Just like we saw at Texas Motor Speedway a month ago, quite a few drivers didn’t make it through qualifying inspection here at Kansas Speedway on Friday, and because of that there are some very good drivers starting 28th or worse. And while those drivers were no-brainer picks at Texas, that’s not necessarily the case here at Kansas; ever since this track was repaved in 2012, track position has been more important than ever, and it’s been incredibly difficult to pass. Don’t be restricted to focusing on just place differential points this weekend.
My team points last week (Talladega): 213
Overall team standings: 322nd
Total team points for the season: 1,814
Top FOX Fantasy Auto Drivers for the 2017 Kansas Race
Jimmie Johnson ($12,900) – Back at Texas, Jimmie Johnson didn’t have problems with qualifying inspection, but he still started at the back of the field (24th) thanks to a tire issue. However, if you remember back to that race, you’ll know that the #48 Chevrolet eventually ended up in victory lane at the end of 500 miles. This weekend, Johnson will start from back in 28th and there’s a pretty good chance that he will be able to make his way to the front once again. “Seven Time” is a three-time winner here at Kansas Speedway and owns the series-best average finish of 8.9 in twenty-one career starts. In the last four races here, Johnson has posted finishes of 4th, 3rd, and 1st, and in those races his best qualifying effort was 19th. The #48 Chevrolet had the best ten-lap average in Happy Hour on Friday and Johnson should be able to post at least 50 fantasy points in FOX Fantasy Auto on Saturday night.
Kevin Harvick ($12,500) – Remember, it’s not necessarily all about place differential fantasy points at Kansas this weekend. Kevin Harvick will start from 8th when the Go Bowling 400 goes green on Saturday night, and that actually leaves a little room for place differential points. However, when you go with Harvick, you’re going more for finish points. Harvick has been great here at Kansas Speedway over the last few years, posting finishes of 1st or 2nd in five of the last seven races. Also, you have to love the momentum that this #4 team is building; before Talladega last weekend, Harvick had three straight top 5 finishes, and you have to believe they’re getting closer and closer to getting that first win. Will it be this weekend? I think Harvick has a very good chance.
Kasey Kahne ($10,200) – Chances are, at least one of the drivers starting in the back is going to run into problems, and the two most likely that that will happen to are Kasey Kahne and Erik Jones. The former is coming off of a 5th-place finish at Talladega last weekend, but let’s not put too much emphasis on that; the fact of the matter is that Kahne has finished 20th or worse in five of the last seven Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races–and it’s not like he’s unstoppable here at Kansas Speedway. With that being said, Kasey owns a career average finish of 13.4 at this track and has three top 10s in the last six events here. It’s a risky pick in taking Kahne this weekend, but his $10,200 salary should keep his ownership percentage relatively low. A 17th-place finish out of the #5 team on Saturday night will net FOX Fantasy Auto owners 37 fantasy points from Kahne.
Erik Jones ($5,300) – It’s hard to trust Erik Jones at all right now considering he hasn’t finished better than 17th in the last four Monster Energy Cup Series races, but there’s no doubt that he has pretty good speed in that Furniture Row Racing Toyota. Jones is more than capable of running well here at Kansas Speedway, and he actually ran pretty well in this race here last season when filling in for Kyle Busch and was inside the top 10 for a lot of the race. Unfortunately, Erik wrecked late and ended up finishing 40th. This weekend, the #77 Toyota ranked 3rd-fastest in the opening practice and was 12th in Happy Hour with the 9th-best ten-lap average. Even just a 20th-place finish out of Jones on Saturday night will net 32 fantasy points in FOX Fantasy Auto Racing.
Other viable options: Kyle Busch, Clint Bowyer, Kyle Larson, Martin Truex, Jr., Erik Jones, Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
Stay away from…
Brad Keselowski ($11,000) – Please note: this isn’t an “avoid like the plague” designation for Brad Keselowski. Instead, it is a “this is a great fade option” designation. The #2 Ford is going to roll off the grid from 17th when Saturday night’s Go Bowling 400 goes green, and while this does create a great opportunity for place differential points, that also means that a whole lot of teams are going to have Keselowski on them–especially with his low price (for him anyway). This, obviously, creates a great fade opportunity. As far as speed this weekend, Kez was struggling to find it on Friday, but his teammate didn’t have any problems (nor did his quasi-teammate, Ryan Blaney). Still, Keselowski hasn’t had a top 5 finish here at Kansas since the 2011 season, and that might not change this weekend.
Matt Kenseth ($9,200) – In previous years, this type of price for Matt Kenseth would make him a no-brainer in this FOX Fantasy Auto game. However, this is 2017 we’re talking about, and Kenseth has been nothing but disappointing for fantasy owners thus far; in the last seven Monster Energy Cup Series races, the #20 Toyota has finished 16th or worse in five of them, with the only exception being Bristol and Martinsville–two short tracks. Here at Kansas, Kenseth has three top 10s in the last four races, but it’s just hard to see him performing at that level this weekend. He also qualified in 14th, which leaves some room for place differential points, but not a lot. There are better options on Saturday night in FOX Fantasy Auto.
