3 days of testing concluded at Daytona International Speedway. Fantasy wise, the test session doesn't mean a whole lot, but it at least gives us a better idea on those to watch as the Bud Shootout and Official Practice draw closer.
Brad Keselowski was fastest in the blue deuce, driving the #2 for Penske Racing. Keselowski posted a speed 198.605, and a time of 45.316. Second on the speed chart was teammate Kurt Busch, driving the #22 yellow double deuce, with a speed of 198.579, and a time of 45.322.
The Penske Dodges were followed up on the chart by the Joe Gibbs Racing teammates of Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, and Joey Logano.
AJ Allmendinger was the fastest Ford, while Jeff Gordon was the fastest Chevy. Carl Edwards had the second fastest Ford time, Tony Stewart posted the second fastest for the Bowtie.
One of the biggest overall keys of the weekend that I picked up on was the new surface and how the drivers commented about how the 500 should play out. With "unlimited grip" we shouldn't see a lot of sliding around in the corners, and outside of someone just flat out screwing up and getting into another driver, we should see some long green flag runs in the 500.
Long green flag runs will be very interesting, as the new ethanol enriched fuel makes a little more horsepower (due to the alcohol content) and thus gives a little less in terms of fuel mileage. Running out of fuel at Daytona is darn near a death wish.
That being said, Team Red Bull with Kahne and Vickers did a ton of 2-car drafting and long runs, although they weren't tops of the speed chart, they should have good data as to how much tape to run and how their fuel mileage will play out in a draft. Tony Stewart also made multiple long runs in the draft. Along with Penske and JGR, I'll be keeping an eye on Stewart and Red Bull come February.
In other news, Kevin Conway announced he will drive for NEMCO Motorsports in the #97 Toyota with ExtenZe sponsorship for the Daytona 500, with no official plans beyond that.
Front Row Motorsports also announced that David Gilliland (in the 38) and Travis Kvapil (in the 34) will return this season. Front Row acquired 34 cars from the 2 defunct RPM teams over the off season. Robert Richardson Jr will again pilot the #37 Front Row ride for the Daytona 500 only. Gilliland and Kvapil are locked in the Top 35, Richardson's #37 sits 36th in the standings from 2010, however the #71 TRG Motorsports ride has announced no plans for 2011, and if they do not compete in the 500 that will move Richardson's #37 into a locked in position. With Travis Kvapil being announced as full time also in the #5 Randy Moss Motorsports Truck Ride, it will be interesting to see which series he elects to run for points in.
Here's a quick look at what drivers have swapped points and are guaranteed a starting spot in the Daytona 500:
27 - Paul Menard - Locked in using #98 RPM 2010 owner points
21 - Trevor Bayne - Locked in using #19 RPM 2010 owner points
77 - Steve Wallace - Locked in using #77 Penkse 2010 owner points
71 - TBA Driver - 35th in 2010 owner points, with no announced 2011 plans
37 - Robert Richardson Jr - 36th in 2010 owner points, Richardson will only run Daytona 500, 37 team will run a limited 2011 schedule, but specific races were not announced. The #37 would be locked into 2nd race in Phoenix as Steven Wallace #77 announced they will only run the Daytona 500 for now.
26 - TBA Driver? - 37th in 2010 owner points, Lattitde 43 has not announced a driver or a plan for 2011.
13 - Casey Mears, 38th in 2010 owner points. Mears would be locked in at Phoenix if 3 of the 4 teams above him do not show up (77, 71, 37, 26)
09 - Bill Elliott, 39th in 2010 owner points. Elliott should be locked in the first 5 races if need be on his past champions provisional, unless Terry Labonte enters any of the races as Terry would get first crack at use of the past champion provisial (Terry's Championship in '96 gets priority over Bill's in '88)
Other teams for the 500:
36 - Dave Blaney - Tommy Baldwin Racing
87 - Joe Nemecheck - NEMCO
46 - J.J. Yeley - Whitney Motorsports
66 - Michael McDowell - HP Racing (formerly Prism)
64 - Larry Gunsleman - Max Q Motorsports
90 - Scott Riggs - Keyed Up Motorsports
51 - Michael Waltrip - Michael Waltrip Racing
92 - Brian Keselowski - K Automotive Racing
97 - Kevin Conway - NEMCO
60 - Todd Bodine ? / Landon Cassill ? - Germain Racing
who u like in these 2 groups based on total points for 36 races no trades and why.
ReplyDelete1.bayne blaney elliot nemechek yeley
2. bliss conway lally mcdowell riggs richardson
Starr t labonte else
thanks rmiller922@att.net
Hello Ray,
ReplyDeleteYour first option appears better. Even though Bayne and Elliott aren't scheduled to run all the races they will give you the most up-side value. Blaney should be in the Tommy Baldwin car most of the year, Nemechek is confirmed to do a full schedule and hopefully Yeley can hang onto his ride at Whitney.
The 2nd team only has comers-and-goers. Bliss is in and out of the series, Conway has no solid plans past the 500, no word on if Andy Lally is doing all the races in the 71, McDowell is a guaranteed start and park, Riggs has an uncertain future and Richardson is only running the plate races.