Booger's Monday NASCAR Fantasy Update: Talladega spring race Edition

Talladega Superspeedway

Talladega, Alabama

Sunday, May 1st, 2016

1:00 PM Est. | FOX

April 26, 1990 @ 1:03 AM, this guy was born. That weekend Geoffrey Bodine won the Hanes Activewear 500 at Martinsville. Rusty Wallace was runner up and Morgan Shepherd, Darrell Waltrip, and Dale Earnhardt rounded out the top 5. How did I know that you may wonder? Because I was pretty damn awesome at 3 days old and google has been invented since then. Talladega Superspeedway is on my bucket list of tracks to get to. Hell I'm only 26 so there is a damn good chance that may happen.(if I win the lottery that is.) As for last week, I came in 4th place, and as for points I remain tail end Charlie. But, it was an entertaining race at Richmond, I can't remember the last time there was multiple grooves there. We had another dominate effort by the Joe Gibbs Racing stable, and teammates got together on the last lap. That's old time racing folks at its finest. Yes these guys race for teams and have teammates but that's what makes NASCAR different from stick and ball sports is that they will wreck their teammates to get to victory lane. I jumped and gambled on the bandwagon of AJ Allmendinger and it didn't work out well for me as he was my only downfall. Kasey Kahne ran well, as did Kurt Busch (who looked like he could have been a threat for the win in the middle portion of the race. And the Rookie impressed as Chase Elliot came back from a lap down to finish 12th. Well, on to my picks for this weekends Geico 500 from TALLADEGA!!

Group A- Dale Earnhardt Jr.

You surprised? I'm 100% positive that JR will be on everyone's roster this week. He is so damn good here, and Daytona. Its almost not even fair when they get to Dega and unload. He is everyone's pick to win and he will be mine this weekend. Dale Jr will get himself into the 2016 Chase with a win this Sunday. Plus he will be driving his favorite car Amelia, as his team has repaired and got it ready for this weekend (he wrecked it at Daytona in February.)

Brad Keselowski

You may not label BK as a restrictor plate racer, and possibly he doesn't either. But BK runs well here and has 3 wins all time here, including that exciting finish he and Carl Edwards had back in 2009. In 14 attempts along with those 3 wins he has 5 top 5s and 8 top 10s. Now stats don't really matter here, but you have to go with the guy that's going to stay clean and clear of the BIG ONE. There is not one chance I pick him to start but, I guess you have to have 2 guys on your roster.

Group B- Clint Bowyer

Now this week is where you are going to get extremely lucky. A couple years back I started David Ragan, everybody I knew told me I was crazy for starting him and he went onto win the race in the biggest upset of that year. Same could be said this week, only difference is Clint is a good restrictor plate racer. He has 2 wins here 6 top5s and 11 top10s. His year is off to a slow start but because Dega is such a crapchute, anything is possible.

Paul Menard

The biggest part about this weekend is to find that 1 guy or 2 guys that are good restrictor plate racers that no one knows about or won't think about picking them. Paul Menard runs fairly well here and is in some good equipment. Its tough to think of something good to say because here the best slogan to describe dega with is, "Its checkers or wreckers!" You just hope these guys make it through and problems and get good finishes (or else you will look like an idiot).

Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

With my 2 biggest gambles of the weekend we start with Stenhouse. In 5 races he has 1top5 and 3top10, that's pretty decent for such a young career. Again, you could get lucky with this pick.

Trevor Bayne

My 2nd biggest gamble for the week is this guy. Who can't forget his Daytona 500 victory? I can't I picked him that year and again I got the are you freaking nuts there no flipping way. If I was old enough I would've put money on him in Vegas. He runs horrible here, but has been running well as of late.

WHOELSE2WATCH4- Jamie McMurray, Biffle, Casey Mears

Group C- David Ragan

This will be the first weekend this year I don't pick a rookie. I love that there are 40 cars that could win this weekend. Anything could happen in this race. David Ragan won this race back in 2013 and he is a restrictor plate racer with his only wins coming here and Daytona. I do like my odds with this pick.

Michael Waltrip

Waltrip is back behind the wheel this weekend, and why not pick him. He has 1 win 8 top5s, 16 top10s and its really any ones race. Depending on where you wind up in the closing laps if you are around. Remember back in 2012 he just about won the fall race but was taken out in turn 3 and 4 by a Tony Stewart block. I also feel safe with this pick as well.

NOTE: Another guy to look out for is Ryan Blaney, he ran very well here last year and I believe he finished 3rd.

