Fast Forward ~ The World 600 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
400 Laps/ 600 Miles
Defending Champion: Kevin Harvick, 130.521 MPH
Most recent winner: Brad Keselowski, 158.308
MPH
Track Record: Jeff Gordon, 160.306 MPH,
October 1999
Qualifying record: Denny Hamlin, 195.624 MPH,
May 2013
TV: Fox, 6:00 PM EST 5/25/2014
Radio: Performance Racing Network (PRN) Sirius
XM 90; www.goprn.com
The Contenders:
Top 10 Driver Ratings for Charlotte:
#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 The
All-Star Race.
Player |
Selection |
Race Pts |
Previous Pts |
Total Pts |
Behind |
Wins |
DNFs |
|
Mr. Seven |
15 |
37 |
450 |
487 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Mr. Winner |
48 |
38 |
443 |
481 |
-6 |
1 |
1 |
|
Mr. Pole |
99 |
40 |
433 |
473 |
-14 |
2 |
1 |
|
Vivian |
4 |
43 |
404 |
447 |
-40 |
2 |
2 |
|
PattyKay Lilley |
48 |
38 |
393 |
431 |
-56 |
1 |
0 |
|
Jim Fitzgerald |
20 |
42 |
382 |
424 |
-63 |
0 |
1 |
|
Brian Marchetti |
48 |
38 |
375 |
413 |
-74 |
0 |
1 |
|
Nate |
4 |
43 |
369 |
412 |
-75 |
0 |
1 |
|
Robyn Vandenberg |
48 |
38 |
369 |
407 |
-80 |
1 |
0 |
|
Darrell |
48 |
38 |
365 |
403 |
-84 |
1 |
2 |
|
Alabama Fitz |
18 |
24 |
367 |
391 |
-96 |
1 |
2 |
|
Barbara |
88 |
40 |
348 |
388 |
-99 |
1 |
2 |
|
Kevin Abraham |
22 |
22 |
355 |
377 |
-110 |
0 |
2 |
|
If Playoff Started Today |
|
|||||||
Player |
Selection |
Race Pts |
Previous Pts |
Total Pts |
Behind |
Wins |
DNFs |
Chase Pts |
Mr. Pole |
99 |
40 |
433 |
473 |
-14 |
2 |
1 |
2006 |
Vivian |
4 |
43 |
404 |
447 |
-40 |
2 |
2 |
2006 |
Mr. Winner |
48 |
38 |
443 |
481 |
-6 |
1 |
1 |
2003 |
PattyKay Lilley |
48 |
38 |
393 |
431 |
-56 |
1 |
0 |
2003 |
Robyn Vandenberg |
48 |
38 |
369 |
407 |
-80 |
1 |
0 |
2003 |
Darrell |
48 |
38 |
365 |
403 |
-84 |
1 |
2 |
2003 |
Alabama Fitz |
18 |
24 |
367 |
391 |
-96 |
1 |
2 |
2003 |
Barbara |
88 |
40 |
348 |
388 |
-99 |
1 |
2 |
2003 |
Mr. Seven |
15 |
37 |
450 |
487 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2000 |
Jim Fitzgerald |
20 |
42 |
382 |
424 |
-63 |
0 |
1 |
2000 |
Brian Marchetti |
48 |
38 |
375 |
413 |
-74 |
0 |
1 |
2000 |
Nate |
4 |
43 |
369 |
412 |
-75 |
0 |
1 |
2000 |
Kevin Abraham |
22 |
22 |
355 |
377 |
-110 |
0 |
2 |
2000 |
JIM FITZGERALD: And now, our picks this week…
KEVIN ABRAHAM: Ooooh, me first, so I can get out of here and go on vacation.
JIM FITZGERALD: Fair enough, Captain AntsInThePants. What say you?
KEVIN ABRAHAM: I pick Jamie McMurray to sweep Charlotte, winning both the All-Star Race last weekend and the 600 this weekend. I’m gone!
BRIAN MARCHETTI: Wow, I’ve never seen a human actually have tail lights and tire smoke.
