‘Dega crapshoot will play factor in chase

The restrictor-plate tracks are always a toss up and this fall's race at Talladega figures to be no different. Jamie McMurray has finished 1st and 2nd in the last two races at Talladega, narrowly finishing behind Kevin Harvick this spring. Juan Pablo Montoya is another buy low option here for those in fantasy leagues. Montoya came home third at the track earlier this year but beware his other finishes have left things to be desired. Then there is the curious case of David Ragan who has 3 top 10's in 7 starts and has finished no worse then 17th save the fall 2007 race. Kurt Busch is perhaps the best restrictor-plate driver to never have won a race at one of the tracks. Tony Stewart and Ryan Newman are also viable options but mind you Stewart hasn't finished better then 16th at the track since he left Joe Gibbs racing. Now that I've mentioned the other drivers let me be clear. Despite what anyone says Denny Hamlin and Jimmie Johnson are again the guys to go with. Let's face it these guys can overcome so much right now. There teams are the top in the sport and nothing seems to get in the way of them making a run at the win at any track for the remainder of the year. If you can go with only one of the two go with Johnson, afterall he does have 4 championships for a reason. Even if the reason is skirting the rules at times. Oh yea Greg Biffle, Brad Keselowski who won the fall race there last year, and Clint Bowyer are also solid plays but I'd go with anyone mentioned earlier over them. The fact that Dale Earnhardt Jr is a former winner at Talladega and that he led last week will undoubtedly create interest in him this week as well.