2015 NASCAR Stock Watch: Week

Which NASCAR Drivers are Trending Up, Even, or Down?

By Richard Tix

Should you buy into the trends of these drivers so far in the 2015 season after four races? Is your favorite driver trending Up, Even, or Down? Should you buy low? Is your driver a risk, but high reward? Maybe he is a safe stock? Check out what NASCAR Behind the Wall thinks after the first four races.

Preseason Stock Watch

NASCAR Drivers Trending UP

Kevin Harvick

• I am not sure if up is the word when it comes to Harvick. After his hot start to 2015 there really isn't any room to go up anymore. He is a hot stock and all the #4 team has to do is keep the roll going. I will remind you of this, there will be some down moments in 2015 and that might be the time to buy in, because he will more than likely bounce back.
• Should You Buy In?
• He, Childers, and SHR have been a perfect fit. Between that and his personal life it seems like he has it all figured out right now. Again, its still 20 races until the Chase starts so he may have his stumbles, but he should be strong come the last ten races.

Martin Truex Jr

• It's tough to find a better come back story than Truex right now. Take all the Richmond drama, loosing a ride, having a tough 2014 season, and everything that is going on personally, and it makes for a great story in 2015. 
• Should You Buy In?
• I think this one car team can make a splash in 2015. Its Truex's best start in his career and Furniture Row is clicking. Will he win a title? Probably not, but a run to the final eight might be within grasp and anything can happen once you get there. This is a medium risk with a high reward.

Joey Logano

• 2015 has started where 2014 left off. JoLo is fast week to week and is always a favorite to win each race. The issue has been finishing out races and not just being fast in qualifying and in the first half of a race. He looks like he will contend for another title this year.
• Should You Buy In?
• I've said it before, but JoLo will be a title contender for some years to come now. He is comfortable at Penske and in this Gen 6 Car. He is a safe stock to buy into and may end up winning it all.

Kasey Kahne

• Is Kahne finally back? He had many struggles in 2014 that left him barely making the Chase (if not for an Atlanta win). So far in 2015 he is top 5 in points after four races with a pair of top 10's (one a top 5). 
• Should You Buy In?
• It is always tough to say no when talking about a Hendrick car, because no matter what at least two of the four are a threat year to year (most of the time more). But, that being said Kahne has disappointing before so the stock is hard to trust. He does have the talent to win it all so if you can deal with some up's and down's he has potential. 

Brad Keselowski

• Unlike after his great 2012 Championship year, BK has come back strong after a great 2014 season (struggled mightily in 2013). Team Penske seems to still be the only Ford to have figured it out (or just have the best drivers?). If Pensek can keep giving BK and JoLo fast cars they will compete.
• Should You Buy In?
• Just like Joey I think BK is a safe bet. He can wheel it with the best of them and has a Championship to make you feel better after buying in. The big concern is Ford and if they will stay with the Chevy's.

AJ Allmendinger

• After helping a small team make the Chase in 2014 AJ has started on a roll in 2015. It seems he has gained a bit on 1.5's that will help him in consistency on the year. Oh, and he is still good on road courses.
• Should You Buy In?
• For a Championship or year to year success? I wouldn't say he will give you a lot in return. That being said, him improving on 1.5's will give him a great shot to make the Chase win or not. Oh, and it will help him in the Chase possible move past the first round.

NASCAR Drivers Trending EVEN

Dale Earnhardt Jr

• Jr has started the season strong, but it still seems like the kind of roll he was on in 2014. Will it produce long term results is always the big question. Bad luck at Phoenix ruined his start of top 5's (so he probably be put in the "UP" category as well. 
• Which Way Will He Go?
• It still has to be "Up." He should pretty much already be in that category, but some bad luck has kept him down after last week. After a rough Phoenix it should be a good time to think he bounces right back in the next few weeks.

Matt Kenseth

• Kenseth is still searching for that magic he had in 2013. Last year he went win-less and it has to be eating at him. But, he is still with JGR and still has a great shot week to week to grab a win.
• Which Way Will He Go?
• I really think in the big picture he stays right here. I do think a win will be coming in 2015, but I still do not see Kenseth has being a top 4 driver which would be the only way you say he would be moving up from his stock spot. Still, he is a safe play for the Chase and to advance at least a round.

Denny Hamlin

• Another JGR driver that is hanging in limbo. Denny was a rising star at one point but as of late (after his injury at Auto Club a few years back) he has been hanging around the average club too much.
• Which Way Will He Go?
• I still have faith that Hamlin will bounce back and be a great value, but right now he is a bug risk because we haven't seen much consistency. If you like to gamble he has the talent to pull through in the end, just like in 2014 when he made the Finale.

NASCAR Drivers Trending DOWN

Carl Edwards

• Edwards move to JGR was much anticipated and so far in my mind it has been disappointing. Has he been bad? No. But I expected more out of him early, especially considering he started off better in 2014 with a struggling RFR.
• Will He Bounce Back Up?
• Its so early to say he will be a bust in 2015, but I am not sure he will have the season I once thought he would. Maybe it will take half the year to get comfortable and by that time will it be too late to make a title push? The thing with Edwards is, even when he is bad you will still get a decent return, so he isn't too risky.

Clint Bowyer

• 2015 started off on the right foot and it looked like Bowyer my finally get away from that Richmond shadow, and then the next few races happened. It still hasn't been pretty early on, but things almost seemed like they would start going in the right direction.
• Will He Bounce Back?
• If so many stocks are going up what gives? Someone has to stay down, right? I like Bowyer so its tough to say it, but he may struggle with his ups and downs all year. 

Kyle Larson

• Sophomore Slump? Larson's first two races made you forget about his strong rookie year for a moment. Everyone figured he would have a strong 2015 season and the So Slump was just a phrase that wouldn't happen. Will it?
• Will He Bounce Back?
• Larson will soon be rising back up again, so if you want to buy in on a stock that might be cheap today, he is your guy. His stock is young and people are scared that the Sophomore Slump is a real thing, but just look at his last two races, he is getting better. 

Tony Stewart

• Its not a good time to be a Tony Stewart fan. I feel for them because most of the ones I have met are very loyal and I am sure it sucks to see him struggle like this. At Phoenix he finally seemed to be getting a run together and then bad luck hit.
• Will He Bounce Back?
• I really think it might be the end of the road for Smoke, and that hurts to say. I just feel like he has so much catching up to do because of all the changes that NASCAR made while he was hurt or out that he is in a huge hole. His stock is cheap right now and it can't get much lower, so you could still buy low and hope he figures it out, because if he does he still has a shot to be on top.