Kyle Busch wins the second race of the playoffs and keeps pace with Martin Truex Jr. in the points race. Kurt Busch was the biggest loser on the day when he got caught up in a wreck that happened when Kevin Harvick spun in front of him and he couldn’t stop in time to avoid running into him. Now he will almost have to win the race next weekend to move into the second round of the playoffs as he finds himself in fifteenth place.
APACHE WARRIOR 400
This week for the first elimination race of the playoffs the series heads back to ‘The Monster Mile’, Dover International Speedway, for the running of the Apache Warrior 400. Dover is a one-mile high-banked oval speedway that will show speed and multiple grooves for passing. This being an elimination race I think we could see some great racing all through the race as those drivers on the bubble try to do everything in their power to pass every car they can.
Martin Truex Jr.: Once again last week, Martin had the car to beat until he got caught up in the same wreck that took out Kurt Busch and Kevin Harvick. He still came back to record another top five finish in that race. Martin has two wins at this track and has finished in the top ten in six of his last seven starts here. I think I am going to stick with him and Kyle Busch as my two favorites for the near future.
Kyle Busch: Kyle also has two wins here and has also finished second here four times in his twenty-five starts here. The way these two are running now they are going to fight for this championship right to the end of the season. Kyle has sat on the pole for both of the playoff races and has started in the top three at Dover in five of his last seven starts there. Look for him to have another good qualifying effort again this weekend.
Kyle Larson: Kyle is the other driver in the field that has really run well all season long and continues that in the playoffs. Kyle has only run seven races at this track and is still looking for his first win here, but he has finished second here in two of his last three races. Look for him to have another great run this weekend at Dover and try to pick up some playoff points by winning this weekend.
Jimmie Johnson: Jimmie says he believes this team can win their eighth championship this year despite how they ran in the second half of the season. If he is going to do just that, this weekend will give us a good tell. He has won eleven races at this track during his thirty-one race career at this track. Anyone who can win one out of every three races at any track has to be considered one of the favorites no matter how they have been running recently.
Chase Elliott: Chase has been pretty quiet all year just because he hasn’t won a race yet. That can all change this weekend. In his three starts at this track, Chase has never finished outside of the top five. This is the type of track this team has excelled at the last couple of season and is the type of track where he has his best chance of picking up his first career win. What better time that during the playoffs to do that?
Kasey Kahne: After having some mechanical issues at New Hampshire last weekend, Kasey finds himself in a precarious position. He will have to win this race to continue his run for a possible championship. The good news for him is that he has run really well here in the recent pass. He has finished in the top five twice and the top ten three times in his last five starts here. If he wins this week it will be his first career win at this track.
Matt Kenseth: Matt has another great run last weekend at New Hampshire. He should be able to move on to the second round on points unless something really bad happens to him this weekend. However, he does run really well at this track and he could get his first win of the season here. He has three wins here in his career with one of those wins coming in the spring race last season. Matt is cool under pressure and should run well once again this weekend.
Kevin Harvick: Kevin had enough of a points lead that the accident he was in that knocked him out of last week’s race didn’t really affect him too much. He just needs to avoid another early exit this weekend and he will move on to the next round. Kevin won this race two years ago for his only career win at this track. I think this team makes the second round, but they need to step up their game a little bit if they want to contend for the championship.
Denny Hamlin: Denny is also sitting comfortable in the points heading into this elimination race and is still looking for his first career win at this track. However he has finished in the top ten in three of his last five starts here. I think they need to stop making mistakes on pit road to have a legitimate shot at winning a championship this season. They have shown they have the speed they need, but keep taking themselves out of races.
Brad Keselowski: In fifteen career races at Dover, Brad has one win and two second place finishes. This is another team that hasn’t been at the top of their game as we have moved into the playoffs. All of these teams can still turn it around, but they need to do it now. If they can get better they can go on a roll and make some noise yet this season.
YAHOO! FANTASY NASCAR PICKS FOR DOVER INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
Yahoo Driver Group A
- Martin Truex Jr.
- Kyle Busch
Yahoo Driver Group B
- Kyle Larson
- Chase Elliott
- Jamie McMurray
- Kasey Kahne
Yahoo Driver Group C
- Erik Jones
- Michael McDowell
MY TOP-5 OVERALL AT DOVER INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
- Martin Truex Jr.
- Kyle Busch
- Jimmie Johnson
- Kyle Larson
- Chase Elliott
Dark Horse: Kasey Kahne
Stay Away From: Kurt Busch
Big 18: Jamie McMurray
19 replies on “2017 Dover International Speedway, Apache Warrior 400”
I’ve got one start left for the 24 on Yahoo. Going off stats, he’s best at Dover and Texas in the remaining races. Would you use him this week, or wait for Texas in my position. Points are tight in my league, but I took a big hit Sunday with 4 and 41 rostered. Need a good week.
Save his start until Texas. He could get you qualifying points by having him on your roster yet.
Larson is at 0 !😥 Newman?
Maybe Almirola if you want to take a chance although Newman is taking a chance here now. He used to run really well here early in his career, but hasn’t been that great lately.
Is the race next week I Charlotte going to use the infield road course? Will it be half road course and half oval? Will the drivers typically good in a road course be good on that?
No road course this year, but next year they are going to run on the road course in the playoffs.
#19 should be good this week. 6.75 avg. finish on 1mi. Intermediates for 2017. Started 25th finished 8th last week @ New Hampshire (1mi. Intermediate).
Do you like 77 or 19 this week?
The 77 has been the better of the two most of the year. In the only other race they both ran at Dover, Suarez finished 6th and Jones finished 15th. I think it is a toss up between them this week. Use the one you have the most starts left with and then see how they do in the practice sessions and qualifying.
Thanks I have two of each left. Was planning on using the 77 here and at Honestead and the 19 at Martinsville and Phoenix. With 95 at Talladegea and Texas and the 13 at the other two. Does that make sense?
Sounds like a pretty good plan to me.
Have kyle and truex, who would you start? Also have larson but only 1 start left. Use him here or wait?
I am starting Truex because he has been better than Busch most of the year. I would save Larson and keep him for qualifying points until later in the year.
My thoughts as well, but Busch usually burns me if I leave him on the bench. Start him and he has bad luck. Lol
I have changed to Busch after the last two practice sessions. Truex hardly ran any laps in the second practice and wasn’t very good in the last one. I think Kyle will win another race here now.
Hey Jeff, who are you starting for tomorrow?
Thanks!
After the final practice session I am now going with Kyle Busch in the A group because Truex wasn’t that great in either of the last two practices. Then I have Elliott and McMurray and finally McDowell in C as I am saving both Jones and Suarez for later in the season with 3 starts left between both of those drivers.
What about kenseth would you start him or truex
??
No, as slow as Truex was in the final practice, Kenseth was even slower. Truex has shown that he can get much better during the race while Kenseth is still looking for his first win of the year.