Power Rankings – Richmond, Federated Auto Parts 400 – Fantasy Insider
Aug 31, 2014; Hampton, GA, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Ryan Newman (31) prior to the race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
This week’s power rankings is for a Saturday Night Special from Richmond on Fantasy Insider — the Federated Auto Parts 400.
The last race of the regular season has a lot at stake, with four teams trying to qualify for the Chase.
After Atlanta, Ryan Newman and Greg Biffle are in the two last transfer spots looking to secure those spots by having a clean race with a top 20 finish. If Greg Biffle has a DNF(did not finish) with three points, then Clint Bowyer or Kyle Larson might sneak in but they will have to get a top three to overtake Greg Biffle to qualify for the Chase.
Newman will be hard to catch with a 19 point lead over Biffle. He needs to finish 19th or better to qualify. I know a 19 point lead doesn’t seem like a lot, but with the present point system and Newman’s 11.3 average finish of 3/4 mile tracks this year, it’s hard to bet against him.
Greg Biffle leads Clint Bowyer by 22 points for the last Chase qualifying spot and if Biffle can duplicate his run from earlier this year at Richmond, there’s no way Bowyer can catch Biffle. Bowyer finished dead last in the first Richmond race with suspension problems. Larson finished 16th at the first Richmond race earlier this year.
I personally think the field is set after Atlanta by the way both Kyle Larson and Clint Bowyer have been running on tracks one mile or less. Kyle Larson has an average finish of 16.3 with an average start of 22.3 with only one top 10. Clint Bowyer has an average start of 11.1 with one top 10 and an average finish of 21.0.
In summary, Bowyer and Larson will have to win the race Saturday night to get into the Chase. I don’t see Larson or Bowyer getting in with their performance on less than tracks under a mile this year, but I love surprises.
Joey Logano won the first Richmond race this year, leading 46 laps, when his pit crew made the proper adjustment on the last pit stop. Logano leads all drivers this year on mile or less tracks in average finish, 6.5. His starting positions this year rank second at 7.3. His stats are two wins, three top fives and three top 10s for tracks under a mile; this equals awesome!.
Matt Kenseth might get into the winner’s circle Saturday night with the second best average on short tracks this season. His average start is 9.3 with a 6.8 average finish. His stats are two top fives and three top 10s. Kenseth finished fifth at the first Richmond race.
Carl Edwards, for the most part, has been quiet all season, but when he gets to short track racing, it’s a different story. He ranks third this year on short tracks with a win, a top five and three top 10s. His average start is 9.8 with a finishing average of 7.5. Carl finished ninth in the first Richmond race.
Jeff Gordon has the fourth best ranking on short tracks this year. He’s been red-hot most of the year and a win come Saturday night is within reach, a feat he hasn’t accomplish since the turn of the century at Richmond. His average start is 9.5 with a top five and two top 10s. His average start is 9.5 with a 9.3 average finish.
Greg Biffle ranks fifth this year on short tracks this season. His average start is 10.3 with one top 10 and an average finish of 13.8. He needs to match his average finish if he wants to get into the Chase.
Here are the power ranking for Richmond based on the last five years:
10 Clint Bowyer- 1 win, 2 top 5s and 5 top 10s, average finish 13.8.
9 Tony Stewart- 2 top 5s and 4 top 10s, average finish 13.1.
8 A.J. Allmendinger- 3 top 10s, average finish 11.8.
7 Matt Kenseth- 2 top 5s and 4 top 10s, average finish 11.7.
6 Jeff Gordon- 4 top 5s and 5 top 10s, average finish 11.3.
5 Denny Hamlin- 1 win, 3 top 5s and 4 top 10s, average finish 11.0.
4 Ryan Newman- 1 top 5, 5 top 10s, average finish 10.7.
3 Kevin Harvick- 2 wins, 3 top 5s and 5 top 10s, average finish 8.6.
2 Kyle Busch- 3 wins, 5 top 10s and 6 top 10′, average finish 8.1.
1 Carl Edwards- 1 win, 4 top 5s and 8 top 10s, average finish 7.2.
Reminder, it’s a Saturday Night Special for the last regular season race before the Chase starts in Chicago. Check back for my weekly Ice Picks after qualifying. Bookmark stockcarspin.com and download the phone app. Like us Facebook and follow us Twitter. Thanks for stopping in.