Talladega Superspeedway is not just the biggest and fastest track in NASCAR (with the restrictor plates off, at least), but it is also one of the most difficult places to pick drivers for your fantasy NASCAR team. With three-wide racing in the draft and the ever-present threat of ‘The Big One’, finishing up front at Talladega is as much an exercise in strategy and survival as it is about having a fast car.
There are no foolproof picks at Talladega, but as unpredictable as the track is, there are several drivers who, if they can stay out of trouble, can help your NASCAR fantasy team:
Favorites at Talladega Superspeedway
1. Tony Stewart – Stewart only has one Sprint Cup series win at Talladega, but that is only part of the story; before finally getting to Victory Lane last fall, Stewart had finished second an amazing six times at the Alabama track, and is one of the most consistent NASCAR drivers there. Despite getting caught up in wrecks in the past two spring races, Smoke still has an average finish of 13th at Talladega, and coming off a strong second-place showing last week at Phoenix, Stewart is all set to go for his first win as an owner-driver.
2. Jeff Gordon – There are drivers who have better career average finishes at Talladega, but nobody knows how to get to Victory Lane better than Jeff Gordon. Gordon leads all active drivers with six ‘Dega wins, and while he struggled a bit last season at the 2.66 mile tri-oval, Gordon swept both races in 2007. Thanks to pit problems and a tire rub, Gordon had his first bad race of the year last weekend at Phoenix; he is a prime candidate to bounce back Sunday afternoon, and should be near the front of the field.
3. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. – There is no question that Dale, Jr. is not off to a particularly good start this year, and over the past few seasons he has not been all that good at Talladega, either. But Junior has five career ‘Dega wins, including four in a row from 2001 to 2003, and when his car is right, there are few people who can compete with Dale, Jr. in the draft. Despite his recent troubles, Junior does have two top-10’s in his last four Talladega starts (both in the spring race), and always has to be considered a favorite once the restrictor plates are bolted on.
Safe Picks for a Solid Talladega Finish
1. Kurt Busch – Busch has never won at Talladega, but if you are looking for a solid finish, this is your driver. Before running into problems in both races last season, Busch had rattled off a streak of seven consecutive top-10 finishes. With an average Talladega finish of 12.5, Busch knows how to stay out of the ‘Big One’. Add in the fact that Busch is off to a great start, and he’s a safe pick this weekend.
2. Ryan Newman – While teammate and owner Tony Stewart is off to a great start this season, things have been a bit slower for Newman. But after struggling for the first four races of the year, Newman has looked completely different over the past four, including top-10 finishes at Bristol and Martinsville. Newman has also been strong recently at Talladega, with Top-10’s in three of his last four races there, and if he can hook up in the draft with Stewart, could be in for another good finish.
3. Denny Hamlin – Hamlin got caught up in a wreck at Talladega last fall, but before that he scored two straight Top-5 finishes at NASCAR’s biggest track, and his driver rating of 93.2 at Talladega over the past three years is second only to Tony Stewart.
Talladega Underdogs
1. Brian Vickers – Vickers one win at Talladega back in 2006 was definitely eventful; not only was it his first victory in the Sprint Cup series, but he did it by spinning out Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. on the final lap of the race. Vickers has not been back to Victory lane at ‘Dega since, but he has continued to perform well, with finishes of 6th or better in four of his last six starts there. Red Bull Racing is getting better, so do not be surprised if Vickers turns in another solid finish.
2. David Ragan – Ragan does not have a very long history at Talladega, but last year he looked impressive, with top-5 finishes in both races. Ragan has gotten off to a much slower start than many people expected, but he did finish 6th at Daytona, and Talladega could offer Ragan the opportunity to get his season back on track.
3. Robby Gordon – When someone says the name “Gordon” in relation to Talladega, Robbie is usually not the driver that comes to mind, but he actually runs pretty well there. Gordon has five career top-10 finishes at the 2.66 mile oval, and they have all come over his past ten races, including an 8th place finish last fall. Gordon is a long shot, for sure, but after struggling the past few weeks, he will be looking for a good finish.
Talladega is more about staying out of trouble than anything else, and if the ‘Big One’ happens, then there could be some interesting drivers in the Top-10. These drivers are no guarantee, but if they can make it to the finish line, they will give you an edge in your NASCAR fantasy league.
Todd Butts - Coming from the world of newspaper and radio, I have been covering NASCAR and other motorsports for over 8 years. I started as the host ...
