahses of brilliance here lately, but they're tough bets anyway.
Furniture Row
It's hard to think that Kurt Busch and this crew will hold up under pressure... traditonally, Busch falls apart under it, and his pit crew falters at the worst of times.
FORD TEAMS
Roush Fenway
Another hard to read team is Carl Edwards and the Roush gang. Edwards has won twice this year, but on low banked ,fast tracks. AT the beginning of the year, he ran really well on these things until May, and then has slipped ot being a 10th-20th place car. At Atlanta, he ran really well all night until he got back in traffic and then he never recovered.... so I have to wonder what will happen if he gets back in traffic here.
Greg Biffle has been okay lately but it's hard ot say if he will contend for those championship points or not.
Penske Racing
Honestly, I believe either of these guys could win any race in the next 10.
Joey Logano had a bad run at one of his worst tracks. But prior to this, Joey has been great in every 1.5 mile track. BUT, can he hold up to the pressure of the chase?
Brad K has run well in the chase before, and I look for Brad to be that team that goes into the chase and runs well, but isn't in it to make a difference.
TOYOTA TEAMS
Gibbs
Kyle Busch and Matt Kenseth have both been great on a lot of tracks, so we have to think maybe they're poised to bounce back at Chicago and start winnign races, championships, etc. Kenseth has three wins on these low banked 1.5 mile tracks and it's hard ot think he won't go for a fourth. Busch seems to be the man on the higher banked tracks lately.
MWR
I hope this team doesn't win another race for a LOOONNNNGGG Time. What Bowyer did at Richmond was just cheating. I hope they run 11-12 for this championship... but they probably won't.
Truex is the better driver of th etwo traditonally on a 1.5 But, Bowyer has picked up his game lately too. Either guy could end up being a contender.
My Picks
Man, this is a tough one... but I've got to go with...
1) Jimmie Johnson
2) Matt Kenseth
3) Kasey Kahne
But honeslty, I might switch the hwole team after practice and qualifying...
Last edited by Cowboy6622; 09-13-2013 at 05:27 AM.
#6
09-09-2013, 10:33 AM
i'll be heading to the track Thursday. Spending the whole weekend in the garage area with hot pit passes again.
1.Dale Jr
2.Martin Truex Jr
3.Brad Keselowski
1.Dale Jr
2.Martin Truex Jr
3.Brad Keselowski
#8
09-09-2013, 04:51 PM
Duane, I paid special attention to your picks last week and will again this week. Wanted to steer clear of anyone you picked. That will be my strategy again this week. Picks coming later.