JIM FITZGERALD: While McMurray isn't going to be my pick, I can't argue with Kevin other than to say that the 600 isn't a 90 lap sprint race. It's endurance, but Jamie does know how to navigate the track!
ALABAMA FITZ: McMurray? H-m-m-m. One thing is for sure as evidenced by his All Star performance; he knows how to position himself for the win. I decided last week before the All-Star Race, that, based on the record here, I would stick with the 18 and Kyle Busch this week. Kyle knows how to get around here...so I'm going back to my winner.
JIM FITZGERALD: I think that’s a decent pick as long as some cables don’t fall out of the sky onto his car again this year!
PATTYKAY LILLEY: After studying the Charlotte stats long and hard... for five minutes or so... my logic holds. The race will be won by someone with a K in his name. Problem there is, most of them have a K in their names. With that much established, I had to look at the dreaded numbers. Well, guess who looks the best to me, with 4 top 5s in the last 5 races... and a win? It's the guy with two Ks... Kasey Kahne. One of these days he's gonna finish somewhere besides in the wall, and I'm thinking it will be in the cool, cool, cool of the evening Sunday night at Charlotte. Mama will be riding shotgun in the #5 this week. Move over Darrell and make room for Mama!
JIM FITZGERALD: Well, Kahne looked good last weekend for a while, that's for sure. I'm following your lead a little bit though and I am going with a K as well. It's not Kyle, Kasey, or even Double Dippin' Kurt...I'm taking the guy who was chasing down Jamie Mac at the end of that All-Star Race. I'm thinking that Kevin Harvick pulls off win number three this season, and does it in a big way at Charlotte.
PATTYKAY LILLEY: No surprise there Jim. Kevin was on the other side of my coin flip. Both have excellent records here and Kevin has that second win, but man, has he been hard to figure this year. He shows up at every track with a 50/50 chance. He has two speeds... "Freaky fast" and "Garage." He pretty much either wins or breaks. Kasey just seems to break, and sooner or later, that has to end. He's too good to spend an entire season in the wall. I'm hoping this is sooner.
ROBYN VANDENBERG: I want to pick Kasey so bad for maternal reasons of course, however I must go with my gut. I believe Cousin Carl may take the checkered this Saturday Night. However, praying hard for Kasey or Kevin ! Jr. would make me smile as well.
BRIAN MARCHETTI: Edwards? Edwards can win on Saturday night all he wants. My driver will win on Sunday.
ALABAMA FITZ: And that would be…
BRIAN MARCHETTI: No ready yet.
JIM FITZGERALD: Well, Robyn, I'm pretty sure we'll be hearing from Edwards as SUNDAY night progresses. He was looking good last Saturday for sure. And, if you're willing to let Kevin Harvick win, I'm willing to let Edwards finish right behind him!
PATTYKAY LILLEY: They call him Concrete Carl for a reason. I'll be looking hard at Cousin Carl next week, but I'm sticking with Kasey this week. He's got all the numbers and he's got TWO Ks in his name.
JIM FITZGERALD: Ummm…so does Kevin HarvicK
ALABAMA FITZ: I don't know who or what is going where except I'm going crazy and to the winners circle with "The Shrub". Hopefully, the patient one will show up this week.
BRIAN MARCHETTI: So, I was looking at--
JIM FITZGERALD: Ho hey wait what hoohohohohohoh…You're not blaming Kyle Busch for that wreck last weekend, are you? Because if you are, I would hate to think that I'd have to remind you that 1) it was the All-Star Race so, patience....no. and 2) Clint Bowyer was blocking, and if it is okay for Tony Stewart to dump drivers into the wall for blocking, it has to be okay for Kyle Busch, too. Challenge!
PATTYKAY LILLEY: Ooh, are we about to witness a fight? Gentleman, retire to your respective corners and when the bell rings, come out fighting. Good grief, why do I even know those words. Haven't watched a fight since my father controlled the TV.
JIM FITZGERALD: But you forgot “Let’s Get Ready To Rumble!!”
ALABAMA FITZ: Jim, everything you say is true. Take a chill pill and have a cold one.
JIM FITZGERALD: Oh, I’m chill, baby!
