Digger's Pick of the Week - Sonoma

Since I was able to successfully pick the winner for last week's race at Michigan let's see if I can make it two in a row.  This week the race is being held at the 1.99 miles, 10 turn, road course in Sonoma, California.  I am envious of official buddy of TRD, B-rent, who will be attending the race.  Let's get down to the business of picking a winner...

The top 10 starters are:
Kasey Kahne
Jimmie Johnson
Kurt Busch
Kevin Harvick
Jeff Gordon
Marcos Ambrose
Tony Stewart
Bobby Labonte
Greg Biffle
Martin Truex Jr.

According to Racing Reference the top 10 best average finishers among active drivers are:
Juan Pablo Montoya
Clint Bowyer
Tony Stewart
Jeff Gordon
Ryan Newman
Mark Martin
Denny Hamlin
Elliot Sadler
Greg Biffle
Kyle Busch

With 76% of the races being won from the Top 10 I'm going to again go with the numbers and pick my winner from there.  My winner this week is a driver who has yet to win this year, but typically picks it up in the summer, and has been running well the last couple weeks.  The Official Digger's Pick of the Week for this week is....Tony Stewart.

Go Smoke!  Let's make it two in a row for TRD.

Digger's Pick of the Week

Each week TRD will analyze the upcoming NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race and will present to you my Digger Pick of the Week.

This week the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is in the Irish Hills of Michigan for what is a home game to the majority of the manufacturers in NASCAR so there is plenty on the line for the drivers and teams this week.  Michigan is a 2 mile D shaped oval with races that seem to always come down to fuel mileage; just ask Jimmie Johnson or Dale Jr.

The top ten starters for the Heluva' Good Sour Cream Dips 400 are:
Kurt Busch
Jamie Macmurray
Jimmie Johnson
Kasey Kahne
Jeff Burton
Jeff Gordon
Denny Hamlin
Ryan Newman
David Reutimann
Juan Pablo Montoya

According to Racing Reference the top 10 active drivers with the highest average finish at Michigan are:
Carl Edwards
Matt Kenseth
Jeff Gordon
Tony Stewart
Greg Biffle
Mark Martin
Denny Hamlin
Bill Elliot
Kevin Harvick
Brian Vickers

With 78% of the races run at Michigan coming from the top 10 starters my pick of the week will come from that group.

And here it is TRD's Pick of the Week is...DENNY HAMLIN who will continue his recent hot streak by pulling out yet another win for JGR.

So, who you got?

Digger Diggin' Out of a Hole Award

Each week I, TRD, will present my Digger Diggin' Out of a Hole Award to the NASCAR driver and team who dug themselves out of the biggest hole.  This honor is 2nd only to actually winning a race in both prestige and momentum going forward.

Now, without further ado, this weeks Digger Diggin' Out of a Hole Award goes to...
NNS Willie Allen!

Willie was held two laps at the start of the race for unapproved changes after qualifying.  Willie was not discouraged as he raced hard and clean all night to end up on the lead lap with a top 15 finish.

Congrats Willie!

Pocono Sweetest Temptation Style

If you have ventured over to one of the other sites where the exploits of TRD can be followed you are well aware of the NASCAR Fantasy League B-rent and I are running this year.  As one of the co-commissioners of the league I decided to post everyones starting line-ups for race this week in Pocono.

Yours Truly
Kyle Busch
Kurt Busch
Juan Pablo Montoya
A.J. Allmendinger

B-rent
Kasey Kahne
Mark Martin
Jeff Burton
Jamie McMurray

Chuck
Greg Biffle
Matt Kenseth
Joey Logano
Clint Bowyer

Crook
Tony Stewart
Denny Hamlin
Carl Edwards
Martin Truex Jr.

Mulligan
Jimmie Johnson
Jeff Gordon
Ryan Newman
Marcos Ambrose

Janet
Dale Earnhardt Jr
Kevin Harvick
Casey Mears (Brian Vickers replacement driver)
David Reutimann

Who is The Real Digger

No, I am not the animated rodent that Fox has shoved down the collective throats of NASCAR fans.  I have been going by the name Digger my entire life, all 29 years of it.  The purpose of this blog is to clear my name of any association with the Faux-Digger on FOX, and to provide some, hopefully, interesting and  sometimes funny commentary of the various NASCAR series mostly from my couch, but occasionally from the track.  I hope to provide level-headed and unbiased view of NASCAR, though I will admit I will lean slightly in favor of Ryan Newman, Scott Speed, and Kyle Busch.

Some other Blogs that will feature the exploits of TRD are:
The B in B-log
The Sweetest Temptation

So sit back, relax, invite your friends, and enjoy the ride.  Until later peace out!