The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series moves to Kansas Speedway's for the 29th race of the 2008 season, the Camping World RV 400. Race Preview took a look at past performances, practice sessions, season trends, and talked to NASCAR contacts to predict how the field should finish on Sunday.
When: Sunday, September 28, 2008; 2:15 p.m./et
Weather: Mostly sunny with a high around 76; wind out of the NE at 8 mph. Chance of precipitation 0%.
The Track: Kansas Speedway
Kansas is a 1.5 mile quad-oval. It has 15 degree banking in the corners and 10 degree banking in the tri-oval and five degree banking on the straightaways.
Key to Race: KANSAS ISN'T JUST THE NAME OF A BAND
Kansas is another 1.5 mile oval which favors teams like Roush Fenway and Hendrick Motorsports. Jeff Gordon is the only two-time winner at the track and there have been six different pole winners in the seven different races.
Sports
Qualifying Procedures:
45cars will attempt to qualify for 43 spots. Cars not in the top 35 in the 2008 point standings will have to qualify based on speed. Starting positions 1-43 will be determined by two lap qualifying runs that will be done on Friday, September 26 at 4:10 pm/et.
Fantasy Cheat Sheet:
Top 5
No. 16 Greg Biffle: Biffle won last year's race at Kansas and has finished 12th or better in the last five races at the track. Is there a hotter driver on the planet right now?
No. 99 Carl Edwards: Edwards finished sixth and third in two of the past three races at Kansas. He does very well at 1.5 mile ovals making him a great pick on Sunday.
No. 07 Clint Bowyer: Bowyer, who is a Kansas native, has finished second and ninth in his starts at Kansas. He is a great pick on Sunday.
No. 20 Tony Stewart: Stewart has five top 10 finishes in seven career starts at Kansas. He won the 2006 race and is a lock to crack the top 10 on Sunday.
No. 24 Jeff Gordon: Gordon has two career wins at Kansas and has finished 13th or better in six of his seven starts at the track. He is a great pick on Sunday.
6 to 10
No. 48 Jimmie Johnson: Johnson has four top 10 finishes in six career starts at Kansas. He should finish right around the top five this weekend.
No. 5 Casey Mears: Mears has cracked the top eight in the past three races at Kansas. He is a great sleeper option this weekend.
No. 18 Kyle Busch: Kansas has never been one of Rowdy's better tracks, but he is only racing for wins now. Look for him to take some unnecessary chances this weekend, something that will either help or hurt your fantasy team.
No. 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Junior has had four top 10 finishes in seven career starts at Kansas. He should make it five this weekend.
No. 8 Mark Martin: Martin won the 2005 race at Kansas and finished 12th and third the past two years. He won't take enough chances to win, but he is a solid fantasy pick.
11 to 20
No. 29 Kevin Harvick: Harvick led 18 laps on his way to a sixth place finish at Kansas last year. He should just miss cracking the top 10 this weekend.
No. 9 Kasey Kahne: Kahne has led 50 laps in four career races at Kansas. He is an interesting pick this weekend.
No. 83 Brian Vickers: Vickers has finished in the top 20 in all three of his career starts at Kansas. He is a sleeper on Sunday.
No. 17 Matt Kenseth: Kenseth has averaged just a 22nd place finish at Kansas during his career. There are far better tracks for the No. 17 team.
No. 31 Jeff Burton: Burton has cracked the top 10 just once in his career at Kansas. There are far better options this weekend.
No. 2 Kurt Busch: Busch led 76 laps on his way to an 11th place finish at Kansas last year. He is a decent pick this weekend.
No. 6 David Ragan: Ragan finished 16th in his first start at Kansas last year. He should finish right around there again this weekend.
No. 11 Denny Hamlin: Hamlin has finished 29th, 18th and 32nd during his career at Kansas. This is not the weekend to use the No. 11.
No. 44 David Reutimann: Reutimann has been very good lately. He is worth using as a cheap fourth or fifth driver on fantasy teams.
No. 12 Ryan Newman: Newman has three top two finishes in seven career starts at Kansas. With this success we would normally rank him as a Top five performer, but his last four starts at the track have been a disaster.
21 to 30
No. 1 Martin Truex Jr.: Truex Jr. has been very inconsistent in his first two career starts at Kansas. He is a risky pick this weekend.
No. 19 Elliott Sadler: Sadler has qualified well the last five races at Kansas. He should just miss cracking the top 20 this weekend.
No. 26 Jamie McMurray: McMurray has been very average the past three races at Kansas. We predict more of the same from him.
No. 28 Travis Kvapil: Kvapil has been strong in his two career starts at Kansas. He is a sleeper for those of you in deep, deep leagues.
No. 42 Juan Pablo Montoya: Montoya won't do enough to help your fantasy team.
No. 41 Reed Sorenson: Sorenson finished an impressive seventh at Kansas last season, but that finish was a bit of a fluke. A top 25 finish will be a strong result for him this weekend.
No. 15 Paul Menard: Menard has been a consistent mid-20s finisher this season. He should finish there again on Sunday.
No. 96 Joey Logano: Logano struggled with inferior equipment in his first career Cup start a few weeks ago. We expect improvement from the talented rookie this weekend.
No. 00 Michael McDowell: McDowell has cracked the top 30 in his last five starts. He should keep that streak alive this weekend.
No. 43 Bobby Labonte: Labonte's best career finish at Kansas is 16th. He won't come near that this weekend.
31 to 35
No. 7 Robby Gordon: Gordon has finished 28th or better in all but one his starts at Kansas. He should finish in the top 30 again on Sunday.
No. 22 Dave Blaney: Blaney has cracked the top 20 just twice at Kansas in his career.
No. 38 David Gilliland: Gilliland has finished 34th and 22nd at Kansas during his career. He should crack the top 35 again on Sunday.
No. 66 Scott Riggs: Riggs has never been great at Kansas. Stay away from him.
No. 01 Regan Smith: Smith should just miss cracking the top 30 this weekend.
Field Fillers
No. 21 Bill Elliott
No. 45 Kyle Petty
No. 84 A.J. Allmendinger
No. 55 Michael Waltrip
No. 70 Tony Raines
No. 10 Patrick Carpentier
No. 78 Joe Nemechek
No. 77 Sam Hornish Jr.
No. 47 Marcose Ambrose
No. 08 Johnny Sauter
Brownie's Picks
Top Four:
1. Greg Biffle
2. Carl Edwards
3. Clint Bowyer
4. Tony Stewart
Sleepers:
1. Casey Mears
2. Mark Martin
Busts:
1. Denny Hamlin
2. Jeff Burton
