Fast Forward ~ The All-Star Race At Charlotte Fantasy Race Picks And Preview
“The future is like a corridor into which we can see only by the light coming from behind.”
–Edward Weyer, Jr.
The Track: Charlotte Motor Speedway
Location: Concord, NC
Length: 1.5 Mile Quad Oval
Banking: 24 degrees in turns 1-2;
24 degrees in turns 3-4;
5 degrees on the backstretch,
5 degrees on the front stretch
Pit Road Speed/Length:45 MPH/1060 Ft
The Race: The Sprint All-Star Race
90 Laps (20/20/20/20/10)/ 135 Miles (30/30/30/30/15)
Defending Champion: Jimmie Johnson, 90.672 MPH
Most recent winner: Jimmie Johnson, 90.672 MPH
Track Record: Jeff Gordon, 160.306 MPH, October 1999
Qualifying record: Denny Hamlin, 195.624 MPH, May 2013
TV: FoxSports 1, 8:30 PM EST 5/17/2014
Radio: Performance Racing Network (PRN) Sirius XM 90; www.goprn.com
The Contenders:
Top 10 Driver Ratings for Sprint All Star Race:
#18-Kyle Busch..............110.3
#48-Jimmie Johnson..........106.3
#20-Matt Kenseth............88.3
#22-Joey Logano.............87.3
#41-Kurt Busch..............86.4
#99-Carl Edwards............82.8
#24-Jeff Gordon.............81.6
#5-Kasey Kahne..............79.7
#55-Brian Vickers...........79.6
#31-Ryan Newman.............79.1
The History:
1959-Construction begins
June 19, 1960-Joe Lee Johnson wins the first race at CMS.
October 6, 1985- Cale Yarborough became the oldest winner of the race at 46 years, 6 months, 9 days.
May 29, 1994- Jeff Gordon becomes the youngest winner of the event at 22 years, 9 months, 25 days.
1994-Track was repaved.
1999-The track underwent a name change to Lowes Motor Speedway
May 29, 2005-Closest margin of victory achieved when Jimmie Johnson defeated Bobby Labonte by 0.027 seconds.
2006-The track was repaved again.
2010-The track was renamed again back to Charlotte Motor Speedway
The Picks:
JIM FITZGERALD: As always, before we get started with this week’s picks, let’s look at the results from last week at Kansas.
Player |
Selection |
Race Pts |
Previous Pts |
Total Pts |
Behind |
Wins |
DNFs |
|
Mr. Seven |
10 |
37 |
413 |
450 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Mr. Winner |
20 |
35 |
408 |
443 |
-7 |
1 |
1 |
|
Mr. Pole |
4 |
44 |
389 |
433 |
-17 |
2 |
1 |
|
Vivian |
4 |
44 |
360 |
404 |
-46 |
2 |
2 |
|
PattyKay Lilley |
20 |
35 |
358 |
393 |
-57 |
1 |
0 |
|
Jim Fitzgerald |
48 |
36 |
346 |
382 |
-68 |
0 |
1 |
|
Brian Marchetti |
78 |
23 |
352 |
375 |
-75 |
0 |
1 |
|
Nate |
4 |
44 |
325 |
369 |
-81 |
0 |
1 |
|
Robyn Vandenberg |
18 |
30 |
339 |
369 |
-81 |
1 |
0 |
|
Alabama Fitz |
48 |
36 |
331 |
367 |
-83 |
1 |
1 |
|
Darrell |
24 |
47 |
318 |
365 |
-85 |
1 |
2 |
|
Kevin Abraham |
4 |
44 |
311 |
355 |
-95 |
0 |
1 |
|
Barbara |
20 |
35 |
313 |
348 |
-102 |
1 |
2 |
|
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If Playoff Started Today |
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Player |
Selection |
Race Pts |
Previous Pts |
Total Pts |
Behind |
Wins |
DNFs |
Chase Pts |
Mr. Pole |
4 |
44 |
389 |
433 |
-17 |
2 |
1 |
2006 |
Vivian |
4 |
44 |
360 |
404 |
-46 |
2 |
2 |
2006 |
Mr. Winner |
20 |
35 |
408 |
443 |
-7 |
1 |
1 |
2003 |
PattyKay Lilley |
20 |
35 |
358 |
393 |
-57 |
1 |
0 |
2003 |
Robyn Vandenberg |
18 |
30 |
339 |
369 |
-81 |
1 |
0 |
2003 |
Alabama Fitz |
48 |
36 |
331 |
367 |
-83 |
1 |
1 |
2003 |
Darrell |
24 |
47 |
318 |
365 |
-85 |
1 |
2 |
2003 |
Barbara |
20 |
35 |
313 |
348 |
-102 |
1 |
2 |
2003 |
Mr. Seven |
10 |
37 |
413 |
450 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2000 |
Jim Fitzgerald |
48 |
36 |
346 |
382 |
-68 |
0 |
1 |
2000 |
Brian Marchetti |
78 |
23 |
352 |
375 |
-75 |
0 |
1 |
2000 |
Nate |
4 |
44 |
325 |
369 |
-81 |
0 |
1 |
2000 |
Kevin Abraham |
4 |
44 |
311 |
355 |
-95 |
0 |
1 |
2000 |
JIM FITZGERALD: Okay, who is going to get us started this week?
