I was not so brilliant last weekend, but at least Christopher Bell and Alex Bowman broke through and made it into the top ten.
Richmond was pretty fun overall—with lots of changes made and chances taken for excitement—despite the fact that Kyle Busch ran in the middle teens for most of the race, Denny Hamlin got two pit road penalties (two!), and Tyler Reddick fought through adversity all day and barely broke the top 20.
Kyle Larson was not on my radar, but he sure did come out of nowhere and barrel up to the front for the win. However, had Ross Chastain not gotten Christopher Bell into William Byron near the end of the race, it may have been a different Hendrick driver for the win. The number 24 is on fire. Fire!
But, his run ended when he got into the wall. Or, if there had been a bit more time, Josh Berry (who is still subbing for Chase Elliott in the 9 car) might have been able to overcome the number 5. His second-place finish was fun to see, and we send him a round of applause.
This weekend NASCAR heads to fan favorite, Bristol Motor Speedway. At night. In the dirt. But Bristol is Bristol and if you’re good here, you’re probably going to be good here no matter what the surface. And if you did well here before, you have an edge. And if you’re a dirt racer from way back, or not so far back—better yet. This week I’m looking at guys who have done well in the dirt the last couple of years, and those on a hot streak are getting brilliant and bold listings.
As NASCAR gets ready to play in the dirt on Easter Sunday, enjoy my list of Brilliant, Bold, and Bonkers NASCAR fantasy picks for the Food City Dirt Race at Bristol Motor Speedway.
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Brilliant – These expert fantasy picks for NASCAR have the best shot at a win this weekend
Joey Logano
He won it the first year, finished third last year, and somehow, Joey Logano is running hot right now. So, don’t leave the number 22 out of your NASCAR fantasy lineup this weekend.
Bristol dirt best finish: First
Bristol dirt top 5s: 2
Bristol dirt top 10s: 2
Tyler Reddick
Tyler Reddick has run mini sprints, midgets, dirt late models, and Sprint cars. As a former winner of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, I think this guy knows his mud. Combine that with the fact that he has one of the best records at this venue on this surface and you’ve got me convinced that he’s a winner.
Bristol dirt best finish: Second
Bristol dirt top 5s: 1
Bristol dirt top 10s: 2
Christopher Bell
Christopher Bell wrecked in his first year and ended up with a lousy finish. But, he has plenty of experience on the dirt—past National Midget Champion, Gateway Dirt Nationals participant, three-year Chili Bowl winner, and a Eldora Midsummer Classic winner. Last year he finished top-10 and he’s super-hot right now. The number 20 is a smart NASCAR fantasy pick—as long as he can stay on the track.
Bristol dirt best finish: Seventh
Bristol dirt top 5s: 0
Bristol dirt top 10s: 1
Bold – Here’s my NASCAR fantasy advice on this week’s sleeper picks
Ryan Blaney
I take my life into my own hands to put Ryan Blaney in the mix of NASCAR fantasy picks this week. Things have been so rough for him this season, and he’s made mistakes and fallen behind even on his good tracks. But, I have a feeling that this week, the number 12 is going to suck it up and get back “on track” on the Bristol dirt.
Bristol dirt best finish: Fifth
Bristol dirt top 5s: 1
Bristol dirt top 10s: 2
Daniel Suarez
His best finish was fourth, his worst finish was twelfth, and he has improved overall since then. This could be the race that gives Daniel Suarez his shot at Victory Lane.
Bristol dirt best finish: Fourth
Bristol dirt top 5s: 1
Bristol dirt top 10s: 1
Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
With his playoff spot locked in thanks to a Daytona 500 win, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. has less pressure to cross that finish line first. But, he’s a scrappy driver on these tricky tracks, and the first time he hit it, the 17 came in second. Last year he ran into some trouble here, but I’m going out on a limb to say he’ll have a better finish this time around.
Bristol dirt best finish: Second
Bristol dirt top 5s: 1
Bristol dirt top 10s: 1
Bonkers – Chances are slim that these drivers will benefit your NASCAR fantasy points this week
Kevin Harvick
Kevin Harvick is not a smart bet this week, but you can bet your bottom dollar he’ll be back around soon enough. Give him a pass when you set your lineup.
Bristol dirt best finish: Fifteenth
Bristol dirt top 5s: 0
Bristol dirt top 10s: 0
Austin Dillon
It’s not a good week for Austin Dillon, as you can see his best finish here in the two years of dirt. Think twice before you go for the number 3.
Bristol dirt best finish: Twenty-First
Bristol dirt top 5s: 0
Bristol dirt top 10s: 0
Martin Truex Jr.
At one point, it looked like Martin Truex Jr. could get a win in Richmond last week, but he fell off and finished 11th. Which is really par for the course so far this year. His record on this dirt track is not the best, so wait until we head to Martinsville to pick the 19 again.
Bristol dirt best finish: Nineteenth
Bristol dirt top 5s: 0
Bristol dirt top 10s: 0
