Fantasy NASCAR Picks for the 2015 5-Hour Energy 301 at Loudon
By Rich Pelesky
Fantasy NASCAR Picks for 2015 5-Hour Energy 301 at Loudon, NH fon Sunday, July 19th for DraftKings and other Fantasy Formats
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Welcome back to FantasyCPR’s coverage of the 5-Hour Energy 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway to be held on Sunday, July 18th at 1:30 p.m. EST. Whether you are a fantasy racing player or just a NASCAR fan, let us be your one stop shop for all the information you need to prepare you for NASCAR races in the 2015 season. Go to our Fantasy NASCAR Hub at https://fansided.com/category/nascar-fantasy/ and bookmark it!
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If you haven’t already, check out our 2015 5-Hour Energy 301 Fantasy Preview and Fantasy Analysis. This will give you insight in how you should make your selections for the race which is based on track and race history as well as the initial practices. Also, it has resources to help fantasy players familiarize themselves with the new DraftKings Daily NASCAR contests and scoring.
Before we get to my picks, let’s take a look at the field!
Next: The Field: Qualifying Order with DraftKings Salaries
Jul 18, 2015; Loudon, NH, USA; Sprint Cup Series driver Jimmie Johnson (48) during practice for the 5-hour ENERGY 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
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Race Entrants in Qualifying Order w/ DraftKings Salaries
1) #19 Carl Edwards, Sport Clips Toyota for $10,200
2) #22 Joey Logano, Shell Pennzoil Ford for $12,200
3) #55 David Ragan, Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota for $7,800
4) #18 Kyle Busch, Interstate Batteries Toyota for $11,800
5) #11 Denny Hamlin, FedEx Freight Toyota for $11,100
6) #41 Kurt Busch, Haas Automation Chevrolet for $11,600
7) #48 Jimmie Johnson, Lowe’s Chevrolet for $12,700
8) #20 Matt Kenseth, Dollar General Toyota for $11,200
9) #5 Kasey Kahne, Great Clips Chevrolet for $10,100
10) #2 Brad Keselowski, Miller Lite Ford for $12,800
11) #1 Jamie McMurray, McDonald’s/Cessna Chevrolet for $9,800
12) #4 Kevin Harvick, Jimmy John’s/Budweiser Chevrolet for $14,200
13) #40 Landon Cassill, Interstate Moving Services Chevrolet for $7,300
14) #16 Greg Biffle, Safety-Kleen Ford Fusion for $8,300
15) #78 Martin Truex Jr., Furniture Row Chevrolet for $10,800
16) #21 Ryan Blaney, SKF Ford for $7,500
17) #42 Kyle Larson, Target Chevrolet for $10,000
18) #15 Clint Bowyer, 5-Hour Energy Toyota for $9,400
19) #88 Dale Earnhardt Jr., Nationwide Chevrolet for $10,300
20) #10 Danica Patrick, GoDaddy Chevrolet for $8,000
21) #13 Casey Mears GEICO Chevrolet SS for $7,600
22) #47 AJ Allmendinger, Better Than Bouilon Chevrolet for $8,200
23) #24 Jeff Gordon, AARP MEMBER ADVANTAGES Chevrolet for $10,900
24) #3 Austin Dillon, Dow Chevrolet for $8,100
25) #14 Tony Stewart, Mobil 1 Chevrolet for $8,800
26) #31 Ryan Newman, Quicken Loans Chevrolet for $9,200
27) #9 Sam Hornish Jr., Shaws/Smithfield Ford for $8,100
28) #27 Paul Menard, Richmond/Menards Chevrolet for $8,200
29) #43 Aric Almirola, Smithfield Ford for $7,700
30) #51 Justin Allgaier, Brandt Chevrolet for $7,400
31) #6 Trevor Bayne, AdvoCare Ford Fusion for $8,300
32) #17 Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Fastenal Ford Fusion for $8,200
33) #35 Cole Whitt, Taco Bell Ford for $6,700
34) #34 Brett Moffitt, Dockside Logistics for $6,800
35) #83 Matt DiBenedetto, Burger King Toyota for $6,900
36) #26 Jeb Burton, Maxim Fantasy Sports Toyota for $6,600
37) #38 David Gilliland, MDS Ford for $7,200