There we have it. This week is going to be tough for anyone to pick even the experts. No I didn't pick Danica for the 5th weekend in a row. (Ron, I Apologize) Good Luck and Thank you for your continued support!

BOOGER



Booger's Monday (Tuesday) NASCAR Fantasy Update: Richmond (Spring) Race

TOYOTA Owners 400

Richmond International Raceway

Richmond, Virginia | Sunday, April 24, 2016

TV: FOX | TIME: 1 PM EST

As Bill Belichek once said, "We're on to Cincinnati." Well, replace Cincinnati with Richmond and there you have what I have to say about last week. Another, shitty week for the Dick Trickle Fantasy team of the Grand Forks Racing League. Now, I know it doesn't help when Kyle Busch wrecked 3 times, the 3rd time being a charm and giving that team their first DNF of the year. Ty Dillon got into trouble late (of freaking course) he was running well all day too. Ryan Newman finished 9th and was my lone bright shiny star. Congratulations is due to Matt DiBenedetto for recording a 6th place finish for the small racing team of BK Racing. Dale Jr. battled back from a horrible restart and Clint Bowyer got his first top 10 of the season. Good Riddance did I miss on this week. But we have a long ways to go. SO here are my picks for this weekends TOYOTA OWNERS 400 at Richmond.

GROUP A- Kurt Busch

Now, its going to be tough for anyone to go with someone other than Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, Denny Hamlin or Matt Kenseth. But I'm going to this week in order for me to dig out of the hole from last week. Kurt Busch is the defending race winner, in which he did so in dominating fashion. Kurt led 291 laps and was up front all day. Coming of a 3rd place finish at Bristol could get this team to start challenging the JGR cars. I like my odds with the OUTLAW and you should to.

Joey Logano

Joey is consistently running well, recording his 5th top 10 this season at Bristol last weekend and hasn't had much drama on the track. Logano started from the pole in this race a year ago (he swept qualifying at this track last year) He ended the day leading 94 laps and a 5th place finish in last years race. He is due for a W.

OTHER PICK: Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick , Matt Kenseth

GROUP B- Carl Edwards

They call him Concrete Carl, but Richmond is a paved race track. He dominated at Bristol, and could very well do the same thing this week. Watch for Cousin Carl to also get his 3rd consecutive pole at Richmond.

AJ Allmendinger

My buddy in my other league has been on the Dinger's bandwagon for weeks, and its really paying off for him. I'm going to jump on as well, even though he doesn't necessarily run well here. He has been up front a lot this year and so far has been a surprise in 2016. Don't get to carried with his starts, there are 2 road courses coming and he's a safe bet there.

Kasey Kahne and Clint Bowyer

Let the gambling begin. Clint Bowyer is coming off his first Top 10 of the year and I have said it before and I'll say it again, drivers get confidence after a good run. As I said with Kasey Kahne and few weeks prior.

OTHER PICKS: Kyle Larson, Ryan Newman, Martin Truex, Jamie McMurray

GROUP C- Chase Elliot and Brian Vickers

Now I need to see what happens this week with Matt DiBenedetto before I jump on that bandwagon, but he is definitely on the radar for weeks to come. Chase Elliot continues to impress me. Ryan Blaney has sort of fallen in the last weeks, but don't think that will continue. Brian Vickers is back in Tony Stewarts #14 and actually runs pretty well here as well. Either one will be a good fit on your team especially Elliot.

Well there we have it, another week in the books and on to the next one. Would like to take this moment to remember a good family friend that passed away Saturday. He was an awesome guy and is gone to soon. So with that, GOD SPEED DON AKER. Forever Missed and REST IN PARADISE!

Booger's Monday NASCAR Fantasy Update: Bristol (Spring Race) Edition

Food City 500

Bristol Motor Speedway

Bristol, Tennessee | Sunday, April 17, 2016

1 PM EST | FOX

Another week is behind us, Kyle Busch is on fire. There has been 4 races the past 2 weeks and KB has been on top of the heap for every one of those 4 races. As for me, I finally dug myself out of the hole and finished 2nd this week. I took a look at my competitors teams and the team that beat me had 1 different driver then I did. I was going to flip flop Carl Edwards for Greg Biffle, but decided against that before race time. My lineup of Jimmie Johnson, Greg Biffle, Martin Truex and Chase Elliot was good enough for 2nd place, if I would have made the change of Biffle for Edwards I would have had the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th place finishers. So I rebounded nicely, which is good because its tough to get back into the race for the title. My concentration was a little off this week as my University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks played for the 2016 NCAA Frozen Four National Championship. We got the 'W' for the first time in 16 years, what a party that ensued after. I didn't watch much of the race but I recorded it, I'm hoping my wife will let me watch it tonight (instead of Angry house wives of .... or whatever you call it) after I finish up with this. Anyways on to my picks.