ALABAMA FITZ: I'm saying...a little patience on Kyle’s part could have, might have, been advantageous. No patience where a million and change awaits? Au contraire, mon ami! Why not a momentary bit of patience? It could have paid off handsomely. Clint Bowyer blocking is perfectly legal and ok by me. It makes for some exciting racing. How many times did we see the No. 3 suddenly be a car that was at least 2 lanes wide...or the No. 2! I firmly believe in "Move or get moved!" I understand what Kyle was trying to do, but he is smart enough to know how to get around that! He must have forgotten how and it cost him dearly.
BRIAN MARCHETTI: I guess we’ll see if he learned anything when the 600 comes around.
JIM FITZGERALD: No doubt…are you ready to pick yet?
BRIAN MARCHETTI: I have a little story to tell, first. A funny, but not so funny story happened to
me this past week. I had to work a
commitment for a friend on Saturday, so I missed the first segment. I managed to catch a prime seat at a local
watering hole to watch the remainder, and as soon as I ordered my food and got
comfy, the establishment changed the channel to some MMA,
or whatever the call beating each other up with almost no rules. So I asked the waitress to please turn it
back, and 15 mins later, was informed that people had
entered under the pretence that they could watch the
fight, leaving me out in the cold. By
the time I finished my meal and took the long journey home, all of the racing
was over. What does all of this
mean? One, I'm never going in that place
again, and two, other than reading your comments, I know nothing about the All
Star Race, aside from Jamie winning.
That means my pick will be fresh, based on the old school numbers, and
not Mama's valuable advice to look at the last few races, and not a 10 race
statistic. So I like several drivers for
a number of different reasons. My gut is
always Jimmie on this track, and while he is low on my potential list, he is on
the list. I like Kahne, Shrub, Hamlin,
Harvick, Edwards, Bowyer, and Johnson.
Aside from wrecks, all of these guys will run in the Top 10 this
week. I like each driver equally, so I
have to think strategy. I
didn't see where any of you went with Hamlin, so I'm gonna
wear my Fed Ex hat this week, and roll with ole Denny. He has the 5th best Driver Rating, and an
11.1 Ten Race Avg, but an even more impressive 5.2
Five Race Avg. Granted he hasn't had the
best season so far, he is running at par with his career, and I like the guy.
ALABAMA FITZ: A good choice I'm thinking, Brian...decent numbers, but next time you decide not to follow MamaK's advice, don’t make a point of it!
PATTYKAY LILLEY: Ah, but Mama doesn't care what mistakes Brian makes. More point gain for me when Kasey finally gets his show on the road come Sunday.
Friends, this is usually where we check on our fans and get their picks, which we will certainly do in just a second, but I wanted to tell you that one of our fan players and most loyal readers has fallen ill, and will be out of action for a little while. Everyone here at Race Fans Forever wishes her a speedy recovery. Get well, Barbara!! Now, the fan picks…
Vivian: Strategy, smart driving, concentration by the driver and dedication plus speed by the pit crew will get a driver the win at the 600 this weekend. It came down to three drivers for my pick but I think from watching his eyes the past few races, I am picking Kevin Harvick to pull it off.
Nate: I am going to take the winner of the race here last October, and that is No. 2, Brad Keselowski.
Darrell: I am picking Kasey Kahne for the 600. The 5 team showed last week they know how to build a car for CMS. Until the slap in the wall, the 5 car was constantly the fastest car on the track. Also, I believe with Kahne’s workout regimen, he is one of the handful of drivers out there that will be able remain sharp through all 600 miles whereas most drivers wear out after about 400.
JIM: I am going to pick for Barbara this week, and I’m giving her who was number two on my list of picks, and that is the rookie Kyle Larson. He didn’t make it to the All-Star race last week, but he came from the back twice to an almost top five finish.
So, there are our picks for the 600 at Charlotte this
Sunday. We’ll recap what happens in the
race next week when we come back to talk about Dover, but until then, keep the
shiny side up and have a safe and happy Memorial Day weekend. If you see a soldier, don’t be afraid to go
up and thank him or her for your freedoms!
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 Sunday, and you'll be entered into a drawing to win some racing stuff!