Top 20 Fantasy NASCAR Drivers For Richmond
Race: Toyota Owners 400
Date: Saturday April 27, 2013 7:30 PM
Location: Richmond International Raceway
Past Winners: Kyle Busch (2012), Kyle Busch (2011), Kyle Busch (2010), Kyle Busch (2009), Clint Bowyer (2008), Jimmie Johnson (2007), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2006), Kasey Kahne (2005), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2004), Joe Nemechek (2003), Tony Stewart (2002), Tony Stewart (2001), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2000)
Overview:
Richmond is one of the shortest NASCAR tracks, as it is only 0.75 of a mile, so it is naturally a more aggressive track. It makes for a very fast pace race, but also leads to a lot of paint being traded in the front of the pack.
Denny Hamlin has been out since March 24th as he is recovering from a compression fracture in his lower back. He was rumored to come back this weekend to his home track, but he will have to wait another week to make his miraculous return to the oval. I am sure it has been a grueling rehab process for Hamlin, so it will be a heart-warming sight to see him climb back into the #11 car.
Lastly, it wouldn’t be an intro to Richmond without mentioning Kyle Busch. The M&M’s car has won this race four consecutive times and has to be the favorite to win it in 2013.
To help you in your drafts this week, here are the top-20 fantasy NASCAR drivers for the 2013 Toyota Owners 400 in Richmond.
Adam McGill is the Senior Fantasy Sports Writer at Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter @adammcgill83, like him on Facebook, or add him to you networks on Google here or here.
20. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. – Stenhouse Jr. has finished inside the top-20 six times this season.
19. Juan Pablo Montoya
Juan Pablo Montoya – JPM has cracked the top-20 in three straight trips to Richmond.
18. Aric Almirola
Aric Almirola – Double A has been on fire in the last two weeks. He finished seventh in Texas and eighth in Kansas. His 34th place start this week will make him a risky fantasy option though.
17. Greg Biffle
Greg Biffle – Biff has finished inside the top-19 in every race this season. However, he will start the race in 33rd, so don't expect much better than a top-20 finish this weekend.
16. Paul Menard
Paul Menard – Menard is having a career season and is shockingly ninth overall in Sprint Cup points. He has four top-10 finishes and seems to be in the thick of it every lap around the track.
15. Jamie McMurray
Jamie McMurray – McMurray keeps surprising fantasy owners week after week. He has three top-10 finishes in the last five races and will start this weekend's race in 13th.
14. Kevin Harvick
Kevin Harvick – Harvick has seven straight top-14 finishes.
13. Tony Stewart
Tony Stewart – Stewart has finished inside the top-10 in nine of the last 12 races at Richmond. He may have struggled so far this year, but this seems like a good race for him to start turning his season around.
12. Joey Logano
Joey Logano – J-Lo has two top-five finishes in the last four races and will be a strong sleeper to target this Sunday.
11. Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Johnson – Johnson has never done exceptionally well at Richmond, which is most likely because Kyle Busch is always on the track. Johnson only has one top-five finish at Richmond in the last eight races and will start this year all the way back in 26th.
10. Mark Martin
Mark Martin – Martin has three straight top-10 finishes at Richmond.
9. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. – Junior has won at Richmond three times and has placed second twice.
8. Clint Bowyer
Clint Bowyer – Bowyer has finished inside of the top-five in three of his last five races this season.
7. Jeff Gordon
Jeff Gordon – Gordon finished second at Richmond during last year’s fall race and the Rainbow Warrior will start this year in third.
6. Carl Edwards
Carl Edwards – Edwards led 206 laps of last year’s Toyota Owners 400.
5. Kasey Kahne
Kasey Kahne – Kahne has cracked the top-11 in six straight races. He also finished fifth and 12th in the two races in Richmond last season.
4. Brad Keselowski
Brad Keselowski – Keselowski has cracked the top-nine in seven of the eight races this year.
3. Martin Truex Jr.
Martin Truex Jr. – MTJ finished second in Texas after leading 142 laps and finished fourth in Kansas after leading 46 laps. Truex Jr. is bringing a beautiful car with him to the RIR, so expect another stellar performance from the NAPA car.
2. Matt Kenseth
Matt Kenseth – Kenseth was docked 50 points for last weekend’s engine mishap, but he was still able to capture the pole for Sunday's race. Expect him to have a strong showing and put last week's controversy in the rearview.
1. Kyle Busch
Kyle Busch – Busch won four straight spring races at Richmond. He has dominated this track recently and should easily be the number one fantasy option this week.
