| Fantasy football has been extremely popular for years | | | | Martinsville and Loudon? |
| and the Internet has increased the popularity of | | | | - How does this driver perform on flat ovals like Indy |
| fantasy sports in general to all time highs. One of the | | | | and Phoenix? |
| fastest growing fantasy sports is fantasy racing. The | | | | - How does this driver perform on super speedways |
| NASCAR Nextel Cup Series has exploded in | | | | such as Atlanta and Charlotte? |
| popularity over the past two decades selling out all | | | | - How does this driver performance on restrictor plate |
| race events and grabbing huge chunks of the TV | | | | tracks? (Daytona and Talladega) |
| ratings. And that, in turn, has increased the popularity of | | | | - How does this driver perform on a Road Course? |
| fantasy racing leagues. | | | | - Does this driver have recent multiple wins at a |
| There are a wide variety of fantasy racing leagues to | | | | specific track? |
| choose from. Just like football, you can find a local | | | | - Has the driver ever raced at this track? (Busch or |
| office pool where you choose a driver or two each | | | | Nextel Cup Series) |
| week to more sophisticated leagues that involve | | | | - Did the driver participate in Saturday's race? |
| multi-million dollar salary caps and point systems. Some | | | | - What is the drivers average finish at this track? |
| fantasy racing leagues are free and others charge a | | | | - What is the drivers average finish this season? |
| fee to participate. Contestants battle it out for bragging | | | | - Does your driver have teammates? How many? Do |
| rights to thousands of dollars in cash and prizes. | | | | they work well together? |
| Some consider fantasy sports games of chance but if | | | | - How well do the Driver and Crew Chief |
| you ask those that participate and win and finish near | | | | communicate? |
| the top of their league(s) consistently, you will learn that | | | | - How well does the Pit Crew perform? |
| fantasy sports are Games of Skill. You need to study | | | | - Is the driver happy with his team? |
| and stay up to date on all aspects of the sport your | | | | - Does this driver get good fuel mileage? |
| fantasy league is based on. | | | | - Does this driver occasionally make a mental |
| For fantasy racing leagues based on the NASCAR | | | | mistake? |
| Nextel Cup Series, you need to study and chart how | | | | - Does this driver usually hit something or get caught |
| each driver and his team perform at each track. | | | | up in a wreck? |
| NASCAR is a team sport, a driver alone cannot win a | | | | - Is the driver aggressive? |
| race. If a driver changed teams during the off season, | | | | - Where is your driver in the standings? Close to a |
| this may impact his performance. There are 36 races | | | | bubble spot? |
| on 23 different race tracks and over 50 drivers to | | | | Some Race Day Factors include: |
| choose from so your notes can get quite extensive. | | | | - The drivers starting position |
| Wallbanger Fantasy Racing offers a helpful cheat | | | | - The drivers location on Pit Road |
| sheet that you can individually chart drivers with. I | | | | - The drivers health status (sick or injured) |
| suggest you print one and then make copies or you | | | | - Happy Hour speed |
| can come up with your own system. If you want to | | | | - Happy Hour or Practice crash |
| dominate your league, you will need 23 pages (one | | | | - Day or Night Race |
| page for each track) for each driver you chart. You | | | | - Pre race engine change |
| will also need a folder or binder to stay organized. | | | | Some Track Factors include: |
| You may be asking where do I start?!? Here are | | | | - Surface (Concrete or Asphalt) |
| some of the things that may factor in to which driver | | | | - Banking (Flat, Average, High Banked) |
| you choose at a certain race track: | | | | - Track Configuration: Oval, Road Course, Other |
| Some Driver Factors you need to keep records of | | | | - Restrictor plate required? |
| include: | | | | - Has a certain make of vehicle dominated this track? |
| - How does this driver perform on short tracks like | | | | |