xfinity - mid-ohio

I love this track for IndyCar but it's a little weird watching the Xfinity cars here.  Hard to handicap this one a bit because final practice was largely washed out due to rain.  No rain is expected for the race.  Only 75 laps, so not a ton of laps led and fastest lap points out there.  But also tough to pass, so can't go all in on position difference either.

Sam Hornish won this race last year in the 22 car for Penske.  Austin Cindric is in that car this week.  He always seems to have a problem at some point in every race.  Possible GPP play, but I don't love him in a cash game set-up unless he starts 10th or worse.  Last year was a bit of an odd race too.  Several late crashes led to a total of 16 cars being out at the end of the race.  Guys like Justin Allgaier, Cole Custer and Ryan Reed were all out.  Almost turned into a plate track with guys from the back finishing in the Top 20.  That was a bit of an outlier and I wouldn't expect anything that extreme again this year.

Here's a real short bullet point list of the drivers I will be focusing on in my lineups.  Of course if other series regulars start way back, jump on them as well.  I won't have time to update after qualifying:

• Justin Allgaier -- Probably the best road course racer among the series regulars.  I'm interested no matter where he starts.
• Cole Custer -- Crashed in this race last year, but 8th (Road America) and 6th (Watkins Glen) in the two road course races since then.
• Daniel Hemric -- 2nd last year at this track and has a solid road course record.
• Justin Marks -- The first of three Mid Ohio specialists.  He won here in the 42 car in 2016, leading 43 laps.  Finished 9th here last year with +12 position difference.  In the 42 again this weekend.
• Brandon Jones -- Solid road course history and finished 7th last week with +13 position difference in first road course race for top team JGR.
• Brandon Gaughan -- Another Mid Ohio specialist.  Running somewhat questionable equipment, but finished 7th and 8th the last two races here.
• Ryan Reed -- Pretty reliable road course guy.  8th last week at Watkins Glen.
• Andy Lally -- Third of the Mid Ohio specialists.  Finished 5th and 7th last two races here.
• Michael Annett -- Not a great driver, but with a top team and reasonably priced.  He tends to have his best finishes at road courses as well.  Was 17th last week.  Finished 19th with +11 position difference in this race last year.
  
• Ryan Sieg -- Cheaper option with decent road course finishes.  Finished 12th here last year.
  
• Alex Labbe -- Cheap.  Finished 19th last week at Watkins Glen.
  
• Joey Gase -- Cheap and does decent at road courses despite qualifying poorly.  Finished 21st with +18 position difference last race here.

​GL!