2011 FedEx 400 benefitting Autism Speaks – Post-Practice Predictions and Top 5 Drivers

2011 FedEx 400 Post-Practice Predictions, Picks and Preview – Favorites and Sleepers to Win 2011 FedEx 400: Dover International Speedway is considered by drivers to be a rhythm racetrack, which means one bad corner can have a negative impact on a driver for several laps. Much like a pitcher hitting their spots in baseball, drivers at Dover have to hit their spots entering and exiting the turns in order to maintain maximum speed. Unlike some tracks, an ill-handling car is tough to hide at Dover, no matter how good they guy behind the wheel is. As a result, drivers that run well in practice tend to do the same come race day.

Post-Practice Top 5

Jimmie Johnson: His six wins at Dover are the most among active drivers, and Johnson has his sights set on a record-tying seventh victory at the track this weekend. Johnson posted the fastest lap in the opening practice Friday as well as the top 10-lap average speed. He finished up by posting the third-best 10-lap average speed in Happy Hour. Johnson led more than half the laps at Dover last season, and he is the top option this weekend.

Matt Kenseth: Kenseth showed some serious muscle on long runs throughout both practices Friday. He posted the fifth-best 10-lap average speed in the first practice and the second-best average speed in the final session. Kenseth is a former Dover winner, and he has collected six top-five finishes in his last seven starts at the track. He is a legit contender this weekend.

Kasey Kahne: His overall record at Dover isn’t great, but Kahne’s No. 4 machine sure looked fast in practice. He posted the fourth-fastest lap in the first session, along with the seventh-best 10-lap average speed. More importantly, he posted the top 10-lap average speed in Happy Hour. This could be a breakthrough performance for Kahne.

A.J. Allmendinger: He is one of the up and coming drivers at Dover, including a top-10 finish last fall when he led 143 laps. In practice Friday, Allmendinger posted the second-fastest lap in Happy Hour. He also recorded the fourth-best 10-lap average speed and sixth-best average speed in the two sessions. Regan Smith and Trevor Bayne have already become first-time winners in 2011, and Allmendinger could join them this weekend.

Kyle Busch: Not only is he the defending winner of this weekend’s race, but Busch had a strong car in practice. He recorded the sixth-fastest lap in the opening session, and he was even more impressive on long runs. Busch had the second-best 10-lap average speed in the first practice and the 10th-best average speed in Happy Hour. He should make a strong run at defending his win from a year ago.

Post-Practice Top Sleeper

David Ragan: He drives for a Roush Fenway Racing organization that has dominated at Dover, and the magic appears to be rubbing off on Ragan. He posted the fifth-fastest and 10th-fastest laps in the two practices Friday, and he recorded the eighth-best 10-lap average speed in the final session as well. Ragan has been slowing regaining his 2008 form this year, and if he puts all together this weekend, he could end up in Victory Lane.

View the most current vegas betting odds to win the 2011 FedEx 400 for this Sunday, May 15th in Dover, Delaware.