NASCAR Fantasy 2015: Pure Michigan 400 Top Drivers and Sleeper Picks
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series travels to Brooklyn, Michigan, this week for the Pure Michigan 400.
The series last competed at Michigan International Speedway eight weeks ago. Kurt Busch won a rain-shortened race, but Kevin Harvick had the car to beat. He led the most laps but had to pit for a flat tire. Joey Logano and Carl Edwards were also impressive in the race.
The best way to determine which drivers to use for your DraftKings contest Sunday is by looking at the points scored in the last race at Michigan. The teams who had Kurt Busch probably took home some money. He scored 16.25 points more than the second-highest driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr.
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Here are the top-10 drivers with the highest point totals from the last race at Michigan from ifantasyrace.com:
The best strategy for your DraftKings contest this week is to select two drivers who you think can lead the most laps in the race, and the final four spots should be drivers who start outside the top 10 with a chance to finish upfront. Balancing your lineup with these types of drivers will allow fantasy teams to score the most bonus points for leading laps, fastest laps and place differential.
Top Drivers
Kevin Harvick, Stewart-Haas Racing, Chevy ($10,600)
| No. | Driver | Points |
| 1 | Kurt Busch | 73 |
| 2 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | 56.75 |
| 3 | Clint Bowyer | 56 |
| 4 | Jamie McMurray | 55 |
| 5 | Matt Kenseth | 53.75 |
| 6 | Martin Truex Jr. | 51.5 |
| 7 | Joey Logano | 48.75 |
| 8 | Trevor Bayne | 46 |
| 9 | Paul Menard | 45 |
| 10 | Casey Mears | 45 |
Harvick is the best choice in DraftKings contest this week. He started on the front row and led 63 of the 138 laps in the race. Harvick would have won the race going away if he did not have a tire go down before the rain washed out the track.
Harvick is good at finishing up front at Michigan. Since the track was repaved he has finished four of the seven races in second place. Harvick has led 1,391 laps in 2015, and he should lead many more Sunday. Harvick has a chance to go to Victory Lane Sunday.
Once again Harvick is the highest-priced driver in the DraftKings contest. He will be well worth the money this week because Harvick is almost a lock to run up front and lead many laps in the race. There are enough good drivers at a cheap price this week to justify using the money for the No. 4 car.
The last time Harvick won a race at Michigan was in 2010. He is the safest pick for a top-five finish this week, but he needs to turn his second-place finishes into wins. The No. 4 team is not concerned about points. They need wins to advance in the standings.
Dale Earnhardt Jr., Hendrick Motorsports, Chevy ($9,300)
| Wins | Top 5's | Top 10's | Avg Start | Avg Finish |
| 1 | 7 | 12 | 16.6 | 13.6 |
Michigan is the best track for Earnhardt Jr. In 2012, he ended his streak of 143 races without a win at Michigan. Earnhardt has four finishes in the top 10 in the six races since his last win at the track.
If you are looking for a sure bet to score many points for your DraftKings contest this week, Earnhardt is your driver. He usually qualifies outside the top 10 and finishes in the top five at Michigan. Earnhardt should be one of the drivers who score the most bonus points for place differential this week. Do not let his starting position scare you away from using him in your contest.
Earnhardt is one of the best bargains in the contest this week. He is the ninth highest-priced driver with the talent and car to finish in the top five. Earnhardt would be a great choice to build your team around this week.
The best way to make fast laps around Michigan is to run up against the wall. By using the most track, drivers can keep the pedal to the metal for the entire race. Earnhardt is one of the best at running up against the fence. He is a safe pick for a top-five finish Sunday.
Brad Keselowski, Team Penske, Ford ($9,500)
| Wins | Top 5's | Top 10's | Avg Start | Avg Finish |
| 2 | 8 | 13 | 14.5 | 15.2 |
Michigan is the home track for Keselowski. It is no secret that winning a race at Michigan is high on his priority list. Keselowski has come close but still has not visited Victory Lane at the track. That could change Sunday.
Keselowski has the third-best driver rating and the fifth-best average finish position since the track was repaved. He started third, led six laps and finished sixth at Michigan eight weeks ago. Keselowski will be one of the drivers to beat this week.
Keselowski is the eighth highest-priced driver in the DraftKings contest, but he could have been in the top three if he did not have such bad luck. Fantasy teams need drivers who will finish upfront and lead laps. Keselowski should do both at Michigan.
Despite having numerous problems in the pits over the last month, Keselowski has been able to finish five consecutive races in the top 10. Keselowski will have a good chance to win the race if his pit crew can take care of his car.
Joey Logano, Team Penske, Ford ($9,600)
| Wins | Top 5's | Top 10's | Avg Start | Avg Finish |
| 0 | 3 | 5 | 16.8 | 14.1 |
Most people consider Kyle Busch the best driver in the sport right now, but Logano’s stats the last month are just as good. Logano finished second at Kentucky, fourth at New Hampshire, second at Indianapolis and won the race at Watkins Glen. His only poor performance came at Pocono, where he was leading the race and ran out of gas. Logano is too hot right now to ignore for your DraftKings contest.
