Fast Forward ~ The MyAFIBStory.com 400 At Chicago 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: ChicagoLand Speedway
Season Race #: 27 of 36 (09-14-14)
Track Size: 1.5 Mile Tri-oval
Banking/Turns 1&
2: 18 degrees
Banking/Turns 3&
4: 18 degrees
Banking/Frontstretch: 11
degrees
Banking/Backstretch: 5 degrees
Frontstretch Length:
2400 feet
Backstretch Length: 1700 feet
The
Race: MyAFibStory.com 400
267 Laps/ 400.5 Miles
Defending Champion: Matt Kenseth, 125.855 MPH
Most recent winner: Matt Kenseth, 125.855 MPH
Track Record: David Reutimann,
145.138 MPH, July 2010
Race Record: David Reutimann,
145.138 MPH, July 2010
Qualifying record: Joey Logano, 189.414 MPH-
September 2013
TV: ESPN, 2:00 PM EST; Radio: MRN (www.mrn.com) SiriusXM
90
The History:
2001-
Speedway opened
7/14/2001-First
race run, won by Kevin Harvick
7/12/2008-
Kyle Busch becomes the youngest winner at 23 years, 2 months, 10 days.
7/12/2008-
Kevin Harvick records the closest margin of victory, defeating Jimmie Johnson
by 0.159 seconds.
7/11/2009-
Mark Martin becomes the oldest winner at 50 years, 6 months, 2 days.
The Contenders:
Top 10 Driver Ratings at
Chicago
#48-Jimmie Johnson 117.2
#14-Tony Stewart 109.8
#20-Matt Kenseth 105.4
#18-Kyle Busch 102.7
#24-Jeff Gordon 96.9
#4-Kevin Harvick 96.4
#55-Brian Vickers 95.0
#2-Brad
Keselowski 93.6
#15-Clint Bowyer 91.4
#99-Carl Edwards 90.1
Note:
Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2013 races (nine total)
among active drivers at Chicagoland Speedway.
The
Picks:
Before we get to this week’s picks, let’s review how everyone did at Richmond and rest the points for our players.
Player |
Selection |
Race Pts |
Previous Pts |
Total Pts |
Behind |
Wins |
DNFs |
|
Mr. Seven |
41 |
37 |
1009 |
1046 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Mr. Pole |
2 |
48 |
980 |
1028 |
-18 |
6 |
2 |
|
Vivian |
4 |
40 |
924 |
964 |
-82 |
4 |
2 |
|
Darrell |
42 |
33 |
904 |
937 |
-109 |
3 |
2 |
|
Mr. Winner |
20 |
3 |
902 |
905 |
-141 |
1 |
3 |
|
PattyKay Lilley |
22 |
38 |
864 |
902 |
-144 |
1 |
1 |
|
Nate |
18 |
30 |
861 |
891 |
-155 |
1 |
3 |
|
Barbara |
41 |
37 |
841 |
878 |
-168 |
1 |
3 |
|
Jim Fitzgerald |
4 |
40 |
837 |
877 |
-169 |
1 |
2 |
|
Brian Marchetti |
20 |
3 |
869 |
872 |
-174 |
1 |
3 |
|
Kevin Abraham |
41 |
37 |
818 |
855 |
-191 |
2 |
4 |
|
Alabama Fitz |
20 |
3 |
816 |
819 |
-227 |
2 |
6 |
|
Points |
|
|||||||
Player |
Selection |
Race Pts |
Previous Pts |
Total Pts |
Behind |
Wins |
DNFs |
Chase Pts |
Mr. Pole |
2 |
48 |
980 |
1028 |
-18 |
6 |
2 |
2018 |
Vivian |
4 |
40 |
924 |
964 |
-82 |
4 |
2 |
2012 |
Darrell |
42 |
33 |
904 |
937 |
-109 |
3 |
2 |
2009 |
Kevin Abraham |
41 |
37 |
818 |
855 |
-191 |
2 |
4 |
2006 |
Alabama Fitz |
20 |
3 |
816 |
819 |
-227 |
2 |
6 |
2006 |
Mr. Winner |
20 |
3 |
902 |
905 |
-141 |
1 |
3 |
2003 |
PattyKay Lilley |
22 |
38 |
864 |
902 |
-144 |
1 |
1 |
2003 |
Nate |
18 |
30 |
861 |
891 |
-155 |
1 |
3 |
2003 |
Barbara |
41 |
37 |
841 |
878 |
-168 |
1 |
3 |
2003 |
Jim Fitzgerald |
4 |
40 |
837 |
877 |
-169 |
1 |
2 |
2003 |
Brian Marchetti |
20 |
3 |
869 |
872 |
-174 |
1 |
3 |
2003 |
Mr. Seven |
41 |
37 |
1009 |
1046 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2000 |
Here at Race Fans Forever, we don’t want to see any child left behind. We, therefore, invoked the not-so-little-known Brian France rule, and expanded our “Chase” to include our own Brian, Brian Marchetti, who would have missed making the post season festivities by a mere five points. So, Brian is back in, Mr. Seven has been eliminated, and when the checkered flag falls, we’re going to be eliminating three players from our Chase. We’d best get to picking our best, then! Here’s how we look right now…of course this will look a bit different after Sunday! (The Red Lines are just the cut off lines for the approaching eliminations.)
