APACHE WARRIOR 400
My #5 driver got his first Cup start here, #20 Matt Kenseth. Matt comes into the First State with 36 starts, three wins and 17 Top 5’s. Matt is rated #5 on tracks like this. Matt’s most recent win came here in the spring race last year. His back is up against the wall and he needs a great race and one thing Matt does better than most is deliver great results.
The #4 pick doesn’t have many starts here, #24 Chase Elliott. Chase comes into the Monster Mile with just three starts, no wins and three Top 5’s – 100%! Chase is #9 hottest over the last six weeks and if he wants to remain in the playoffs he needs to turn up the heat. Since his team Hendrick Motorsports have won 45% of the races here in the last 10 years and their motor shop has won 55% there is nowhere better than here.
My #3 driver is an eleven-time former winner and most recent winner here, #48 Jimmie Johnson. Here at Dover Jimmie has eleven wins in just 31 starts and 16 Top 5’s including the win in June. He has eight wins in his last 17 starts. He has the #1 highest average finish. But he is #12 hottest over the last six weeks.
My #2 driver is the hottest driver right now, #42 Kyle Larson. Kyle has seven starts at the Monster Mile, no wins and three Top 5’s. He finished second here in June and second in the early race last year. Kyle is #1 hottest over the last six races.
The #1 pick is the defending champion here at the Monster Mile, #78 Martin Truex Jr. Here at the Monster Mile Martin seems to have finally figured out the code to beat the Monster. Martin is the defending winner of this race getting a win last year that locked him into the next round of Chase races. He got that win in 23 starts with just three Top 5’s. That win in this race last year and his third place finish in June are two of the Top 5’s. He is #1 rated for me on the intermediate tracks and is #3 hottest over the last six weeks.
Monday look for our preview of the Bank of America 500 from Charlotte.