Logano has a series-best average finish position and the second-best driver rating in the last five races at Michigan. He has a streak of five consecutive top-10 finishes at the track. Logano should easily make it six in a row Sunday.
He is one of the hottest drivers in the sport at one of his best tracks, yet there are six drivers with a higher salary than him in DraftKings contest. He is a bargain this week at $9,600. I know all of my contests will include the No. 22 Sunday.
Logano currently sits at fourth place in the NASCAR Sprint Cup point standings. The only way he can climb to the top is by winning races. Logano is my pick to go to Victory Lane for the second week in a row.
Sleepers
Kyle Larson, Chip Ganassi Racing, Chevy ($8,100)
| Wins | Top 5's | Top 10's | Avg Start | Avg Finish |
| 1 | 3 | 8 | 13.7 | 14.2 |
Larson came three laps way from winning the June race at Michigan. He was leading the race when he came into the pits to get gas. Crew chief Chris Heroy gambled, and it did not pay off. The rains came as soon as Larson got back up to speed.
The only way Larson will make the Chase is by winning a race, and his best opportunity will be this week. Larson is very good on the two-mile oval tracks (Michigan and Fontana). He loves to run next to the wall and keep his foot on the gas. He should pass many cars by running at the top of the track Sunday.
Larson is a little overpriced in the DraftKings contests. There are better choices at a lower price, but Larson has the potential to finish in the top 10. Be sure to check his Happy Hour practice speeds before spending $8,100 on him at Michigan.
Look for the No. 42 team to swing for the fences this week. The only thing that matters is winning a race to make the Chase. They struck out in the last race at Michigan, but do not be surprised to see them learn from their mistake and hit a home run this week.
Paul Menard, Richard Childress Racing, Chevy ($7,800)
| Wins | Top 5's | Top 10's | Avg Start | Avg Finish |
| 0 | 0 | 1 | 13.7 | 22.7 |
The best way to win your DraftKings contest is to find a driver who is not highly owned and finishes up front. That driver this week is Menard.
Menard is not a popular driver in fantasy NASCAR, but this week he should be on every team. He has finished five of the last six races at Michigan in the top 10. Eight weeks ago he started 17th and finished eighth. Menard knows how to get around this track.
DraftKings must have realized the talent that Menard has at Michigan. His price this week is higher than Clint Bowyer, Ryan Newman and Greg Biffle. Usually that does not happen. Menard is worth every penny, since he is a top 10 driver with a top 20 price.
Menard is currently the second-highest driver without a win this season. He has a good chance to make the Chase on points, so the No. 27 team will be unlikely to gamble this week. Menard is a safe pick for a top-10 finish at Michigan.
Clint Bowyer, Michael Waltrip Racing, Toyota ($7,400)
| Wins | Top 5's | Top 10's | Avg Start | Avg Finish |
| 0 | 4 | 6 | 21.1 | 17.8 |
Guess who decided to turn their season around? Michael Waltrip Racing decided to make changes to their crew chiefs, and the changes paid off. Bowyer has three consecutive top-10 finishes with Billy Scott calling the shots for the No. 15 car.
It will be hard to find a driver as consistent at Michigan as Bowyer. He has nine consecutive top-10 finishes at the track. In June, he started 32nd and finished 10th. Bowyer earned 22 bonus points for place differential in the race.
Bowyer is an absolute steal at $7,400. DraftKings always undervalues the No. 15 car, and it is time for fantasy teams to take advantage. Bowyer consistently finishes in the top 10 at Michigan, but he remains the 19th highest-priced driver in the contest. Bowyer should be on every team this week.
Bowyer no longer needs a win to make the Chase. As long as he continues to finish in the top 10, he will have a good opportunity to compete in the playoffs. Bowyer will play it safe Sunday to ensure the car finishes upfront.
Danica Patrick, Stewart-Haas Racing, Chevy ($7,200)
| Wins | Top 5's | Top 10's | Avg Start | Avg Finish |
| 0 | 1 | 11 | 19.0 | 14.3 |
Michigan is one of Patrick’s best tracks. She finished four of her five starts inside the top 20. Patrick has never finished worse than 23rd at the track. In June, she qualified 19th and finished 16th. Patrick will not win the race, but she will run well enough to be a great pick for your DraftKings contest.
Patrick is the perfect driver for $7,200. She is good enough at Michigan to warrant a higher price, but her results at other tracks keep her price just above $7,000. By using her for your contest, fantasy teams can select higher priced drivers like Kevin Harvick and Joey Logano.
Michigan is a wide track with plenty of room to move around. Patrick performs well when she is not in traffic. She is one of the most patient drivers in the sport. Look for her to find a good lane for her car and slowly move to the front.
DraftKings Picks for Michigan
Driver 1: Kevin Harvick ($10,600)
Driver 2: Joey Logano ($9,600)
Driver 3: Clint Bowyer (($7,400)
Driver 4: Paul Menard ($7,800)
Driver 5: Ryan Newman ($7,100)
Driver 6: Danica Patrick ($7,200)
Advanced stats courtesy Racing-Reference.Info
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