Group A- Kyle 'Rowdy' Busch

The man is the hottest driver in NASCAR right now. We saw this last year after he came back from his injury, rattling off 4 in a row off is nothing new to Mr. Rowdy. The JGR cars (Truex included) are just hard not to pick every week. With only 9 starts you really have to portion them out. Anyone of those drivers will get hot at any point of the season. Oh, by the way he is really good here, 5 wins, 8 top 5s and 13 top 10s.  Last year he was unable to race in the spring due to surgery on his leg and ankle, came to Bristol last August and recorded an 8th place finish.

Matt Kenseth

Unlike his teammate Kyle Busch, Kenseth still needs a win to get into the chase. The 2015 winner of this event comes into Bristol this weekend having yet to record a top 5 finish. He is coming to one of his best tracks where has 4 wins in 26 starts. Look for Matt Kenseth to knock his teammate off the heap this week to get into the Victory Lane.

Group B- Greg Biffle

STICK WITH THE BIFF! Things were looking up for Biffle till Kasey Kahne dive bombed him and sent Biffle into the wall. Drivers feed of good finishes, and things were looking good last week in Texas. Biffle runs surprisingly decent here, 6 top 5s and 13 top 10s. Looking for Biff to drive a clean race and get a finish he deserves.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

I'm really stretching on this pick here. Like last week, I'm going with a driver not to many people will think about going with. Stenhouse is one of those guys today (guess you could say the same of Biffle). In 6 starts Stenhouse has recorded 2 top 5s (1 of which came in this race last year) and 3 top 10s. In his last 3 starts at Bristol he has finished 4th, 6th and 2nd.

Ryan Newman

Not a guy on to many peoples radar this week, except mine. He consistently finishes well, which means he stays out of the trouble. By staying out of trouble I mean he qualifies well here, he averages a 10th place starting position. In his last 4 races here, he has a 10th, 5th, 13th and 16th place finish. Another thing that pops out to me is that he completes all the laps, not going a lap down is huge here.

Kasey Kahne

Last week I said that I was going with Greg Biffle because he was coming of a good finish. Same with Kasey this weekend, coming off an 8th place I'm hoping Kasey feeds off that and gets a good one here. The main thing is, he needs to run well here on out. I feel his job is on the line at the end of the year with Mr. Hendrick.

WHO ELSE TO WATCH 4- McMurray, Edwards, Austin Dillon

Group C- Ty Dillon

Ty is making his return to Tony Stewart's #14 this weekend. Out of the replacement drivers running this car, Ty is running better than Brian Vickers. I believe the key here is that Ty is running the Xfinity Race on Saturday and its really showing for those Cup guys that are racing in that series are really getting the seat time needed to figure out this new downforce package.  He runs pretty well here to in the Xfinity series, 3 top 5s, 4 top 10s in 4 races. He will be making his first attempt at the Cup race here at Bristol.

Chase Elliot

Also making he first career start at Bristol this weekend, Chase is running well as of late. In the Xfinity series he averages a 6th place finish, in that run he has recorded 4 top 10s. Chase is also running the Xfinity race on Saturday. Seat time helps, but the big thing is to qualify up front and stay outta trouble (in the pits and on track.

There we have it. Another week of picks, I really hope this helped some one out like it did me. Please leave comments about how you did or ways you think I can improve this blog. Thank You to those that are supporting me in this journey of blogging. Now off to talk my wife into turning off Teen Mom for NASCAR.

GOD SPEED

BOOGER



Booger's Monday Fantasy Update- Texas Spring Race Edition

Texas Motor Speedway
Fort Worth, Texas | Saturday, April 9th, 2016
4:30 PM EST | FOX

I don't know who is more excited to get to Texas, Denny Hamlin or Me. I totally failed yesterday in all of my picks. My lone shiny star of the race was Brian Vickers who was a pre race change just because I heard Michael Waltrip mention his name on the grid walk. Other then that I left JJ on the bench, Denny wheel hopped my chances into the wall, Jamie Mc blew a tire at the end and Truex (well I told you he averages 15th-17th) he finished 18th. I am on to Texas though and hope to gain some of my pride back. Every week gets tougher as now we will see who the comers and goers are. Kyle Busch swept the weekend and did something very cool on his drive home. Love or hate the guy that's pretty awesome, if you haven't seen the video check it out here.

  https://youtu.be/GdaMpmD-LsY?t=6

On to my picks, my competitors in my Yahoo league if they read this are probably just laughing. I  totally stunk it up yesterday and got my ass whooped, didn't even score 200 points. I know its a shame, no need to go for jugular right away after a lousy week. This is such a crap shoot, a blown tire there and blown tire everywhere can definitely doom you but what can you do? You can't press pause and Restart. SO here are my picks.

