Well, this year hasnt really been exactly what I was hoping for so far. I have been able to pick drivers that finish well, but I have yet to pick a winner in a wager yet. My matchups have gotten me to break even, give or take a few bucks. So basically, we just need to hit a winner!!
This race is going to be interesting to cap. The reason, is because all of the teams that have fared well here in the past, are mostly Chevys. Chevys however, are bitching, and have been bitching since Daytona, that they have nowhere near the downforce that the Fords and Dodges have right now. This is very true....Look how poorly Gordon looked last week, Dale Jr looks bad, Harvick looks bad, etc. Pontiacs have been bitching for help as well. Tony Stewart should have won that race last week, but he had no downforce at all. He was only good on long runs, just like Chevys. So teams that have fared well in the past, may not be so dominant today---Gordon (Chevy), Harvick (Chevy), Nadeau (Chevy) Bobby Labonte (Pontiac) Dale Jr has run well here (Chevy) The Dodges are far superior right now on tracks like these. Sterling Marlin, Ward Burton, Jeremy Mayfield, Jimmy Spencer, all had good runs last week. Even John Andretti, Kyle Petty, and Buckshot Jones, showed their face last week. Now if that isnt fishy, I dont know what is. Now Bill Elliott is on the pole too! Fords still are not bad bets....as Roush has had a good run at it so far. No Ford drivers have really fared well at Atlanta in the past...Dale jarrett may be the best shot with a Ford. Jeff Burton and Ricky Rudd may be worth some shots in matchups over Chevys. So here are my Top 8 picks this week.....
Top 8
1. Bobby Labonte (I still have to go with the dominant driver here, and hope that there are some long runs, so he can show his stuff)
2. Sterling Marlin (He drives the best make of car, and he has the best Dodge out there)
3. Dale Jarrett (He has run well here in the past, and he needs a good run today, to get in the point race hee early on)
4. Ryan Newman (If this kid doesnt blow his engine up, he is going to run up front all day long)
5. Ward Burton (The 2nd best Dodge out there is not a bad option)
6. Tony Stewart (he has run well in practice,and if there are long runs, he is probably looking at between a 5-7 finish)
7. Jerry Nadeau (his record here speaks for its self, he has a good program here, and his lack of downforce will be the death of him. He will probably be the highest finishing Chevy, and I look for that to be around position 5-7)
8. Jeff Gordon (Cant leave him off the list...he will make sure he survives enough to keep him in the points race. Look, for a Top 10, but dont have high expectations.)
Rule Number One today---Take a Dodge over any Chevy in a matchup today! The value will be there, and overall you will win money.
Dont play high favs in any matchup, cuz your fav may blow an engine, and drive you to the poor house!
Some sleepers
1. Dave Blaney (He always leads a bunch of laps here, then blows up...maybe he wont blow it up today)
2. Jimmy Spencer (he will be fast, now can he stay outta trouble)
3. Hut Stricklin (He has a Dodge and a good teammate (Ward Burton) and finished 11th here last year. May be worth a shot, if you can find him in a matchup)
ALL CHEVYS WILL BE OVERRATED TODAY!!!
Thats all I got, good luck!!
This race is going to be interesting to cap. The reason, is because all of the teams that have fared well here in the past, are mostly Chevys. Chevys however, are bitching, and have been bitching since Daytona, that they have nowhere near the downforce that the Fords and Dodges have right now. This is very true....Look how poorly Gordon looked last week, Dale Jr looks bad, Harvick looks bad, etc. Pontiacs have been bitching for help as well. Tony Stewart should have won that race last week, but he had no downforce at all. He was only good on long runs, just like Chevys. So teams that have fared well in the past, may not be so dominant today---Gordon (Chevy), Harvick (Chevy), Nadeau (Chevy) Bobby Labonte (Pontiac) Dale Jr has run well here (Chevy) The Dodges are far superior right now on tracks like these. Sterling Marlin, Ward Burton, Jeremy Mayfield, Jimmy Spencer, all had good runs last week. Even John Andretti, Kyle Petty, and Buckshot Jones, showed their face last week. Now if that isnt fishy, I dont know what is. Now Bill Elliott is on the pole too! Fords still are not bad bets....as Roush has had a good run at it so far. No Ford drivers have really fared well at Atlanta in the past...Dale jarrett may be the best shot with a Ford. Jeff Burton and Ricky Rudd may be worth some shots in matchups over Chevys. So here are my Top 8 picks this week.....
Top 8
1. Bobby Labonte (I still have to go with the dominant driver here, and hope that there are some long runs, so he can show his stuff)
2. Sterling Marlin (He drives the best make of car, and he has the best Dodge out there)
3. Dale Jarrett (He has run well here in the past, and he needs a good run today, to get in the point race hee early on)
4. Ryan Newman (If this kid doesnt blow his engine up, he is going to run up front all day long)
5. Ward Burton (The 2nd best Dodge out there is not a bad option)
6. Tony Stewart (he has run well in practice,and if there are long runs, he is probably looking at between a 5-7 finish)
7. Jerry Nadeau (his record here speaks for its self, he has a good program here, and his lack of downforce will be the death of him. He will probably be the highest finishing Chevy, and I look for that to be around position 5-7)
8. Jeff Gordon (Cant leave him off the list...he will make sure he survives enough to keep him in the points race. Look, for a Top 10, but dont have high expectations.)
Rule Number One today---Take a Dodge over any Chevy in a matchup today! The value will be there, and overall you will win money.
Dont play high favs in any matchup, cuz your fav may blow an engine, and drive you to the poor house!
Some sleepers
1. Dave Blaney (He always leads a bunch of laps here, then blows up...maybe he wont blow it up today)
2. Jimmy Spencer (he will be fast, now can he stay outta trouble)
3. Hut Stricklin (He has a Dodge and a good teammate (Ward Burton) and finished 11th here last year. May be worth a shot, if you can find him in a matchup)
ALL CHEVYS WILL BE OVERRATED TODAY!!!
Thats all I got, good luck!!
