NASCAR’s Most Improved: Dark Horses of Spring 2016

Social media is currently ablaze, with ardent NASCAR fanatics counting down the days until the 2016 Sprint Cup opens at Daytona International Speedway.

Times are changing, with Jeff Gordon making way for Chase Elliott, a promising rookie driver inheriting the car of a man long since bestowed with legendary status.

The ever-changing rules package often causes the formbook to be jettisoned, as overzealous cautions wreck even the best-laid plans. Unpredictable as races may be, every driver has their favourite circuit, and it takes a special type of bravery (not to mention extreme luck!) to include a less exalted driver on the A-list.

Here are three drivers that have shown improved performances over the years at certain circuits and look set to upset the odds during the Spring phase of 2016, giving NASCAR fanatics the opportunity to explore uncharted territory by including them on the A-list.

Casey Mears (Daytona – February 21)

The first day of the NASCAR season is beset from all sides with optimism and determination – it should therefore stand to reason that it is a notoriously difficult event to predict.

Casey Mears is rarely a driver that figures largely in any fantasy NASCAR playbook, but an exception should be made for Daytona. Mears has a chequered history at the circuit, but his last two Daytona races have resulted in top ten finishes, with the improvement directly correlating to Germain Racing’s switch from Ford to Chevrolet in 2014.

Include him on the A-list to surprise your rivals.

Paul Menard (Fontana – March 20)

Paul Menard was little more than cannon fodder in the Sprint Cup last year, finding himself amongst the top sixteen on consistency alone, without a win to his name.

Since switching from Richard Petty Motorsports to Richard Childress Racing in 2011, it has taken much patience and determination from Menard to improve on what was once a very mediocre record at the track.

Now reflecting on three consecutive top ten finishes, including a 4th place finish in last year’s race, Menard has every reason to approach the next event with confidence, yet few other fantasy managers will feel compelled to include him in Group A.

Ryan Newman (Talladega – May 1)

Newman began his second season with Richard Childress Racing in impressive form, recovering quickly from a disastrous Daytona opener, and defying the odds to embark on an early run of nine top ten finishes from the next ten.

Within that run, 2014 cup runner up Newman enjoyed his best weekend at Talladega since a 3rd place finish in 2009. The finish of 7th yielded by Newman came as a surprise to fantasy NASCAR managers worldwide, indicating that Richard Childress is starting to improve its setup at the famous circuit.

The NASCAR Sprint Cup season begins with the Daytona 500 on February 21st. For the latest standings and statistics, visit Motorsport24.com

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