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[DNorris]

After three races on big two mile speedways (two at Michigan, one in California), there is a pretty solid theme: Carl Edwards is really good. There are a lot of good options out there this weekend, so don't limit yourself to what appears only on the surface to be the best options. If you throw a couple of sleeper picks on your roster you can always activate them after final practice.
1. Carl Edwards, #99 Office Depot Ford, Roush-Fenway Racing
Talk about a no brainer. Edwards won the spring event and dominated the race a couple of weeks ago in Michigan, outsprinting Kyle Busch for the win at the end. He was 7th in Michigan in June, 2nd in Fontana in the fall 2007 event, and won the June 2007 race at Michigan after leading 63 laps. Don't forget about all of his current momentum either.
2. Kyle Busch, #18 M & M's Toyota, Gibbs Racing
If Edwards is 1, then Busch is 1.5. It seems awkward to rank him number two anywhere, but he has been a tick below Edwards of late. His history on the two mile ovals isn't as solid either, but he was 2nd at Michigan a few weeks ago and 4th at Fontana in the spring.
3. Matt Kenseth, #17 DeWalt Tools Ford, Roush-Fenway Racing
Kenseth was 5th at Fontana, 5th in the second race at Michigan, and 3rd after leading 41 laps at Michigan in June. He won the first race at California last year after leading 133 laps and in 2006 he had victories at both Michigan and Fontana.
4. Jimmie Johnson, #48 Lowe's Chevrolet, Hendrick Motor Sports
Johnson was 2nd to Edwards back in the spring at Fontana after leading 76 laps. He looked great in June at Michigan, leading 65 laps before finishing 6th, but did struggle after leading early at Michigan in the second race there. This team could use a solid run after the event at Bristol and they usually don't have two bad performances in a row.
5. Jeff Gordon, #24 DuPont Chevrolet, Hendrick Motor Sports
Gordon was 3rd at Fontana and led some laps, looking much better in the second race in Michigan before he got some damage in a race for space on the track with Johnson and Tony Stewart. The damage led to a wreck, but he should be much better this weekend and can build on the strength of his last run in Fontana.
6. Dale Earnhardt Jr, #88 AMP/National Guard Chevrolet, Hendrick MotorSports
Earnhardt won via fuel mileage in June at Michigan and had finishes of 5th and 12th last season. He was involved in an early wreck at Fontana, but also led over 40 laps at Michigan in the second race there before he made an error and hit the wall. He's a good choice for the class B group this weekend.
7. Brian Vickers, #83 Red Bull Toyota, Team Red Bull
Vickers was 4th (and led 44 laps in June at Michigan), was 11th at Fontana, and 7th after leading 21 laps in the second race at Michigan. If this team will score a victory this year, it will come this weekend or on one of the remaining 1.5 mile tracks. Regardless, there is no other class C choice close to him.
8. Kevin Harvick, #29 Shell/Reeses/GM Chevrolet, Richard Childress Racing
Harvick was 8th at Fontana and had finishes of 8th and 12th in Michigan. Because he is in the class A group there are several better choices, but a top 10 run is likely. fftoolbox.com rocks guys.
9. Tony Stewart, #20 Home Depot Toyota, Gibbs Racing
Stewart looked good at Bristol, but hasn't shown he is a threat to win. It's almost as if leaving Gibbs has left him less motivated than normal and for once in his career he hasn't been a solid fantasy option (despite his 7th place run at Fontana in February).
10. David Ragan, #6 AAA Ford, Roush-Fenway Racing
Ragan finished 8th and 3rd in the two races at Michigan this year. He is one of the more solid class B drivers this weekend and should improve on his 14th place finish at Fontana earlier this year.
11. Greg Biffle, #16 3M Ford, Roush-Fenway Racing
Biffle has two career wins at Michigan, but he hasn't been nearly as good as his Roush teammates on these 2 mile ovals this year. He was 4th at Michigan in the last race there, but just 20th at Michigan and 15th in Fontana earlier this year. Still, he is a pretty good class B pick.
12. Kasey Kahne, #9 Budweiser Dodge, Gillett-Evernham Motorsports
Kahne has won at both Michigan and Fontana in the past, scoring a 2nd place finish in June at Michigan. He blew an engine in the last race at Michigan, but is another solid class B option based on the strength he has shown this season on the aero-dependant race tracks.
13. Jeff Burton, #31 AT&T Mobility Chevrolet, Richard Childress Racing
Burton has scored a top 15 in all 3 events at Michigan and Fontana. He will finish solid, but the upside is not what you would like to have in your class A group.
14. Jamie McMurray, #26 Crown Royal Ford, Roush-Fenway Racing
McMurray has scored a top 10 finish in 3 of his last 4 races at Michigan (and in both races there this year). Despite not finishing in the top 20 in February at Fontana, this may be a weekend where he's a plausible class B selection. The entire Roush stable looks strong.
15. Elliott Sadler, #19 Dodge Dealers Dodge, Gillett-Evernham Motorsports
