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Top 20 Fantasy NASCAR Drivers For 2015

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Top 20 Fantasy NASCAR Drivers For 2015

NASCAR 2015
Jerome Miron -- USA TODAY Sports

The phrase "drivers, start your engines" for NASCAR fans is equal to "pitchers and catchers report" in Spring Training for MLB fans. It means another season is upon us, and the 2015 NASCAR campaign promises to be very exciting. Here are 20 drivers who could make an impact on your fantasy racing league this season:

20. Paul Menard

Paul Menard
Jerry Lai -- USA TODAY Sports

20. Paul Menard

Paul Menard
Jerry Lai -- USA TODAY Sports

Menard didn't win any races in 2014, but he finished in the top-five a solid five times and had 13 top-10 finishes. The Charlotte, NC-based driver is a reliable source of fantasy points in any league thanks to his high finishes and ability to stay focused.

19. Aric Almirola

Aric Almirola
Jerome Miron -- USA TODAY Sports

19. Aric Almirola

Aric Almirola
Jerome Miron -- USA TODAY Sports

A member of the Petty Motorsports team, Almirola took 16th in the point standings a year ago with one race win, two top-five and seven top-10 finishes. He was able to make 36 starts like most drivers, and that dependability is what keeps Almirola in the top 20.

18. Clint Bowyer

Clint Bowyer
Andrew Weber -- USA TODAY Sports

18. Clint Bowyer

Clint Bowyer
Andrew Weber -- USA TODAY Sports

Bowyer had top-five finishes in five of his races and was in the top-10 15 times, but he did not finish five races due to accidents or other issues. A high number of DNF performances is enough to keep any driver down in the standings.

17. Jamie McMurray

Jamie McMurray
Jerome Miron -- USA TODAY Sports

17. Jamie McMurray

Jamie McMurray
Jerome Miron -- USA TODAY Sports

A Chip Ganassi driver, McMurray finished in the top-five seven times. That is enough to boost any driver's overall performance. He was also in the top-10 13 times but did not win any races. Look for McMurray to be a top-20 contender once again.

16. Kyle Larson

Kyle Larson
Jerome Miron -- USA TODAY Sports

16. Kyle Larson

Kyle Larson
Jerome Miron -- USA TODAY Sports

Larson failed to cross the finish line four times, which is an okay number. What boosts this driver's stock is 17 top-10 finishes and eight races where he was in the top-five. If Larson can put together a stronger car and a stronger season, he could surprise.

15. Kasey Kahne

Kasey Kahne
Jerome Miron -- USA TODAY Sports

15. Kasey Kahne

Kasey Kahne
Jerome Miron -- USA TODAY Sports

Kahne's overall numbers are low, with 11 top-10 finishes and only three in the top-five. He also failed to finish five times. Still, Kahne did win a race in 2014 and he is one to keep an eye on. Things should be better for him this time around.

14. Greg Biffle

Greg Biffle
Andrew Weber -- USA TODAY Sports

14. Greg Biffle

Greg Biffle
Andrew Weber -- USA TODAY Sports

A member of Roush Fenway racing, Biffle's stock dropped a bit toward the end of last season. He does have three top-five and 11 top-10 finishes to his credit from 2014, and that should help him start 2015 on a higher note.

13. A.J. Allmendinger

A.J. Allmendinger
Jasen Vinlove -- USA TODAY Sports

13. A.J. Allmendinger

A.J. Allmendinger
Jasen Vinlove -- USA TODAY Sports

With only five appearances in the top 10 and one race win to his credit, Allmendinger was a driver who disappointed many fans. He was good enough to finish, but not good enough to finish strong. That keeps his overall fantasy stock down entering 2015.

12. Kyle Busch

Kyle Busch
Andrew Weber -- USA TODAY Sports

12. Kyle Busch

Kyle Busch
Andrew Weber -- USA TODAY Sports

One of NASCAR's most dependable drivers, Busch made one appearance in the winner's circle and nine appearances in the top-five in 2014. He was also in NASCAR's overall top 10. He should have another solid season if he builds on his performance.

