People either hate NASCAR or they love it. For those who love it, or want to start dabbling in fantasy NASCAR, we have you covered with this week’s NASCAR fantasy picks for the Daytona 500.
NASCAR is a sport like no other. No one runs the ball down the field, slams it into the basket, putts it into a hole, volleys it over a net, or hits it out of the park. In NASCAR, there is no ball. The object that separates the winners from the losers is a lot bigger and faster than any ball in any sport. In NASCAR, it not about the balls; it’s about the cars.
It takes a lot of balls, however, to drive a 3500 lb. piece of machinery at speeds of 200 mph around an oval with 40 other cars.
Love It or Hate It
People either hate NASCAR or they love it. There’s rarely an in-between. If you love it, you’re not here to find out what type of oil these cars use (Mobil 1), how much the gas can weighs (22 gallons at about 94 lbs.), or what kind of transmission you’ll find in a NASCAR car (4 speed manual – no clutch).
You might be here to find out what team Kurt Busch went to this year (Chip Ganassi Racing), who’s taking the primary sponsorship of Jimmie Johnson’s 48 (Ally Bank), or when Jamie McMurray will run his last race (this weekend at the 500).
It’s likely that you clicked on this article to see who has a shot to celebrate in victory lane at the Daytona 500. This is the biggest race of the year, and everyone on that track will be pushing for position to be a Daytona 500 Winner. If you’re track-deep in a NASCAR fantasy league, you’re here to get into your own personal victory lane this Sunday.
A Different Kind of Fantasy
NASCAR fantasy isn’t like baseball or football fantasy. The good news is, your driver won’t be taken out at the last minute due to a strained hammy. The bad news is, your amazing driver (who’s led 99 out of 100 laps) can be taken out mid-race with a blown engine. No matter how good your driver is, any number of factors can end their day (and yours) in an instant.
Each week I’ll do my best to give you three Brilliant picks that have a shot at winning, or at least finishing well. You’ll also get three Bold picks that might give you a surprise if the race gods favor them. Finally, I’ll include three Bonkers picks. It’s best to steer clear of them because they’ll might make you cry crazy tears when the final flag flies.
I’ll be doing loads of research to determine these picks each week. I’ll look at their history at the track, how their car is running, and their current streak. Don’t be surprised to see a head-scratcher here and there.
Daytona 500 Picks
Once again, anything can happen during a race; especially at Daytona. Bonkers can be Brilliant and Bold can be Bonkers in any given week. Overall, you’ll know who’s going to be good as long as fate doesn’t have other plans.
Without further ado, here are this week’s Brilliant, Bold, and Bonkers picks for the Daytona 500.
Brilliant
Kurt Busch
Wins: 1
Top 5 Finishes: 13
Top 10 Finishes: 17
Kurt Busch had a monster season last year, running with the Fords of Stewart-Haas. So far, it looks like moving to a new team and a new manufacturer won’t slow him down. If you watched The Clash or the Can Am Duels, he looks right at home in his #1 Chevy. When picking a winner, how can you not put this veteran in your top three?
Joey Logano
Wins: 1
Top 5 Finishes: 5
Top 10 Finishes: 8
Logano was last season’s come-from-behind winner, and he took home the trophy for his efforts. Beating out the three-headed-monster, Logano looks to keep his streak alive in 2019. He’s been great in practices this week, and he won Can Am Duel #2 with a brilliant and bold move in the final lap.
Kevin Harvick
Wins: 2
Top 5 Finishes: 9
Top 10 Finishes: 14
There’s no denying this guy’s talent. Even though he stayed near the rear during The Clash, his true colors came shining through in Can Am Duel #1. He’s won here twice, and he’s got a great shot of making number three this Sunday.
Bold
Jimmie Johnson
Wins: 3
Top 5 Finishes: 11
Top 10 Finishes: 14
With three wins and 11 top five finishes, there’s no reason why this seven time champ can’t get his fourth Daytona win. Unless he gets too close to the car next to him and wrecks half the field like he did in The Clash. Johnson is an elite driver who appears more aggressive in one week of racing than he has in two seasons. He’ll either go bold or go home.
Austin Dillon
Wins: 1
Top 5 Finishes: 2
Top 10 Finishes: 7
There’s no reason to think that lighting will strike twice for Austin Dillon, but it might. Dillon has a way of getting out of trouble when it happens, and his stats are pretty good for a guy who’s only been in 11 races at this track. He’s bold, and he might just surprise everyone again in the final lap.
Denny Hamlin
Wins: 1
Top 5 Finishes: 7
Top 10 Finishes: 8
Denny showed about two tons of strategy in Can Am Duel #2, figuring out exactly how the high line and the inside lane were going to work with the new down force package. He took a risk, but it played out well in the end. He has one Daytona 500 win already, and has excelled at speed weeks for years.
Bonkers
Martin Truex Jr.
Wins: 0
Top 5 Finishes: 2
Top 10 Finishes: 4
As one of the heads on the three-headed monster last season, Truex has made the jump to JGR and looks to contend again this year. His numbers at Daytona are sketchy, however, and this might not be the track that gets him back on top quite yet.
Kyle Larson
Wins: 0
Top 5 Finishes: 0
Top 10 Finishes: 2
Larson had a disappointing season in 2018, but hopes to regain his footing in 2019. A teammate like Kurt Busch can be an added boon to his campaign, but don’t expect him to get there just yet. Plus, he looked lousy in both The Clash and The Can Am Duels.
Chase Elliot
Wins: 0
Top 5 Finishes: 0
Top 10 Finishes: 0
This guy came on strong at the end of last season and didn’t stop. The world has been waiting for the son of Awesome Bill from Dawsonville to make his mark, and this will be the year he does it. Just not at the Daytona 500.
No Comment! Be the first one.