Group A-

JIMMIE JOHNSON-

Now if you don't start him this week, I will throat punch you through the interwebs. The man is on fire at Texas, winning 5 times in his last 7 starts. The dude loves Texas, more then George W. Its safe to say that if he qualifies horrible, don't be alarmed he will be up to the front in no time. That stuff I said about him getting notes for the chase, yeah crumple that up like its a flunked test in college. The guy would have 4 wins in a row there if it wasn't for his teammate Dale Jr trying to mow the front stretch grass with his splitter. (A clump came up and broke JJs windshield) The man is going to win his 6th race in his last 8 starts Saturday Night. Mark it down, Good freaking night.

BRAD KESELOWSKI-

In the last 4 races, no one comes close to the consistency that he has at Texas (no really Brad's 1 and Jimmie is 2). He dominated the November race last year leading 312 laps of 334. Texas is one of BKs best tracks, even dominates the Xfinity Series here. In the last 4 races he has led 446 laps recording 3 top 5s and 3 top 10s. Behind Jimmie, he's another guy to watch for this weekend, just really feel safer with going with JJ.

WHO(ELSE)2WATCH4-  MATT KENSETH, KYLE BUSCH, KEVIN HARVICK, AND JOEY LOGANO

Group B-

GREG BIFFLE-

I know what your thinking, oh here we go again. But I'm here to tell you, I'm trusting my gut feeling on this guy this week. After a 12th place finish at Martinsville, and going to one of his best tracks he may have gotten the confidence from last weeks finish to run well this weekend. Not going to be a factor for the win I don't think but is going to get a good finish. In 25 races, the Biffs average finish is 14.88, with 2 wins, 8 top5s, and 13 top10s. In the last 4 races the finishes don't show but I really think the confidence off a good finish will help the Biff.

CARL EDWARDS-

Cousin Carl has been fortunate to do his victory back flip 3 times here at Texas, winning 3 times in 22 starts. He finished 5th there last fall and 10th in this race a year ago. From the looks of it he's consistently finishing near or around the top10. With JGR power though anything is possible, all 4 of Gibbs cars are running well. And having Carl or Matt means, they need a win to get into the chase yet, (Kyle and Denny already are in the chase)

MARTIN TRUEX JR.-

Here is another guy that could potentially battle for a win. Furniture Row is allianced with JGR motors. Last fall he battled Brad Keselowski late for the win, when he lost power steering and fought his way to an 8th place finish. In the spring of 2015 he finished 9th. So consistency is the word here with Truex, could possibly battle for a win, but will be a safe bet he will give you a top 10 finish.

JAMIE McMURRAY-

Here's that word again, CONSISTENCY. Finished 10th last fall and 6th in this race a year ago. Throughout his career, his numbers don't really stick out to you. Barring any tire troubles this week, I believe he will quietly hang around the top 10 this week and not disappoint. The bright spot is I really think Ganassi Racing is finding its groove. (Kyle Larson finished 4th yesterday)

WHO(ELSE)2WATCH4- KYLE LARSON, PAUL MENARD, AUSTIN DILLON, AJ ALLMENDINGER

Group C-

CHASE ELLIOT & RYAN BLANEY

I'm going with the rookies this week. Besides Brian Vickers run at Martinsville, there is no one else in this group that is even worth a risk. (Until we get to Talladega) Elliot has never ran a NSCS race at Texas, in the Xfinity Series he has 2 top5s 4 top10s and 1 win in 4 events. He won his first ever Xfinity race at Texas. Ryan Blaney has run 2 races with the NSCS both coming last season. Though he didn't fair to well in either of them (Engine problems and Blown tire into the wall) look for him to continue his awesome season. Look for both these guys to continue their sensational rookie seasons.

There we have it, another week in the books. I hope to salvage the little pride I have left from my horrible weekend. Feel free to comment on what you think and remember criticism is only constructive to help me make this better. THANK YOU for your support.

GOD SPEED

BOOGER

https://youtu.be/GdaMpmD-LsY