After a two-year hiatus due to pandemic restrictions, the NASCAR Cup Series returns to Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California this weekend.
Though there was once a reconstruction plan to turn this two-mile beauty into a short track before the Cup Series run in 2022, those plans were put on hold—for the time being. After a highly entertaining bump-and-grind at the ultra-short track built especially for the Busch Clash at the Los Angeles Coliseum, it seems that NASCAR is once again open to pursuing the short track option at Auto Club to shake things up a bit.
Many of the current Cup Series drivers enjoy the challenges that come with the current terrain on Auto Club’s two-mile, wide, and bumpy track. But with the focus on fan entertainment, including more road courses and short tracks in the future, this will likely be the last time they get to run it as-is before the wrecking ball comes in and changes the game for 2023.
Some of these drives haven’t seen Auto Club yet, others only a handful of times. Experience will play into the results this weekend, leading me to believe those with consistent runs will have the best shot at a win. Here are my thoughts on this week’s NASCAR fantasy picks.
Brilliant – These expert picks for NASCAR have the best shot at a win this weekend
Kyle Busch
Rowdy, Rowdy, Rowdy. This is a great track for Kyle Busch—a place where he has only finished outside the top-10 four times since 2005. What?!? Yep. Bonus for Busch: Not only is there qualifying this weekend but there’s also practice. And that means that the No. 18 team will have enough time to nail it down and determine just what they need to nab a win at Auto Club.
Auto Club Wins: 4
Top-5 finishes: 11
Top-10 finishes: 16
Kyle Larson
I didn’t expect much from Kyle Larson last week, as I said in my previous article, and nothing much happened with the No. 5 until he wrecked in lap 190. This week, I believe that changes when the California kid will be closer to his typical self. Despite his last two sour runs at Auto Club, there’s a good chance you’ll see the first Hendricks win on Sunday. It’s a smart move to pick him for your NASCAR fantasy team this week.
Auto Club Wins: 1
Top-5 finishes: 3
Top-10 finishes: 3
Brad Keselowski
Newly-minted team co-owner Brad Keselowski made no friends at the Daytona 500. Having influenced (I won’t come right out and say caused) two wrecks, one of which took out race-favorite Ricky Stenhouse Jr., we can see he’s on a mission to win at any cost. And Auto Club is just about the best place for him to do it. He hasn’t finished outside the top-10 here since 2014. So there.
Auto Club Wins: 1
Top-5 finishes: 5
Top-10 finishes: 6
Bold – Here’s my NASCAR fantasy advice on this week’s sleeper picks
Alex Bowman
Things didn’t go as planned for Alex Bowman at Daytona, but no one’s day went as planned. I believe he’ll turn it around this week and stay near the front with the big guns. The No. 88 ran hot last time around and finished first. You can bet he’s bound and determined to make a repeat on that one.
Auto Club Wins: 1
Top-5 finishes: 1
Top-10 finishes: 1
Ryan Blaney
Ryan Blaney makes me grin. He’s such a quiet guy who steadily creeps up on people and politely passes them by on the way to the finish line. He ran great at the 500 and he’s a man who rides a hot streak until the wheels fall off. Expect a nice finish for the No. 12 at the return to Auto Club.
Auto Club Wins: 0
Top-5 finishes: 1
Top-10 finishes: 3
Tyler Reddick
Young Tyler Reddick had only one chance to run at Auto Club in the Cup Series before the world shut down. And he finished just outside the top-10, in 11th place. This guy has really impressed me from day one, and I see him improving each year. Don’t leave Tyler Reddick out of your NASCAR fantasy lineup this weekend.
Auto Club Wins: 0
Top-5 finishes: 0
Top-10 finishes: 0
Bonkers – Stay away from these drivers in your NASCAR fantasy lineup this week
Aric Almirola
I’d like to give Double-A the benefit of the doubt this week, but I’m not going to. He’s run here 13 times and there’s not much to show for it. The DNF has hit him three times, which is a lot compared to everyone else. His last two runs here are where the top-10 finishes came in, so maybe he’ll fare better than usual, but I don’t see a win.
Auto Club Wins: 0
Top-5 finishes: 0
Top-10 finishes: 2
Cole Custer
Cole Custer has only been here once, but the 18th place finish wasn’t impressive. I haven’t seen much from Custer since he came over to SHR, but he’s young yet. He’s a good driver with a lot to offer, but not this week. Keep him out of your NASCAR fantasy lineup this weekend.
Auto Club Wins: 0
Top-5 finishes: 0
Top-10 finishes: 0
Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
As good as he is on the superspeedways, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. is not quite the same on the two-miles. For a while, it looked like this guy was going to finish at the top last weekend, but the No. 6 had other plans that took him out of Daytona 500 contention. His numbers at Auto Club don’t quite compare; for that reason, hold off on the No. 47 at least until Talladega.
Auto Club Wins: 0
Top-5 finishes: 1
Top-10 finishes: 1