NASCAR Nationwide Fantasy Preview: O'Reilly 300

Track Stats:

Name: Texas Motor Speedway

Race Date: April 17, 2010

Location: Fort Worth, TX

Length: 1.5 miles

Banking in turns: 24 degrees

Banking on the straights: five degrees

Grandstand Seats: 159,585

Tickets/track info: http://www.texasmotorspeedway.com/ or [phone]

Last year’s Top 10:

1. Kyle Busch

2. Kevin Harvick

3. Brad Keselowski

4. Brendan Gaughan

5. Greg Biffle

6. Carl Edwards

7. Paul Menard

8. Scott Lagasse Jr.

9. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

10. Joey Logano

Interesting Stats:

If you were to combine the points for the last 10 Texas races, Kyle Busch would top the list as he has gathered the most points.

In the last two races, Busch has gathered 365 points compared to Brad Keselowski’s 330 that takes second and Matt Kenseth’s 315 that takes third.

Good Picks

Kyle Busch – If it isn’t obvious by the above stats, Busch is the man that you need to stick with as he has the highest average finish of the drivers entered into Saturday’s race. In 10 starts, Busch has four wins, eight top fives, nine top 10s and an average finish of 5.6. Busch has also showed his talent this year already as he came back from a penalty that had him almost a lap down at Phoenix to win the race.

Kevin Harvick – If you don’t like Busch, then your next best bet as Harvick as he has the second highest average finish. In 11 starts, Harvick has four wins, eight top fives, eight top 10s and an average finish of 9.7. Harvick has also showed his strength this year as he won the race at Nashville.

Carl Edwards – The next highest Cup driver and the driver who holds is the third highest average finish is Carl Edwards. In 10 starts, Edwards has no wins, four top fives, six top 10s and an average finish of 11.3. Edwards, like the drivers before him, has showed his strength this year as he has no wins though sits second in the points with his worst finish being sixth.

James Buescher – An unknown name to most fans, James Buescher is an up-and-coming driver who is racing for James Finch. When looking at the stats, Buescher has the highest average finish of the non-Cup drivers as in his first ever start at Texas, he finished 11th. He isn’t off to the best start in 2010 as he sits 21st in points with three crashes, though highlighted the year with a ninth place finish at Fontana.

Trevor Bayne – Another unknown name to most fans, Trevor Bayne is an up-and-coming driver who is racing for Michael Waltrip Racing. When looking at the stats, Bayne has the second-highest average finish of the non-Cup drivers as in his first ever start at Texas, he finished 13th. Bayne has had an up-and-down year as he’s had some highlights, though also had some lowlights that leave him sitting 17th in points.

Jason Leftler – A Nationwide Series veteran, Jason Leftler is a driver that you’ve always got to keep your eye on no matter what track. When looking at the stats, Leftler has the third-highest average finish of the non-Cup drivers. In 11 starts, Leftler has no wins, one top five, four top 10s and an average finish of 14.8. Leftler hasn’t had one of the best starts to the year as he has only finished in the top 10 once (Bristol), though looks to improve that this weekend.

Keep an Eye on: Justin Allgaier

Justin Allgaier may not be in the top sector of average finishes at Texas, however, he’s a driver to certainly keep in mind when picking. In three starts at Texas, Allgaier only has one top 10 and an average finish of 18.7. So why should you pick him? This year has been his break-out year as he is fifth in points (-51 of the leader) with a win (Bristol), three top fives, five top 10s and an average finish of 6.3.

Story to Watch: Jamie McMurray and JR Motorsports

After a not so great start to the year, JR Motorsports has released Kelly Bires from the No. 88 car. In exchange to try to get sponsorship and get back to finishing in the top 10, they have hired Daytona 500 winner Jamie McMurray. In 171 Nationwide starts, McMurray has seven wins, 27 top fives and 59 top 10s. McMurray hasn’t done that well in the past at Texas in his Nationwide starts as he has only one top five and an average finish of 21.2 in 9 starts. Hopefully there’s a change in the wave or else it may be the same sour results for JR Motorsports.

Photo Credit: Motorsport.com