11. Carl Edwards

Carl Edwards
Mike DiNovo -- USA TODAY Sports

11. Carl Edwards

Carl Edwards
Mike DiNovo -- USA TODAY Sports

Edwards failed to finish just two races, won two others and had seven top-five finishes. That should be enough to give this Roush Fenway driver a big boost heading into 2015. Edwards is one of the more dependable drivers on the NASCAR circuit.

10. Kurt Busch

Kurt Busch
Jerome Miron -- USA TODAY Sports

10. Kurt Busch

Kurt Busch
Jerome Miron -- USA TODAY Sports

Be aware that Busch has a higher number of DNF performances than most other drivers. He failed to finish six races last year, but Busch offset that with six appearances in the top-five. He may cost you points on one end, but you will get them back in other areas.

9. Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Jerome Miron -- USA TODAY Sports

9. Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Jerome Miron -- USA TODAY Sports

Earnhardt's overall numbers look impressive. He won four races and had 12 top-five and 20 top-10 appearances. Earnhardt finished eighth overall in last year's NASCAR standings and makes for a solid pickup during any fantasy draft.

8. Matt Kenseth

Matt Kenseth
Jerome Miron -- USA TODAY Sports

8. Matt Kenseth

Matt Kenseth
Jerome Miron -- USA TODAY Sports

Kenseth failed to find victory lane last season, but 13 top-five races is nothing to dismiss. Neither are 22 appearances in the top 10. Most leagues award points based on order of finish, so those high numbers will win you some points in the end. Kenseth is well worth drafting.

7. Denny Hamlin

Denny Hamlin
Jerome Miron -- USA TODAY Sports

7. Denny Hamlin

Denny Hamlin
Jerome Miron -- USA TODAY Sports

Hamlin was third in the overall standings last season with seven top-five finishes to his credit. He also crossed the line 18 times while in the top-10. Hamlin will earn you plenty of points, but with only one race win to his credit last year, that will take down his overall numbers a bit.

6. Jeff Gordon

Jeff Gordon
Jerome Miron -- USA TODAY Sports

6. Jeff Gordon

Jeff Gordon
Jerome Miron -- USA TODAY Sports

A sentimental favorite for the 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup title, Gordon is widely expected to step down following the season and race only part-time. Gordon will be fun to watch as he goes all out this season, and with four race wins in 2014 to his credit, he could be a dark horse.

5. Ryan Newman

Ryan Newman
Jerome Miron -- USA TODAY Sports

5. Ryan Newman

Ryan Newman
Jerome Miron -- USA TODAY Sports

With five finishes in the top-five and 16 trips to the top-10, Newman was runner-up in the overall standings last season to Kevin Harvick. He should do well once again in 2015, so draft him with confidence and watch the points add up.

4. Jimmie Johnson

Jimmie Johnson
Jerome Miron -- USA TODAY Sports

4. Jimmie Johnson

Jimmie Johnson
Jerome Miron -- USA TODAY Sports

NASCAR's perennial favorite slipped to 11th in the standings a year ago despite four race wins and 11 top-five appearances. Chalk that up to the Chase format, as Johnson had a bad stretch that cost him. Johnson will be right back at the top of the pack in 2015.

3. Kevin Harvick

Kevin Harvick
Jerome Miron -- USA TODAY Sports

3. Kevin Harvick

Kevin Harvick
Jerome Miron -- USA TODAY Sports

Harvick will be one to watch in 2015 following his Sprint Cup season a year ago, when he put together five victories and 14 top-five finishes into a season to remember. Harvick will put up solid numbers all season long.

2. Joey Logano

Joey Logano
Andrew Weber -- USA TODAY Sports

2. Joey Logano

Joey Logano
Andrew Weber -- USA TODAY Sports

Look for Logano to be at the top of the pack one more time thanks to a solid 2014 season that saw him finish fourth in the standings. Logano won five races, and he should be a Chase challenger all the way through the 2015 campaign.

1. Brad Keselowski

Brad Keselowski
Joe Camporeale -- USA TODAY Sports

1. Brad Keselowski

Brad Keselowski
Joe Camporeale -- USA TODAY Sports

He didn't win the Chase, but Keselowski put up boffo box-office numbers while trying. Keselowski finished in the top-five 17 times and won six races on the way to his top-10 finish for the season. He could be the driver to watch in 2015, and drafts will adequately reflect that.

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