Last weekend, Bold Pick Christopher Bell got his first win of the season, holding off Chase Elliott, yet again, to get the coveted lobster at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
This week, the boys head to the long, 2.5-mile tricky triangle in the Poconos. Some of the hottest drivers at this track are having some of their worst seasons yet, but, overall, I have a good idea of the drivers you can trust this week. Here are my Brilliant, Bold, and Bonkers NASCAR fantasy picks for the M & M’s Fan Appreciation at Pocono Raceway.
Brilliant – These expert fantasy picks for NASCAR have the best shot at a win this weekend
Kevin Harvick
He might go all season without a win; or he might not. Still tough to tell how the number 4 will fare, but he’s always good for a single-digit finish at Pocono. Kevin Harvick only has two finishes since 2014 that are double-digit. I’d say he’s a good pick if you’re just looking for a good ending.
Wins in Pocono: 1
Top five finishes: 15
Top ten finishes: 22
Denny Hamlin
Sigh. How can I in good conscience leave out the winning-est driver at this track? Denny Hamlin has been lights-out here for several years. Though he went through a rough spell in the early 2010s, he seems to have found his way around the tricky triangle once again
Wins in Pocono: 6
Top five finishes: 14
Top ten finishes: 21
Ryan Blaney
Ryan Blaney still has not won a points race this season; he did win the All-Star race, but that’s all about the money. He may not be the bride, but he’s always a bridesmaid, finishing in the top ten and gaining stage points quite often this year. Next week NASCAR hits the road course in Indianapolis, so I’d keep him on the fantasy radar for the next two weeks.
Wins in Pocono: 1
Top five finishes: 2
Top ten finishes: 6
Bold – Here’s my NASCAR fantasy advice on this week’s sleeper picks
Kyle Busch
I worry about his six DNFs, but Kyle Busch is pretty good on the long runs, and Pocono sure does run long. If you look at his numbers here since 2016, it’s almost a no-brainer. Why not give Rowdy a chance? You’ll probably get stage points and you might even get a win.
Wins in Pocono: 4
Top five finishes: 11
Top ten finishes: 18
William Byron
Byron has the best average finish at this track, pretty much ending up in the top ten quite often here. He has yet to actually win at Pocono, but this might be a good chance for him to hit the rebound and make it happen.
Wins in Pocono: 0
Top five finishes: 2
Top ten finishes:5
Erik Jones
I’m gonna go out on a limb this week for the number 43 and say that he’s an interesting pick for Pocono. When he ran with JGR, it was single-digit finishes for years. Though his numbers stink in his last couple of seasons with Petty, Erik Jones has shown some shades of his talent this year. If you need a bold pick, give this guy a chance.
Wins in Pocono: 0
Top five finishes: 5
Top ten finishes: 6
Bonkers – Stay away from these drivers in your NASCAR fantasy racing lineup this week
Ty Dillon
I feel like Ty Dillon is always getting in the middle of a wreck at some point of each race. He has trouble at this track as it is, so skip him this week.
Wins in Pocono: 0
Top five finishes: 0
Top ten finishes:0
Chris Buescher
Don’t let the one win fool ya. It was a long time ago, and poor Chris Buescher has been struggling here ever since. Keep him in the pits at Pocono.
Wins in Pocono: 1
Top five finishes: 1
Top ten finishes: 2
Tyler Reddick
I’m not feeling the number 8 this week. It’s a long, long race and I think that experience will come into play. Hold off on Tyler Reddick until we hit the road course next weekend.
Wins in Pocono: 0
Top five finishes: 0
Top ten finishes: 1
