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NASCAR: Michigan Fantasy Picks

By Matt Lovisa

Aug 28, 2016; Brooklyn, MI, USA; Sprint Cup Series driver Jimmie Johnson (48) during the Pure Michigan 400 at the Michigan International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 28, 2016; Brooklyn, MI, USA; Sprint Cup Series driver Jimmie Johnson (48) during the Pure Michigan 400 at the Michigan International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /
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Fantasy racing players should gear up for the first trip of two trips this summer for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series at Michigan International Speedway.

The NASCAR Cup Series is two races into the summer stretch, which will separate the fantasy racing pretenders from the contenders. By this part in the season, the fantasy racing studs and duds are known, but with an upcoming series of tracks that are drastically different from each other, the same lineup won’t always work every week.

Will we see another first-time winner this season after Ryan Blaney’s victory at Pocono Raceway? What about the first win for one of the Joe Gibbs Racing Toyotas? Or will another Ford find Victory Lane in the form of Brad Keselowski or Joey Logano?

Let’s take a look at six drivers to keep an eye on this weekend for your fantasy racing team.

Team Penske

Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano have both finished inside the top 10 in their last four starts at Michigan and have led a combined 199 laps. Logano won this race a year ago from the pole position and backed his win up in the second race last year by starting on the pole and finishing 10th.

Keselowski hasn’t finished worse than 9th in his last four races at Michigan, and in his last three races, has started from 14th or worse, providing a nice return on starting position differential.

Apr 24, 2017; Bristol, TN, USA; NASCAR Cup Series drivers Kyle Larson (42) and Martin Truex Jr. (78) lead a restart during the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 24, 2017; Bristol, TN, USA; NASCAR Cup Series drivers Kyle Larson (42) and Martin Truex Jr. (78) lead a restart during the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports /

Larson and Truex Jr.

These two drivers have been atop the point standings for a majority of the season thus far. Their fantasy racing statistics are nothing to shy away from either. Heading to Michigan with one of these drivers on your roster could pay off.

Larson won at Michigan the last time the series visited there and finished 3rd in the first race there last season. Truex Jr. has an average finish of 9.5 in his last four races there with two 3rd place finishes.

First-time winner again?

Chase Elliott finished 2nd in both races at Michigan last year and led more than 30 laps in both races. Elliott has yet to win in the Cup Series, but after watching three first-time winners beat him to it already this season, Michigan could be the spot.

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Ty Dillon is another interesting pick for the race at Michigan. Although his numbers at Michigan are not off the charts, he was able to finish 24th last year in the Leavine Family Racing car and 14th in 2015 with a Richard Childress Racing car. Dillon led some laps at Dover based off of a strategy call and Michigan is another track where strategy can come into play.

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