Sunday April 3rd, 2016
Martinsville Speedway
Ridgeway, Virginia
Length: 0.526 Miles (500 Laps)
TV:FS1 TIME: 1:00PM ET
Welcome to the 1st edition of Booger's Monday NASCAR Fantasy Update. Let me start this off by getting to know who Booger is. I'm Mik Boger, notice that my last name is one 'o' from being a slimy green substance that comes out of noses? Yeah I grew up with it, even teachers in school would refer to me as Booger. Anyways, I am originally from North Dakota (yes we have street lights and no we don't use horse and buggy as means of transportation.) While kids in my hometown growing up play hockey, I always couldn't wait for the Daytona 500. I went to my first race when I was 3 years old, the 1993 Miller Genuine Draft 400 at MIS. I'm an avid NASCAR Fan and even have the tattoo to prove it on my left forearm (I am going to wait to show till this blog takes off.) I now live in Arizona and go to Phoenix International Raceway.
In this fantasy blog I will go through who I think you should pick (according to stats) to be on your teams, now you can go with my picks or not. I'm not responsible for any money that you have wagered on your league. These are just my thoughts to who I think will give you the best chance of bragging rights with all you friends. I play in the Yahoo! Auto Fantasy format, the NASCAR.COM Fantasy Live and the NASCAR.COM Streak to the Finish. So far this year in my Yahoo League I have 1 victory and 4th in points (due the tire problems at the end of the Fontana race.) In my NASCAR.com Fantasy Live I have 2 wins back2back and 3rd in points. Not the success I have been hoping for but hey, this is a crap shoot anyways.
YAHOO Auto Fantasy- 8 Drivers 4 Starters(Groups A,B and C)
Group A- Start Em': Jimmie Johnson
Well, who were you expecting me to pick? If I have any credibility, it would go wayside if I had picked someone different from this group. See that grandfather clock, yeah imagine having 8 of those babies in your living room going off all at once! Jimmie has 8 wins or 8 giant alarm clocks whichever sounds better to you at the paperclip. Check out this Stat line in 28 races, 6 time has 8 wins, 18 top 5s, 22 top 10s, has led more then 2700 laps and averages a 7.46 finish. If you don't start Jimmie, you either have used him a lot and want to save your starts with him till the Chase or you don't want a chance to win. This season so far his average finish is 6th with 3 top 10s, and 3 top 5s and 2 wins. Safe bet, start him!
Sit Em': Denny Hamlin
I know there may be some Denny fans out there, so if you are one start him. I'm lucky enough to have all of my 9 starts with him to use throughout the year. The one thing I like is that after I watch practice, I will know which one to start. Jimmie may be running this race to collect notes for the fall race which lands in the chase, the hard part is so could Denny. I just don't see anyone else in this group that I would feel comfortable going with. Denny is only 2nd to 6 time in active drivers stats at Martinsville. In 20 races, he has 5 wins, 11 top 5s, 16 top 10s, has led more then 1300 laps and averages a 8.05 finish. So if your a Hamlin fan start him. Either way your going to be rewarded with some laps led and a top 10 finish and possibly a Win.
Didn't make the Cut: Joey Logano
Though he led 207 laps in the fall race and was on his way to victory. He was taken out by Matt Kenseth while leading. Don't be surprised if something happens to him this week. He has been racing everyone that's been around him fairly tough and I don't think anyone has taken a liken to it much. So stay away from him.
Group B- (In no particular order)
Clint Bowyer
I am not going to tell you to start him. This is a tough call because of the season he has been having so far. Right now, the only driver worse then him in this group is Tony Stewart, who hasn't even raced yet. In 20 races at the paperclip, he has 4 top 5s, 12 top 10s and has led 356 laps. The one thing about me is that I always check the last practice of the weekend, that's the practice all the teams are in race trim. See where Clint hits on the speed charts in Happy Hour and make your decisions based on that. Hopefully he pulls through this week, because this could be a driver that's not on everyone's radar and could be why you win your week. GOOD LUCK!
Start Em': Jamie McMurray
Lets face it this group is by far the toughest one to pick. The driver that has the best Average Finish at Martinsville in this group is the driver with the worst average finish this year. Jamie McMurray he pretty much stays out of trouble at this track. He/She who brings car home clean, is rewarded for his/her effort. The 16.36 average is nothing to sneeze at and either is the 2 top 5s. But the 14 top 10s in 26 races isn't to shabby. He finished 2nd last year to Jeff Gordon in the fall race and he qualifies good here, starting up front is big here. If there's one thing I'm sure of is that if he can keep it clean, he will be up there getting your team a top 10 finish.
Aric Almirola
In his last 4 races here, he has the 10th best average finish at this track with a 14.25. Here is another guy who if he stays outta trouble he will be up there bumping and grinding on the final restart of the race. I guess you can never go wrong with the 43 at Martinsville. Like Clint, check happy hour speeds and base your decision on that. Maybe he gets his first top 10 of the season here at Martinsville.
Martin Truex Jr.
I haven't noticed much of a hangover from this team. I definitely thought Furniture Row racing would have a tough time getting up to speed with Toyota power because of being a single car team. Other then tech problems, missing crew chief Cole Pearn, Martin Truex Jr. has steadily been up there this year (besides Fontana.) Out of the 4 drivers I have picked he has the worst average finish at Martinsville. In his last 4 starts here, he starts around 17th and finishes around 15th. This season his average finish is 13th with 2 top 10s and 1 top 5. I thought he had a shot at winning at Fontana if it wasn't for a late race run in with Joey Logano.
Alternates(if you have 8 or 9 starts left): Carl Edwards and Ryan Newman.
Now, you may have all of your starts left with these two. I unfortunately got carried away with them early on in the season and only have 7 for both. But I'm sure glad I started Edwards at Phoenix, without him I wouldn't have had finishers 1,2,9,10. If you have 8 or 9 starts with both plug them in for Bowyer and Almirola. And good for you, that will make it so much easier for you. I'm left hoping Bowyer or Almirola come through.
Group C- (Start Em') Chase Elliot
Before the season started if you were to ask me who I thought would be the rookie of the year, I would've told you it would be a 2 horse race between Chase Elliot and Ryan Blaney. Well, it looks like my prediction is coming true. The only difference is that Chase Elliot's team ran every race last year and has a veteran crew chief in Alan Gustafson. Besides the fact Chase is a helluva driver he has a crew chief who has been around awhile. I believe Chase gets a good finish here and possibly goes to Victory Lane.
(Sit Em') Brian Vickers
Its looking like another year of the 4 and 41 at Stewart Haas. I'm not a driver but I'm guessing having a year off because of illness hits you pretty hard, not to mention splitting time with another driver. It may get better for Vickers but I think Smoke will be back by the time he gets rolling. But, if there is one race that will help get him back on track, it will be here at Martinsville. I just don't think a driver benefits from racing every other week, really shocked they didn't go with Ty Dillon for the races leading up to Tony's return.
There it is, please leave comments on how you faired if you used my picks and all criticism is constructive criticism. Good Luck!
God Speed
Booger
