Fast Forward ~ The Ford Eco-Boost 400 At Homestead 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: Homestead Miami Speedway
Location: Homestead, Florida
Length: 1.5 Mile Oval
Banking: 18-20 degrees in turns 1-2;
18-20 degrees in turns 3-4;
4 degrees on the backstretch;
4 degrees on the front
stretch
Pit Road Speed: 45 MPH
The Race: Ford EcoBoost
400
267 Laps, 400.5 Miles
Defending Champion: Denny Hamlin 130.693 MPH
Most recent winner: Denny Hamlin 130.693 MPH
Track Record: Jeff Gordon, 142.246 MPH
November, 2012
Event Record: Jeff Gordon, 142.246 MPH
November, 2012
Qualifying record: Jamie McMurray, 181.111 MPH
November, 2003
TV:ESPN, 3:00PM EST
Radio: MRN (www.motorracingnetwork.com);
Sirius XM 90
The History:
8/24/1993-Groundbreaking begins on location
for what was originally called the Miami-Dade Motorsports Complex, which opened
in 1995.
11/14/1999-The first Sprint Cup Race was held
here and won by Tony Stewart
11/11/2001-Bill Elliott becomes the oldest
race winner at 46 years, 1 month, 3 days.
2002- The track was reconfigured to include
the variable banking.
11/17/2003-Kurt Busch becomes the youngest
race winner at 24 years, 3 months, 13 days.
The Contenders:
Top 10 Driver Ratings at Homestead:
#99-Carl Edwards 115.5
#78-Martin Truex Jr. 110.0
#20-Matt Kenseth 109.8
#4-Kevin Harvick 99.1 [Chase driver]
#48-Jimmie Johnson 96.6
#24-Jeff Gordon 96.5
#18-Kyle Busch 93.4
#11-Denny Hamlin 93.4 [Chase driver]
#15-Clint Bowyer 92.7
AND
#31-Ryan Newman 84.8, 13th-best [Chase driver]
#22-Joey Logano 71.2, 22nd-best [Chase driver]
Note:
Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2013 races (nine total)
among active drivers at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Race Pro Picks!
As always, let’s reset what happened last week. We only had three players NOT take Kevin Harvick, so everyone who had Harvick scored a win. So, based on wins and points, our final four is now me, only because of two wins in this segment, Vivian, Barbara, and Darrell. Kevin's playing the Jeff Gordon role and by one point has been eliminated from Championship contention, as has Mr. Pole.
Since we're coming up on the final race, and will start with equal points (5000), we can't have people picking the same driver or we could end up in a tie. SO...based on points, we will pick in order...and you cannot pick a driver who has already been chosen...
So, here is how our last segment ended…
Player |
Selection |
Race Pts |
Previous Pts |
Total Pts |
Behind |
Wins |
DNFs |
Jim Fitzgerald |
4 |
48 |
4059 |
4107 |
-27 |
4 |
2 |
Vivian |
4 |
48 |
4086 |
4134 |
0 |
6 |
2 |
Barbara |
4 |
48 |
4073 |
4121 |
-13 |
2 |
3 |
Darrell |
4 |
48 |
4064 |
4112 |
-22 |
4 |
2 |
Kevin Abraham |
22 |
39 |
4072 |
4111 |
-23 |
3 |
4 |
Mr. Pole |
11 |
40 |
4049 |
4089 |
-45 |
6 |
2 |
Mr. Winner |
4 |
48 |
2265 |
2313 |
-1821 |
2 |
3 |
Alabama Fitz |
4 |
48 |
2244 |
2292 |
-1842 |
3 |
7 |
Brian Marchetti |
4 |
48 |
2234 |
2282 |
-1852 |
2 |
4 |
PattyKay Lilley |
11 |
40 |
2236 |
2276 |
-1858 |
1 |
1 |
Nate |
4 |
48 |
2167 |
2215 |
-1919 |
2 |
3 |
Mr. Seven |
41 |
37 |
1346 |
1383 |
-2751 |
0 |
0 |
Based on points, the picking order will be:
1. Vivian
2. Barbara
3. Darrell
4. Jim
And here is how our new and final segment will begin!
