By Jordan McAbee
Now that practice and qualifying is completed, it’s time to lock down our final rosters in Yahoo! Auto Racing. Earlier this week I posted my initial thoughts on which drivers would be the best strategic choices for this weekend’s QuikTrip Folds of Honor 500. I stuck to my guns with what I said earlier in the week and did not deviate from any of the picks I had. In the C Group, I did decide to go with Brian Scott and Ty Dillon.
Below is my final rankings for each driver grouping in the Yahoo! Auto Racing game for Atlanta. This is based on how each driver qualified as well as how their car looked during the practice sessions. If you’re looking for practice results and detailed notes, be sure to head on over to ifantasyrace.com for those. There’s even a ten-lap average cheat sheet!
Yahoo! A Group Final Rankings for Atlanta
I selected Kevin Harvick and Joey Logano in the A Group this weekend, and this choice is a no-brainer. While the former is a potential race winner on Sunday, the latter may have trouble finishing inside the top 10. Kevin Harvick starts near the front and may lead the most laps in the QuikTrip Folds of Honor 500 before going to victory lane. The Choice: Kevin Harvick
Final A Group Rankings: (1) Jimmie Johnson, (2) Kevin Harvick, (3) Matt Kenseth, (4) Kurt Busch, (5) Dale Earnhardt, Jr., (6) Denny Hamlin, (7) Kyle Busch, (8) Joey Logano, (9) Brad Keselowski
Yahoo! B Group Final Rankings for Atlanta
The four choices available for the Fantasy Racing Online Yahoo! team are Carl Edwards, Martin Truex, Jr., Ryan Newman, and Kyle Larson. You could make a case for starting three of the four drivers this weekend. After Happy Hour, where the #42 Chevrolet was mediocre at best, I’m staying away from Larson is most fantasy leagues. It’s just not
worth the risk this early in the year. Now, I do believe that Newman has top 10 potential this week, which would allow us to save either an Edwards start or a Truex start. Or we can go for max points and leave Newman on the bench, starting the #19 and #78 Toyotas. My initial gut reaction is to go with the heavy hitters, so that’s what I’m doing. The Choices: Carl Edwards and Martin Truex, Jr.
Final B Group Rankings: (1) Martin Truex, Jr., (2) Carl Edwards, (3) Ryan Newman, (4) Jamie McMurray, (5) Kasey Kahne, (6) Austin Dillon, (7) Greg Biffle, (8) Paul Menard, (9) Kyle Larson, (10) Trevor Bayne, (11) Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., (12) Aric Almirola, (13) A.J. Allmendinger, (14) Danica Patrick, (15) Casey Mears, (16) Clint Bowyer
Yahoo! C Group Final Rankings for Atlanta
I went with the start saving option this weekend, and I’m glad I did. That means I have Brian Scott and Ty Dillon on my Yahoo! roster this week. My strategy here is to keep the good C drivers like Chase Elliott and Ryan Blaney available for the end of the season, where they should be at their best. Looking at this weekend, Brian Scott surprised most people and qualified 10th, while Ty Dillon qualified 18th in the #14 Chevrolet. Blaney and Elliott will start together in Row 12. I really like Brian Scott as a sleeper this week but I have to go with my other option. The Choice: Ty Dillon
Final C Group Rankings: (1) Chase Elliott, (2) Ryan Blaney, (3) Ty Dillon, (4) Brian Scott, (5) Landon Cassill, (6) Regan Smith, (7) Chris Buescher, (8) the rest
HARVICK
EDWARDS
NEWMAN
TY DILLON