Overview
With another road course on the schedule, there are a lack of laps as far as dominators go. However, with qualifying being somewhat chaotic there are plenty of drivers starting towards the back that aren’t necessarily accustomed to such treatment. There will be plenty of place differential to be had.
Top Drivers
Tyler Reddick ($10,300), Starting 2nd
At this point it’s necessary to consider Reddick a road course ace. In 18 road courses at the Cup level Reddick has three wins, five top-five’s, and 10 top-10’s. Reddick won the race on the Indy road course last season and it wouldn’t shock me at all to see him lead the majority of this race and potentially win.
A.J. Allmendinger ($9,300), Starting 26th
Dinger starting at 26th is either a gift or a trap. One of the best road course racers of our generation starting this far back in the field after getting extra seat time (he dominated the XFINITY race yesterday) seems to good to be true, right? Well, I’ll bite, Dinger didn’t qualify here well last year (20th) but finished well (7th). Look for a similar finish with the upside being a top-five.
Chris Buescher ($9,200), Starting 17th
Buescher is already in the playoff with two wins, one of which came last week. The RFK driver finished this race 10th last season and has been rock solid of late at road courses with a second, third, 10th, ninth, and sixth at Sonoma, Road America, Indy, Watkins Glen, and the ROVAL; all road courses. Buescher also finished eighth at COTA and fourth at Sonoma this season.
William Byron ($8,900), Starting 39th
Now we get into the chalk P.D. drivers and Byron headlines that group. There isn’t much to be said here; one of the better drivers in the field priced under 9K. Byron has four wins on the season and an average finish of 17th in in road course races.
Also Consider:
Kevin Harvick ($7,300), Starting 38th
- Along with Byron, the highest owned P.D. driver will be Harvick starting back at 38th. His salary fits in the low to mid range and should be paid off easily.
Erik Jones ($6,300), Starting 36th
- Jones is still looking for his first win of the season but comes in with six top-10’s and an average finish of 19th. Jones has three top-five’s and nine top-10’s in 26 career road course races.
Chase Elliott
- There was a time that Elliott was the best road course racer out there and he’s still very good, but others have caught up to him. Starting third, there’s a chance that Chase leads a chunk of laps and wins. He’s certainly a tournament/GPP option at this salary but he does have seven wins, 16 top-five’s, and 19 top-10’s with an average finish of eighth in 27 races.
Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. ($5,500), Starting 34th
- Cash game place differential play.
Aric Almirola ($5,700), Starting 33rd
- Cash game place differential play.