38) #46 Michael Annett, Pilot Flying J Chevrolet for $6,800
39) #23 J.J. Yeley, Dr. Pepper Toyota for $6,900
40) #7 Alex Bowman, Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevrolet for $7,000
41) #32 Eddie McDonald, Draftdemons.com Ford (No Salary Listed)
42) #33 Derek White, Braille Battery/Graford Chrevolet for $7,200
43) #98 Timmy Hill, Residence Inn Ford (No Salary Listed)
Next: High Priced Drivers - $11,100 and up
Jul 18, 2015; Loudon, NH, USA; Sprint Cup Series driver Brad Keselowski (2) during practice for the 5-hour ENERGY 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
High: $11,100 and up
#2 Brad Keselowski, Miller Lite Ford for $12,800 (Qualed 10th): Keslowski and Team Penske have been great here recently and Brad will try to win this race two years in a row. He has an average finish of 11.0 at NHMS which is 6th among active drivers. His 10th starting position is high enough to demonstrate his speed and to give him a good pit stall but also low enough to help raise his potential fantasy point total. 22 of the 40 Cup winners at Loudon started in the Top 10. Like last week, Keslowski appears to have a dominant car and he should finish in the Top 5 with any luck.
Live Feed
Beyond the Flag
Honorable Mention: #4 Kevin Harvick, Jimmy John’s/Budweiser Chevrolet for $14,200 (Qualed 12th): The reigning Cup champion is continuing his dominant season in 2015 and has a car that could be very fast on Sunday. Although qualifying 12th, the #4 found speed on Saturday and finished 1st and 2nd in the two practices sessions. Harvick is very good at flat tracks, with four Top 10s in the last four Cups races at flat tracks in 2015. The only negative about drafting Harvick for this race is that he is back up top as the costdriver on the DK slate, and spending the $14,200 will force you go very cheap elsewhere.
Stay Away: #41 Kurt Busch, Haas Automation Chevrolet for $11,600 (Qualed 6th): Kurt Busch has won here 3 times, but has been awful lately with a high finish of 13th in his last 7 races at NHMS in which his average finish is 24th. With the 6th starting position limiting his fantasy points, it would be wise to save the money and look for someone who needs a win and has recent success at Loudon.
Non-DraftKings Fantasy Pick: #48 Jimmie Johnson, Lowe’s Chevrolet for $12,700 (Qualified 7th). NOTE: This driver has a good chance for success in the race and in standard fantasy formats but is not recommended for DK due its scoring/salary system. Justification for this pick can be found in the DraftKings 5-Hour Energy 301 Fantasy Analysis.
Next: Medium-High Priced Drivers - $9,800 to $10,900
Jul 18, 2015; Loudon, NH, USA; Sprint Cup Series driver Kyle Larson (42) during practice for the 5-hour ENERGY 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Medium-High: $9,800 to $10,900
#42 Kyle Larson, Target Chevrolet for $10,000 (Qualed 17th): Larson goes from the outhouse (Stay Away last week) to the penthouse this week as my top medium-high selection. Larson is still looking for his first Cup win but this has been his best track in his young career with 2nd and a 3rd in two starts. Plus, his 17th starting position is very appealing fantasy-wise. Despite the average qualifying time, Larson demonstrated speed in each of the 3 practices sessions, getting a Top 10 lap in each of them.
Non-DraftKings Fantasy Pick: #5 Kasey Kahne, Great Clips Chevrolet for $10,500 (Qualed 9th). NOTE: This driver has a good chance for success in the race and in standard fantasy formats but is not recommended for DK due its scoring/salary system. Justification for this pick can be found in the DraftKings 5-Hour Energy 301 Fantasy Analysis.