Player |
Previous Pts |
Total Pts |
Behind |
Wins |
DNFs |
Jim Fitzgerald |
4107 |
5000 |
0 |
4 |
2 |
Vivian |
4134 |
5000 |
0 |
6 |
2 |
Barbara |
4121 |
5000 |
0 |
2 |
3 |
Darrell |
4112 |
5000 |
0 |
4 |
2 |
Kevin Abraham |
4111 |
2303 |
0 |
3 |
4 |
Mr. Pole |
4089 |
2295 |
0 |
6 |
2 |
PattyKay Lilley |
3062 |
2193 |
-110 |
1 |
1 |
Mr. Winner |
2163 |
2173 |
-130 |
1 |
3 |
Brian Marchetti |
3044 |
2170 |
-133 |
1 |
4 |
Alabama Fitz |
2164 |
2168 |
-135 |
2 |
7 |
Nate |
2129 |
2140 |
-163 |
1 |
3 |
Mr. Seven |
1234 |
1271 |
-1032 |
0 |
0 |
Without further delay, let’s do this!
Nate: I guess since I'm not in the running, it doesn't
matter who I pick. I'm going with
Edwards. He's run well at Homestead.
KEVIN ABRAHAM: I may not win our championship, but Logano will win the race and Sprint Cup Championship. Living and dying with my Logano pick.
PATTYKAY LILLEY: Here’s another vote that doesn’t count. In my thoughts and heart, he won the Championship at Richmond and still leads the points as I type. Mama will proudly ride with the man that should by all rights be our third 7-time Champ… Jeff Gordon!
Barbara: Well, as if this season wasn’t farce enough …I'm
submitting #20, Matt the Brat Kenseth. That's my ode to him for the strange
year he has had. Never thought I'd see a NASCAR Season I was glad to see over.
BRIAN MARCHETTI: So I was ready Monday morning to make my pick, but wanted to give Jim's fashion time to unfold. I'm happy with a win last week, and I hated that it had to happen with Harvick. With that said, of the 4 remaining Grid drivers with a chance at the fabricated math title, again this week Harvick holds the best average finish, and best driver rating. Once again, it pains me, but a guy has gotta do what a guy has gotta do. Harvick has a good a chance as any at Homestead, and he has the most to win for finishing first. Can't deny he has talent, but honestly, I'd rather see Kyle Busch in that position, after he intentionally wrecked my grandmother. Harvick with the Win at Homestead, and a new Cup for his shelf of undeserved prizes. There should be a rule about being a jerk and whether or not you can win races or drive a car. NASCAR will come up with selective discrimination next, just wait for it.
Vivian: My pick to win not only the race but also the
Championship along with it is Joey Logano.
ALABAMA FITZ: I am going to take Ryan Newman to win it all!
Darrell: I struggle with my pick this week. There are
several drivers that have historically done well at this track which include
Carl Edwards, Martin Truex, Matt Kenseth, Kevin Harvick and Jimmy Johnson. With all of that being said I think I have to
stick with Happy Harvick. He is the hot guy of all of those drivers. I just hope
for my sake he lives up to his nickname as "The Closer".
JIM FITZGERALD: Well, Darrell done did it....he took my pick and went Harvicking this week. That leaves me only the logical move of taking Josh Wise. No...not really. The most logical pick I have now is for a guy some question as to whether or not he should even be in the running for the Championship. If he wins he'll be the first Champion since Richard Petty in 1970-something to win the Championship without running the full schedule. I'm taking ol' Metal in the Eye Hamlin, who is the defending Champion of this race. I'm hoping he's the Pied Piper of Hamlin and those three other Track Rats follow him to the finish line.
Friends, we thank you for playing along with us this year and hope we’ve brought you some success. Good luck to you all this weekend when we crown our Champion, along with NASCAR’s elite series Champion. Until then…keep the shiny side up!
Our Picks For This Week!
Kevin Abraham |
Alabama Fitz |
Jim Fitzgerald |
PattyKay Lilley |
Brian Marchetti |
Darrell |
Nate |
Who is YOUR pick to win this week?
Correctly choose the winner before the green flag drops on Sunday, and you'll be entered into a drawing to win some racing stuff!