Player |
Selection |
Race Pts |
Previous Pts |
Total Pts |
Behind |
Wins |
DNFs |
Mr. Pole |
|
|
|
2018 |
0 |
6 |
2 |
Vivian |
|
|
|
2012 |
-6 |
4 |
2 |
Darrell |
|
|
|
2009 |
-9 |
3 |
2 |
Alabama Fitz |
|
|
|
2006 |
-12 |
2 |
6 |
Kevin Abraham |
|
|
|
2006 |
-12 |
2 |
4 |
Barbara |
|
|
|
2003 |
-15 |
1 |
3 |
Brian Marchetti |
|
|
|
2003 |
-15 |
1 |
3 |
Jim Fitzgerald |
|
|
|
2003 |
-15 |
1 |
2 |
Mr. Winner |
|
|
|
2003 |
-15 |
1 |
3 |
Nate |
|
|
|
2003 |
-15 |
1 |
3 |
PattyKay Lilley |
|
|
|
2003 |
-15 |
1 |
1 |
Mr. Seven |
|
|
|
1046 |
-972 |
0 |
0 |
Jim Fitzgerald: Looking back at the race here earlier this
season, there are a lot of names that stick out to me...and they are names I'll
be avoiding until they can prove to me that their seasons have turned
around. Those names are second place
finisher Kyle Busch, 4th place Matt Kenseth, 5th place Ryan Newman and 6th
place Clint Bowyer. Who does that leave
me with? How about first place finisher
Brad Keselowski. Looks like a winner to me.
Kevin Abraham: What?
Alabama Fitz: What?
Brian Marchetti: What?
PattyKay Lilley: Jim,
you've missed a race somewhere Hon. The rest of us are stopping off at Chicago
before going on to Loudon, so you might want to rethink that logic. We only go
to Chicago once a year, so there was no race there earlier this season. Perhaps
a couple of Advil might help?
Jim Fitzgerald: Wait…what?
I researched the wrong race?
Wow…well, since there’s no time to go back, I guess I’m taking Brad
Keselowski for the win at Chicago. May
fate favor the foolish and forgetful… and Mama…Advil? I think I need a shot.
PattyKay Lilley: I think you’ve had one too many already!
Alabama Fitz: The
Busch brothers, Keselowski, Kenseth, Johnson, Gordon, Earnhardt, Logano, etc.,
etc., etc. Take your pick. In recent years, I didn't see anyone
"dominating" here, so it's almost like picking a name out of a
hat. This entire year has been one weird
story. I have six (6) DNF's and I'm
still in it. Anyway, I pick a driver and
if all goes well, I win or I get a DNF.
So here goes nothing. Jimmie
Johnson starts it off with a win in Chicago.
I really want to pick the defending Champ, Kenseth, but my faith in him
is a little short right now. Overall,
from the past to the present, Johnson has the best finishing percentage in
Chicago, even without a win.
Brian Marchetti: I would have been just fine sticking with Gordon all season, as I'll admit, he is my favorite driver, mostly because everyone seems to hate on him. I'll ride with Jeff again this week, as this Chase format took him from 1st to 2nd in points, even after a solid finish last week. Mathematicians and NASCAR, these two just don't belong together. I’m picking the Rainbow Warrior up front, to help me prove a point to my friend Joe Gamez of Nashville, Tennessee.
Kevin Abraham: I cannot argue with numbers, and I am going to watch Jimmie Johnson rise from the mediocre finishes and set the Chase on fire, or Fitz and I will end up back in the cellar again.
Alabama Fitz: Just saying...if I were all of you, I would stay so far away from any pick I make, that it would make you look like you were at a different track. If you decide to stay, I can only repeat what the man on the TV says: "Come on Do-w-w-n-n-n-n"
Jim Fitzgerald: Thank you, Rod Roddy!
PattyKay Lilley: Now then, at Chicago, there has been one standout racer over the years since this lesson in boredom opened its gates, and that dear friends, is Tony Stewart. For reasons that should be obvious to anyone reading, Tony has been a bit off his game lately, and I'm inclined to park him. However, he does have a teammate high in the standings this year that has been "Freaky Fast" on several occasions. With that in mind, Mama will ride again this week with Happy Kevin Harvick, winner of the first two races ever run at Chicagoland.
Jim Fitzgerald: I have to say I can't really find anything wrong with any of these picks not even mine. I know we've seen this song before from Jimmie Johnson and the 48 bunch, but I can't tell if they are playing the same tune or marching to a new beat that's way off the rhythm. I guess we'll find out, but right now, I'm sticking with the BKO...the Brad Keselowski Orchestra! Let’s see what our fans are singing about this week for Chicago!
Vivian: I think it is time for Jeff Gordon to win again so he is my pick this week.
Nate: I’m going to be going with Jimmie Johnson this week at Chicago.
Darrell: I'll take Gordon for the win this week. Look for him in Victory Lane!
Barbara: I think betting against Harvick on this is a losing deal, especially since they traded pit crews. Roush should be very good at this track, but to my thinking, that includes Kenseth. I find myself at a toss-up regarding Papa H’s group; Dale has a concentrated attitude - and he is so due to be Champion! After all this, I’m throwing my hat in for #99, Carl Edwards. How do ya like them cookies!? Opening the door for you to beat me, Jim.
Jim Fitzgerald: Wow…throwing down the gauntlet, eh? Well, we’re all going to have to wait and see how this one turns out. Welcome to week one of The Chase. We’ll be back here next week to see how we all did, so 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!