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Stay Away: #24 Jeff Gordon, AARP MEMBER ADVANTAGES Chevrolet for $10,900 (Qualed 1st): Gordon’s disappointing twilight season seems to be continuing and he still remains on the fringe of Chase qualification. A win could clinch a berth but Gordon has not had a good weekend thus far and its doubtful that he will rebound tomorrow. The #24 finished no better than 16th in any of the practices and qualified out of the Top 20 at NHMS for the first time in his career. To make matters worse, Clint Bowyer wrecked into the rear of the #24 in the garage area on Saturday. Buyer beware on the #24, which had consecutive 26th place finishes in 2014 at this track.
Next: Medium-Low Priced Drivers - $7,800 to $9,400
Jul 18, 2015; Loudon, NH, USA; Sprint Cup Series driver Clint Bowyer (15) during practice for the 5-hour ENERGY 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Medium-Low: $7.800 to $9,400
#15 Clint Bowyer, 5-Hour Energy Toyota for $9,400 (Qualed 17th): Bowyer has been much better in June and July and has been more competitive in 2015 on non-intermediate sized tracks. Loudon is one of his best tracks as evident in his two wins along with 4 Top 5 finishes here. He also has the 8th best Driver Rating of 95.0 among entrants. The #15 has shown consistent (albeit unastounding) speed this weekend with practice and qualifying times well within the Top 20. Bowyer has the skills, the car, and the position to get you a lot of fantasy points here at a bargain price.
Honorable Mention: #31 Ryan Newman, Quicken Loans Chevrolet for $9,200 (Qualed 26th): Newman has three NHMS wins, including one in this race in 2011. He also has 6 Top 10s in his last 10 Cup races here. While the speed hasn’t been there much of the weekend, the 26th spot gives him ample opportunity to gain fantasy points. Newman still has the skill and race team that can compete here. Look for him to finish in the Top 20 and get you a decent return on investment.
Stay Away: #55 David Ragan, Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota for $7,800 (Qualified 3rd): This has never been a good track for Ragan who has only one Top 10 in 16 career Cup starts at NHMS. Despite finding speed this weekend in the #55, his lack of results this year (25th in the Cup Standings) and the high starting position doesn’t warrant Ragan serious consideration even at a low price-tag.
Next: Low Priced Drivers - $7,700 and below
Jul 18, 2015; Loudon, NH, USA; Sprint Cup Series driver Ryan Blaney (21) during practice for the 5-hour ENERGY 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Low: $7,700 and below
Live Feed
Beyond the Flag
#21 Ryan Blaney, SKF Ford for $7,500 (Qualed 16th): The part-time Wood Brothers driver has been wicked fast all weekend, and his 16th in qualifying represented his worst times recorded in any of the sessions, which is pretty impressive. He is also very hungry as he was denied starting positions in the last two Cup races despite a fast car due to weather cancelling qualifying in Kentucky and Daytona. His team has a valuable technical alliance with Team Penske, a team that has dominated recently at NHMS. Although he’s starting a little higher than I like from picks in this price-range, Blaney and the #21 is an exception to the rule and this unique team could finish very high on Sunday. You can expect at least 30-40 FP from Blaney if not more, which would be a steal at this cost.
Honorable Mention: #7 Alex Bowman, Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevrolet for $7,000 (Qualed 40th): The #7 was serviceable in two starts at NHMS last year with a 32nd and a 29th finish. Bowman also had a respectable 29.5 average finish for the bottom-tier #23 team last year at NHMS. But let’s be honest, Bowman will unlikely be a real factor here, but could still be a decent fantasy pick due to the extremely low salary and the potential place & pass differential points the 40th starting position affords.
Need help with your daily or season-long fantasy NASCAR contests? Contact me on Twitter @Rich_Pelesky and I will give you the guidance you need to make the best fantasy decisions.
Next: Get More In-Depth Fantasy Coverage with our 5-Hour Energy 301 Fantasy Analysis