| Driver | Odds |
|---|---|
| Kevin Harvick | 5/1 |
| Joey Logano | 6/1 |
| Jimmie Johnson | 7/1 |
| Kyle Busch | 7/1 |
| Brad Keselowski | 8/1 |
| Matt Kenseth | 8/1 |
| Carl Edwards | 12/1 |
| Denny Hamlin | 12/1 |
| Kurt Busch | 12/1 |
| Dale Earnhardt Jr. | 15/1 |
| Martin Truex Jr. | 18/1 |
| Kasey Kahne | 25/1 |
| Kyle Larson | 30/1 |
| Tony Stewart | 30/1 |
| Chase Elliott | 40/1 |
| Clint Bowyer | 40/1 |
| Jamie McMurray | 40/1 |
| Ryan Blaney | 40/1 |
| Ryan Newman | 40/1 |
| Aric Almirola | 100/1 |
| Austin Dillon | 100/1 |
| Field (Any Other Driver) | 100/1 |
| Greg Biffle | 100/1 |
| Paul Menard | 100/1 |
| AJ Allmendinger | 300/1 |
| Ricky Stenhouse | 300/1 |
| Trevor Bayne | 300/1 |
| Danica Patrick | 500/1 |
21: Austin Dillon: Even though Dillon consistently fielded a competitive car in 2015, he managed to find himself towards the back of the pack too many times. There wasn’t a whole lot of improvement from his previous year. The Richard Childress Racing driver only managed one top five performance and five top 10s. He finished 20th in points in 2014 and 21st last year. The vaunted #3 car has shown some speed on plate tracks in the past, which could help keep him up front where anything can happen on a super speedways final laps. Las Vegas has him at +10000 which is a more than fair assessment.
22. Greg Biffle: The sinking ship of Roush Fenway Racing looks to be taking its toll on Greg Biffle. It’s been a constant decline over the last three campaigns. Biffle is clearly the best of the three drivers that the team fields. He managed to net three top five’s and four top 10’s, placing him at 20th in the standings. The #16 car will be sporting the always annoying, “Finger lickin’ good!” KFC logo in 2016, as Ortho decided not to keep up the sponsorship. Clint Bowyer’s old crew chief Brian Pattie will see to the day-to-day operations after leaving Michael Waltrip Racing. With the inconsistency and new changes in the shop, odds makers got it right when placing Biffle at +10000.
23. Paul Menard: At +10000 Menard is not figured to be close come chase time, but there is some serious upside if you can get him in as a tier 3 driver or “C” spot driver. In just about half of the races in 2015, the neon green #27 Peak Menards Chevrolet found its way to an average finish of 13th. Menard also was fourth in points at the plate tracks, giving him a chance to win in every one. If you are part of a NASCAR Fantasy League that allows you to move drivers in and out of your line-up, remove him from the short tracks, where he struggled in 2015. Menard averaged a 19th starting position and a 19th place finish.
24. A.J. Allmendinger: If you ever need a one-trick pony to help get you back into your fantasy standings, take Allmendinger on the two road courses NASCAR offers up. At Sonoma last year he sat on the pole and showed considerable speed, before mechanical issues ended his day. In the four previous races here he has a 9.2 average finish. The #47 car raced his way to victory and into the chase with his first career victory at Watkins Glen in 2014. In 2015, he again sat on the pole and led 21 laps before electrical issues ended his bid for a second victory there. Vegas has him at +30000 because he struggles mightily at intermediate tracks and super speedways, which make up 21 of the 36 NASCAR venues. The Kroger Chevrolet team averages a 22.4 finish in those style of races.
25. Ricky Stenhouse: Better known for being Danica Patrick’s boyfriend than a high level race car driver has been the stigma Stenhouse has carried for the last few years. Throw in a fledgling Roush Fenway Racing team and you get the +30000 that Vegas allotted. The #17 Fastenal Ford Fusion has shown speed at restrictor-plate races, so Daytona and Talladega might be good spots to utilize him in your lineup. Stay completely away from Stenhouse on the two road courses where he averages a 26th place finish.
26. Trevor Bayne: Vegas prognosticators are placing Bayne at +30000 to win the Sprint Cup Series in 2016. The #6 Roush Fenway Racing Ford lacked speed in almost every race in 2016. Like the other Roush cars, Bayne did show improvement at the plate-tracks. The rest left a lot to be desired. He tallied zero wins and no poles, while finishing in the top 10 only on two occasions. With no laps led in 2015, this team can only go up. I’d wait a few races to see if the Roush Racing Team looks like they turned the corner before I would place him on my fantasy roster.
27. Danica Patrick: The Go Daddy Chevrolet didn’t record any top five finishes in 2016 and only two top 10’s. She has shown the ability to finish regularly in the high teens at the intermediate tracks, and has placed in the top 10 recently at the short track, Bristol and Richmond. Although she brings a fast car to these venues as well as the super speedways, Patrick can’t seem to finish consistently in the top 20. Her average finish for 2016 was 23.5. Line setters have her at the bottom of the barrel to begin the year. The +50000 is the highest on the grid. I personally would take her as NASCAR “C” driver consistently over Bayne, Stenhouse or Allmendinger.
