Fantasy: Roush drivers take the lead at Michigan

On Sunday, the Sprint Cup Series will come to Michigan International Speedway for the Life Lock 400. The sweeping, 2-mile oval in Brooklyn, Mich., has many similarities to the 2-mile oval in Fontana, Calif.

The Sprint Cup Series raced there in February, so we do have some recent data to judge the teams and drivers this weekend. While it has been several months since the Auto Club 500, we need put the results of that race in the proper perspective. Current hot streaks and recent history at Michigan may trump the outcome at Fontana earlier this year.

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Ford and Dodge teams have run away with wins in recent seasons at Michigan. Roush Fenway Racing drivers have won three of the past five events at MIS, so you'll see a good dose of Matt Kenseth, Greg Biffle and Carl Edwards out front this Sunday. The surging teams of Stewart-Haas Racing with Tony Stewart and Ryan Newman may be Chevrolet's best chance to put the bow tie back in Victory Lane at Michigan.

Top Fantasy Racing Drivers for Michigan

1. Matt Kenseth
With Kenseth getting his season turned around, we now come to a track where he's consistently been one of the frontrunners and he can make a charge at his third win of the season. Kenseth owns two career wins at MIS and he's finished in the top five in four of his past five starts there. The No. 17 Ford always comes to life at Michigan and it will again this Sunday.

2. Jimmie Johnson
The No. 48 team was unfortunate in failing to get to Victory Lane last week at Pocono. Johnson had some bad luck and bad breaks in that 500-mile race. He has never won at Michigan, but he's led laps in his past four races at the facility. It would seem that it's just a matter of time before Johnson breaks through for the win there. A top-10 finish this week would seem to be a comfortably safe assumption.

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Mike Bell has all of your clicks to pick for the race at Michigan and his pick this week has a good track record there.

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3. Tony Stewart
With his wins in the All-Star Race and this past weekend's Pocono 500, Stewart is riding a tidal wave of momentum. Stewart is a one-time winner at MIS, but that was very early in his career. His recent results have been impressive, though. Stewart owns three top-fives and four top-10s in his past five races there. The current momentum that he's riding could take him to Victory Lane on Sunday.

4. Carl Edwards
With his lap-leading, runner-up finish at Pocono, it's clear that Edwards' No. 99 Ford team is coming to life. Michigan has been very kind to the Roush Fenway driver. Edwards owns two victories in his past four races at the track, and he's only finished outside the top-10 once in his total of nine starts there.

5. Greg Biffle
Kenseth's teammate at Roush Fenway Racing has had similar results at Michigan through the years. Biffle also is a two-time winner at the facility, and he's led close to 200 laps for his career there. With a top-10 rate of close to 60 percent at Michigan, you have to give Biffle a long look this weekend.

6. Kyle Busch
Busch showed last weekend at Pocono that he's quite human. There are just certain tracks in the circuit that don't click with the Joe Gibbs Racing ace. While MIS isn't one of his better tracks, he's been good enough there in recent seasons to give a look this weekend. Busch won one pole position and earned a runner-up finish in his two Michigan starts last season.

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7. Ryan Newman
The hottest driver in the series right now is arguably Newman. Despite being winless this season, he brings a six-race, top-10 streak to Michigan. Newman won two events at MIS earlier in his career and he's collected a handful of top-fives at the track through the years. The way the No. 39 Chevrolet is running right now, we can't think of a safer fantasy racing play this weekend.

8. Brian Vickers
When thinking of drivers and teams that typically come to life when the series visit Michigan, Vickers immediately comes to mind. He's riding a three-race, top 10 streak at the track has has led laps in each of those races. The No. 83 team has clearly figured out this track, and should put it to good practice.

9. Kasey Kahne
Kahne is a one-time winner at MIS, and he's managed a 50 percent top-five rate at the track for his career. The big, sweeping ovals of Fontana and Michigan have always favored the driver of the No. 9 Dodge. Kahne finished second in this event one year ago so he should be good for a top-10 run on Sunday.

10. Jamie McMurray
Consistency has not been spectacular, but it has been the cornerstone of the No. 26 team lately. McMurray is fresh off a top-15 finish at Pocono, and he should carry his recent momentum to Michigan this weekend. He has three top-10 finishes in his past four races at MIS, and his Roush Fenway Racing affiliation should serve him well in this event.