Sadler scored back to back top 10's in Michigan, but was just 24th at Fontana in February. Still, he looks like he may be a decent class B selection, although his upside is not nearly as good as other drivers in his class.
16. Martin Truex, Jr., #1 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet, Dale Earnhardt Inc
Truex was 6th in Fontana and 2nd in both races at Michigan last year (almost irrelevant with the new car in place). Still, he hasn't been consistent all season and barely cracked the top 20 in both races at Michigan this year. You may want to look elsewhere, as he hasn't shown much potential upside.
17. Denny Hamlin, #11 FedEx Toyota, Gibbs Racing
Hamlin crashed in Fontana (another victim of the wet surface that also claimed Casey Mears and Dale Earnhardt Jr. in February). He blew an engine in the last race at Michigan, leaving his 14th place finish at Michigan in June as the only example of what he is capable of on the two mile ovals. He's a class A pick not worth using this weekend, based only on the solid upside of the rest of the drivers ranked above him.
18. Ryan Newman, #12 ALLTEL Dodge, Penske Racing South
Penske's lame duck driver blew an engine in June at Michigan and finished 21st in the last race there. That 10th place finish in Fontana after his Daytona 500 win was a long time ago. Look elsewhere this weekend.
19. Kurt Busch, #2 Miller Lite Dodge, Penske Racing South
Busch was 13th in Fontana earlier this year and ended up 21st in June at Michigan. He followed that up with a poor finish in August at Michigan and just isn't a good option at all while categorized in the class A group.
20. Travis Kvapil, #28 Ford, Robert Yates Racing
Kvapil has had a strong season on the two mile ovals, with finishes of 13th and 16th at Michigan. He also had two 21st place finishes at Michigan back in 2006, showing that it is no fluke. He's a class C driver worth having on your roster.
21. Clint Bowyer, #07 Jack Daniel's Chevrolet, Richard Childress Racing
Bowyer was 19th at Fontana in February, but struggled at Michigan with two finishes of 20th or worse. This track couldn't come at a worse time for Bowyer, as he needs a good run to stay in the hunt for the Chase.
22. Scott Riggs, #66 State Water HeatersChevrolet, Haas Racing
Riggs finished 15th at Michigan a few weeks ago (by far his best effort on a track like this so far this year). He's a risky class C pick at best, slightly better than Reutimann and Almirola only because he has more experience.
23. Casey Mears, #5 Kellogg's/Carquest Chevrolet, Hendrick MotorSports
Mears was 18th a couple weeks ago at Michigan, improving on his 30th place finish in June. He never really got going in February at Fontana after he hit a wet spot on the track, so while his equipment will leave him capable of a top five, the reality is that he hasn't shown anything in months.
24. David Reutimann, #44 UPS Toyota, Michael Waltrip Racing
Reutimann was 14th at Michigan a couple weeks ago, meriting his selection on this list despite mediocre runs the rest of the season. He's another intriguing class C option.
25. Robby Gordon, #7 Harrah's/ Jim Beam Dodge, Robby Gordon Motor Sports
Robby was 18th at Fontana earlier in the year and scored a 13th place finish in Michigan last season. However, this season he has struggled at Michigan with engine performance and running into trouble (his trademark). He's just too risky to choose in the class B group.
26. Juan Pablo Montoya, #42 Texaco Havoline Dodge, Chip Ganassi Racing
Montoya was 25th at Michigan a few weeks ago and 20th in California earlier this year. He probably won't be a factor and isn't worth a class B choice.
27. Aric Almirola, #8 Army Chevrolet, Dale Earnhardt Inc.
This team scored a 6th place finish with Martin at Michigan and Almirola has proven to be a formidable class C driver. He may be a nice sleeper pick this weekend as well.
28. David Gilliland, #38 FreeCreditReport.com Ford, Robert Yates Racing
Gilliland had finishes of 26th and 27th in Michigan and was 17th earlier this year in Fontana. You can't expect any better this weekend.
29. Paul Menard, #15 Menard's Chevrolet, Dale Earnhardt Inc.
Menard should also deserve a look in the class C group this weekend. He was a strong 11th in Michigan in June, but followed that up with a 24th place run in August. That's probably his upside for this week.
30. Sam Hornish, #77 Mobile 1 Dodge, Penske Racing South
Hornish was 22nd in both races at Michigan, reason enough to have him ranked on this list. There are better class C drivers who have already had their breakout races and been close to cracking the top 10.

AJ Allmendinger was 19th at Michigan in June and also cracked the top 10 at Indianapolis. He has shown some promise on the speedways and deserves to be on your radar in the class C group this weekend.

[Daniel S]

thats a good preview but i do not agree with:

18 - he should be lower than that. I just dont see it this week sorry

24 - not top 5 top 10 maybe

29- top 15 not top 10

Move up roush as a whole- they had 4 cars in the top 5 at Mich! they have something figured out right now, his rankings should show that.