If your drivers didn't fare as well as you would have liked them to in the Coca-Cola 600, there's only one thing you can do. Blame it on the rain. After you've done that, move on and start thinking about who to choose for the final week in Segment One at Dover.
David Reutimann earned the biggest win of his career in the Coca-Cola 600 after the race was pushed back to Monday due to weather. The weather played a big part in Reutimann's victory as well, as the race was called after a two-hour rain delay with only 227 laps in the books. Reutimann was in front when the race was called, earning his first-ever Sprint Cup win.
The 39-year-old veteran was in the middle of the pack when a slew of cars ahead of him decided to make a pit stop while Reutimann decided not to go to pit row. It proved to be the right strategy, winning the race without leading a single green-flag lap. Kyle Busch had been in the lead when almost everyone decided to pit and ended up finishing sixth.
The Sprint Cup series moves to the Dover International Speedway on Sunday for the Autism Speaks 400. Dover is a one-mile oval track, known as "The Monster Mile". If one driver ends up spinning at Dover, there's a pretty good chance that it is taking a whole mess of cars with it into the wall. Pit road is also pretty scary at Dover, making it one of the toughest tracks that drivers have to deal with all season.
Strategy pretty much goes out the window this week as it is the last week of Segment One. Just pick the best driver left. Figuring out which driver you have left that is going to finish the highest, now that's the trick.
Look for a realignment of the tiers for Segment Two of the Fantasy Racing Challenge next week. Good luck, and may the best Fantasy owner win Segment One.
Tier One Start -- Greg Biffle
Biffle won the second race at Dover last season, finishing in the top three in each of his last three starts at Dover. He has two career victories at the track and six top-10 finishes in a row. Biffle is a strong candidate to earn his first victory of the 2009 season on Sunday.
Others to consider: Jimmie Johnson, Carl Edwards
Tier One Sit -- Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
This has certainly been a rough few days for Dale Jr. and his team. Earnhardt finished a season-worst 40th in the Coca-Cola 600 and car owner Rick Hendrick has decided to let crew chief Tony Eury, Jr. go. Team manager Brian Whitesell will be the crew chief this weekend. Lance McGrew will take over next week on an interim basis. Earnhardt is not a good choice this weekend considering all the drama surrounding his team.
Others to avoid: Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick
Tier Two Start -- Martin Truex, Jr.
Truex is off to a slightly disappointing start to the 2009 campaign, currently sitting at 18th in the point standings. His best finish in 2009 is sixth at the Southern 500, cracking the top 10 in only three races. He pulled off a victory at Dover in 2007 and has finished in the top 10 in three of his six career starts there. Most Fantasy owners should have him available for this race, so get him active.
Others to consider: Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart
Tier Two Sit -- Kasey Kahne
Dover has not been a friendly track to Kahne over the years. He has only one top-10 finish there in 10 career starts, which was a seventh-place showing back in 2006. I know options are limited, but Kahne has to be avoided.
Others to avoid: David Ragan, Denny Hamlin
Tier Three Start -- David Reutimann
Let's face it, Reutimann got pretty lucky to win this past week at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Hopefully that luck will stay with him again this week at Dover. Reutimann has an average finish of 20.7 at Dover in three career starts, so he has had moderate success there. If he brought some of that luck with him to Dover, he could find himself finishing in the top-10.
Others to consider: Jamie McMurray, Ryan Newman
Tier Three Sit -- Kurt Busch
Busch is having a fantastic start to the season, currently sitting third in the point standings. Most owners have used Busch by this point in the season, and if you haven't, you have simply waited too long to do so. Busch has not finished better than 20th in his last four starts at Dover, with only four top-10 finishes in 17 career starts.
Others to avoid: Casey Mears, Robby Gordon
Tier Four Start -- Paul Menard
Menard has been a model of consistency at Dover in his three career starts there. He's finished 21st twice and 22nd in his other start. If he finishes in the same ballpark on Sunday, that wouldn't be half bad considering that he is 33rd in the point standings.
Others to consider: Elliot Sadler, Juan Pablo Montoya
Tier Four Sit -- Scott Riggs
Riggs wants to race. According to media reports, he decided to leave Baldwin Racing after he said that team owner Tommy Baldwin asked him to start and park. Riggs was having none of it and decided to walk away from the team in search of a new ride. Therefore, he won't have a ride this weekend. He is currently 42nd in the point standings and wouldn't be recommended in the first place even if he did have a ride, so steer clear of him this week.
Others to avoid: Aric Almirola, Travis Kvapil
Tier Five Start -- Dave Blaney
Blaney is not a lock to make the field this weekend at Dover. If he does, he could be a major factor. Blaney had finishes of ninth and 12th in the two races at Dover last season. His ninth-place finish was a career-best. If he makes the field, start him.
Others to consider: Reed Sorenson, Sam Hornish, Jr.
Tier Five Sit -- David Stremme
Stremme has an average finish of 33.5 at Dover, the second-worst number of any active driver. He did not run at Dover in either race last season and has three finishes of 36th or worse in four career starts.
Others to avoid: Kenny Wallace, Regan Smith
Ian's Starting Five
Tier One -- Greg Biffle
Tier Two -- Martin Truex, Jr.
Tier Three -- David Reutimann
Tier Four -- Paul Menard
Tier Five -- Dave Blaney
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