BRIAN MARCHETTI: One thing is for sure, when I make my next pick, it won't be another dark horse, underdog, or long shot. I got burned 2 weeks in a row, so I've learned my lesson.
JIM FITZGERALD: So, who do you have?
BRIAN MARCHETTI: Not so fast…
PATTYKAY LILLEY: Well, I've pretty much avoided this guy so far this year... I think... but it's the All-Star race and it's big money, so it's time. Time to pick the guy that though he's not had as many starts as a lot of others, only 12, has won more than twice what his teammate and car owner has been able to amass in 20 starts. Put me down for a heaping helping of Jimmie Johnson on Saturday night. When the Stars come out to shine, Jimmie usually manages to outshine the rest. Four wins in 12 starts, and two of them were the last two. Yep! It's JJ night in Charlotte!
ROBYN VANDENBERG: I’m with Mama on this one if I can - JJ for the Big Win - because NASCAR would want it that way.
JIM FITZGERALD: Haha…I think if NASCAR wanted it that way it would have already happened!
KEVIN ABRAHAM: I am again going to break up the Johnson express this week. Good at this track? Yes he is. They seem to be a little off this year. I am going to pick a first time winner to the all-star race. We all know Danica will win the all-star vote, but she has had only 1 decent non plate race. I was looking at Harvick but after this person wowed at Texas, I am picking Joey Logano for the win in this year’s all-star race.
JIM FITZGERALD: Honestly Kev, I almost went with the Penske camp, but I was going to go with Brad instead. He did win here last fall.
BRIAN MARCHETTI: Is that your pick?
JIM FITZGERALD: Not so fast…I think I'm going to make this really easy for everyone this week and tell you to break open the piggy bank and withdraw all of the Matt Money and lay it on the table. He needs to break back into the win column and even though it is a non-points race, Matt Kenseth takes it home this week in the All-Star Race.
ALABAMA FITZ: Kurt has a win in this race....Kyle doesn't. Kyle fixes that this week. I’m taking "The Shrub" to the winners circle.
JIM FITZGERALD: I’m not sure that’s a bad pick either.
BRIAN MARCHETTI: You know what else is not a bad pick? Anyone who picked Jimmie Johnson, because he’s my pick too! Now, how about our fans?
Darrell: Let’s play Jeopardy, Jim.
Jim: Go for it.
Darrell: I'll take NASCAR for 500 Jim...
Jim- And the answer is...This NASCAR driver will win the 2014 All-Star
Race at Charlotte.
Darrell: Who is Jimmie Johnson?
Jim: I guess we’ll find out.
Barbara: I would like very much to give this to Marcos Ambrose, but who knows who will be voted in. Therefore, even though this is JJ’s track and Harvick is giving everyone a winning threat, I say Dale Earnhardt, Jr. is going to have a grand time winning this one.
Nate: It hasn't been "Jimmie's House" for a while. I'm going with Harvick in #4 Kodak Oldsmobile...wait....that's not right....oh yeah, Hunt Brothers Pizza Chevy.
Vivian: I think Kevin Harvick is going to win this one. He has momentum at most tracks this season and although Jimmy Johnson usually comes on about this time of year, I am putting my money on Kevin Saturday night. He will play his hand and strategy well.
Well, folks, there is it. Looks like many still believe this is Jimmie’s House, but we have some other drivers picked there as well, and we hope we’ve been able to help. We will see how that all works out when we come back next week to discuss the 600 at Charlotte, so until then, keep the shiny side up!
Our Picks For This Week!
Kevin Abraham |
Alabama Fitz |
Jim Fitzgerald |
PattyKay Lilley |
Brian Marchetti |
Robyn Vandenberg |
Darrell |
Nate |
Who is YOUR pick to win this week?
Correctly choose the winner before the green flag drops on Saturday, and you'll be entered into a drawing to win some racing stuff!