SCC Preview: Gordon, Montoya lead the way

Kyle Busch may have won both Sprint Cup Series road races in 2008, but it's Jeff Gordon who has established himself as the circuit's "King of the Road." The DuPont Chevy driver owns the record for most consecutive victories (6) on a road course, and in 16 starts at Infineon Raceway, he has placed his name at the top of numerous statistical charts.

Heading into Sunday's Toyota/Save Mart 350 in Sonoma, Calif., Gordon has earned the most poles and claimed the most victories at Infineon with five in each category. He is tied with Ricky Rudd for the most top-5s with 10 and the native of nearby Vallejo has led the most laps with 437. Gordon's 9.31 average finish is the best among the active drivers, and in the past six races on the 1.99-mile road course, he's produced two wins, four top-5s and five top-10s. While he's struggled recently at Watkins Glen, Gordon has been consistently up front at Infineon, finishing outside of the top 10 only four times since 1993.

Juan Pablo Montoya, the race's 2007 victor, and Busch, the event's defending champion, could be the two main challengers to Gordon to keep him from a Sonoma victory "six-pack."

Montoya, a former Formula One driver, is always a favorite when the series runs its two annual road races. The Colombian native earned his inaugural Sprint Cup victory at Infineon in 2007, his rookie season in NASCAR's premier series. He backed it up last year with a sixth-place run and then went to Watkins Glen, where he finished fourth.

Some might say Busch came out of nowhere to sweep both road course races in 2008, but it wasn't a fluke. In his past three starts at Infineon, the M&M's Toyota driver finished 11th, eighth and first. He's trending the same way at Watkins Glen with finishes the past three years of ninth, seventh and first.

Another driver to keep an eye on Sunday is Tony Stewart. His road course performance has been better at Watkins Glen, N.Y. In the past four races there, he's collected two victories and two seconds, but he swept the Cup series' two road course events in 2005 with a win at Infineon. He failed to crack the top 25 in 2006 but the past two years he's finished sixth and 10th. You couple that with seven top-5s in his past 10 starts in 2009 and Stewart could be about to make his second visit to Victory Lane this season.

Some of the Cup competitors who might not win, but could have very strong performances are Clint Bowyer, Ryan Newman, Greg Biffle and Carl Edwards.

Bowyer has finished fourth the past two years in the Toyota/Save Mart 350, while his inaugural Infineon appearance in 2006 yielded a 16th. As for Newman, he's one of only two drivers to finish inside the top 20 in the past four showdowns at Infineon Raceway. He has top-10s in three of those starts and was the runner-up in 2006. Biffle in the meantime has two top-5s and an 11th in his past three trips to Northern California. His Roush Fenway teammate Carl Edwards collected top-10s at Sonoma two out of the past three years and was ninth a year ago, sixth in 2006.

One of the drivers who's been totally off the radar screen and isn't on many fantasy racing teams is Elliott Sadler. Did you realize, though, he's the only other guy to finish 20th or better in the past four years in Sonoma with a pair of top-10s, a 14th and a 19th? Also, when it comes to road racing Jeff Burton doesn't normally get a lot of respect, but in his past three Infineon starts he's come home seventh, third and 13th.

Note: As usual, there are a number of road course "ringers" getting a chance to race at Infineon Raceway. The top pick among that group might be Canadian Patrick Carpentier. He finished 23rd and 20th in the two Sprint Cup road races last year driving for Evernham Motorsports. He's got more experience and I think his equipment will be better this time as he steps into the NAPA Toyota for Michael Waltrip. Like Carpentier, Ron Fellows and Boris Said will get some interest because of their low prices, but I don't think their cars will be strong enough to let them take advantage of their vast road racing expertise.

Big bucks (SCC value 21.0 and up)

This week, I think Jeff Gordon (23.3) is the top pick in this group followed by Kyle Busch (21.7), whose price is a little more cap friendly than Gordon's. I also like Tony Stewart (23.6). Mark Martin (21.6) hasn't run a road course in a while, but is very good at it and like Busch very "squeezable" in making cap space. The dark horse in this group could be Kurt Busch (22.1).

Serious coin (SCC value 18.0 to 21.0)

Numero uno here is Juan Pablo Montoya (20.6). It would be no shocker for him to win this race. After that about the only guy I have some mad love for is Marcos Ambrose (18.4). The Aussie can flat get it done on road courses and if not for transmission trouble would have had a top-5 a year ago. Even though Clint Bowyer (20.5) had never even seen a road course before he started his NASCAR career, he has been rock solid in Sonoma the past two years. Casey Mears (18.2) did finish fifth in 2008, but that was while he was driving for Rick Hendrick. Brian Vickers (19.6) and Jamie McMurray (18.2) are two potential dark horse picks.

Budget boys (SCC value 13.0 to 18.0)

There's going to be some cheap help this week, but it's going to be difficult to flesh out. If Robby Gordon (14.9) keeps his head, he's top-15 material. I think the same thing about Kevin Harvick (17.6). His price has been plummeting because of poor performance, but he's had some strong runs at Infineon in the past and should be pretty good on the flat track in Loudon next week. Patrick Carpentier (13.5) will surprise some people, but he's a must-drop for New Hampshire. Last year's runner-up David Gilliland (13.2) has lots of pre-Cup experience at Sonoma, but is his car up to what he brings to the table? Call me crazy but John Andretti (13.4) deserves a thought or two. He hasn't raced at Sonoma since 2002, but that year he finished 10th driving for Richard Petty and had back-to-back third-place runs for the King in 1998-1999. Other guys we'll keep an eye on for our Sunday chat are Boris Said (15.2), Ron Fellows (14.8), A.J. Allmendinger (15.5), Max Papis (13.2) and Sam Hornish Jr. (16.0).

Debit … not credit

Up near the top this week, I'm not big on Jimmie Johnson. He hasn't found what he's looking for at Sonoma yet. In the middle group, I don't have much affection for Kasey Kahne, who hasn't done anything in Sonoma, and I don't think you go near Dale Earnhardt Jr. until he and his team put a complete race together. Despite David Reutimann's strength lately, I wouldn't go near him. On the bottom, I've been high on Joey Logano lately, but the rookie is going to the school of hard knocks Sunday and it won't be pretty. Given David Ragan's lack of experience, two so-so road course finishes last year, and the fact he's struggling this year, I'd leave him off my team.

Guru Garrow's gang

I'm still mad at myself for not taking my own advice after last Sunday's chat and leaving Mark Martin, Juan Pablo Montoya and David Ragan off my team. So, I've taken a stick of dynamite and blown up my hapless squad completely, trading all five drivers I had last week. I'm getting rid of Jimmie Johnson, Carl Edwards, Kasey Kahne, Brian Vickers and Joey Logano. My prerace team is Jeff Gordon, Kyle Busch, Juan Pablo Montoya, Marcos Ambrose and Robby Gordon.

Mark Garrow covers fantasy racing for ESPN.com.