NASCAR Fantasy Picks: Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race at Bristol

This week’s NASCAR fantasy picks for the Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race at Bristol.

This week, David Ragan announced that he would be stepping down from full-time racing with the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. The 33-year-old currently pilots the No. 38 Ford for Front Row Motorsports, and has spent the last three seasons with the team. Ragan is a two-time champion, having brought Front Row their first cup series win at Talladega in May 2013. Prior to that, he won at Daytona Speedway in July 2011 when he ran with Roush Fenway Racing.

Ragan hasn’t had a great season, often finishing in the high 20’s, but his personality and easy-going nature have made him well-liked by the fans and his team mates. His best finishes came at Charlotte during the All Star weekend where he came in 8^th during the Monster Energy Open, and finished 15^th in the subsequent race. Last week at Michigan, he had his second highest finish, rolling in at 16^th place.

Ragan’s departure will provide an opportunity for someone else to slip behind the wheel of the 38 for the 2020 season. Team owner Bob Jenkins has not yet announced Ragan’s replacement, but we suspect it won’t be long before we find out who will join Michael McDowell and Matt Tifft on the track when the season opens in Daytona this February.

Ragan plans to continue racing on a part-time basis as he focuses on spending more time with family, including his wife and two young daughters. All of us at 5^th Down Fantasy wish David Ragan all the best in his new endeavors.

Last Week’s NASCAR Fantasy Picks: Recap from the Consumers Energy 400 at Michigan International Speedway

Brilliant NASCAR fantasy picks:

• Kurt Busch – finished 23^rd
• Joey Logano – finished 17th
• Kyle Larson – finished 3^rd

Bold NASCAR fantasy picks:

• Chase Elliott – finished 9^th
• Kevin Harvick – WINNER
• Paul Menard – finished 15^th

Bonkers NASCAR fantasy picks:

• Jimmie Johnson – finished 34^th
• Alex Bowman – finished 10^th
• Clint Bowyer – finished 37th

And now, here are this week’s Brilliant, Bold, and Bonkers NASCAR Fantasy picks for the Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Brilliant NASCAR fantasy picks

Kurt Busch

• Wins: 6
• Top 5 finishes: 11
• Top 10 finishes: 18

Is it me, or do the brothers Busch seem to do well at similar tracks? Kurt has had a rough couple of weeks, but Bristol should be enough to get him back on track – pun intended. He finished second here to his brother in April, but I doubt he wants that to happen again. Look for the number 1 to be number 1 this weekend.

Joey Logano

• Wins: 2
• Top 5 finishes: 5
• Top 10 finishes: 9

Last week was a heartbreaker for the 22 team. The great gas debacle made him pit near the end of a race that he likely would have won. He’s ace here at Bristol, though, and he thrives in tight quarters like you see in the coliseum. I expect a win under the lights on Saturday night.

Kyle Busch

• Wins: 7
• Top 5 finishes: 10
• Top 10 finishes: 15

It just isn’t fantasy without Kyle Busch. Did you miss him last week? I knew better to keep him out of fantasy for Michigan, but this week I know better to put him in at Bristol. Do you think he’s fired up and frustrated that he hasn’t had a win lately? Yep. Think he’ll take it out on anyone who gets in his way? Yep. Don’t be shocked to see either a first place or a DNF.

Bold NASCAR fantasy picks

Alex Bowman

• Wins: 0
• Top 5 finishes: 1
• Top 10 finishes: 2

I’m inclined to go with my gut here and choose the 88 team for a crazy bold pick. I think he’s proven himself this season by hanging with the big dogs on some tough tracks. Last time out at Bristol he finished 7^th; this time I think he’ll do better.

Kyle Larson

• Wins: 0
• Top 5 finishes: 2
• Top 10 finishes: 6

Last week’s third place finish was enough to convince me that this could be the week for the 42 team. He’s led the most laps of any active driver here in the past 2 years (489, to be exact) and he’s been hot since his second-place finish at Chicago. I would be tempted to make him brilliant, but he’s as close as a bold can get.

Jimmie Johnson

• Wins: 2
• Top 5 finishes: 12
• Top 10 finishes: 20

No, I won’t ever learn. I won’t give up on Johnson just yet. I know that he’s got it in there somewhere, and Bristol is where it’s at for the 48 team this year. He has the highest driver average at this track in the last 2 years, and he’s got a great chance to make some magic when the lights go down.

Bonkers NASCAR fantasy picks

Martin Truex Jr.

• Wins: 0
• Top 5 finishes: 2
• Top 10 finishes: 3

There’s no secret here. Truex simply isn’t good at Bristol. Better tracks lay ahead for the 19 team, so don’t cry tears into your beer just yet.

Daniel Suarez

• Wins: 0
• Top 5 finishes: 0
• Top 10 finishes: 0

He came in 8^th here in April, but Suarez hasn’t finished in the top 10 in any of his past races here in the MENCS.  Last week was a good finish, but Michigan and Bristol are miles away in both distance and track type. I don’t see a win this week for the 41.

William Byron

• Wins: 0
• Top 5 finishes: 0
• Top 10 finishes: 0

I think the kid is too sweet for an angry track like Bristol. Just my opinion. That said, I think that experience is the best teacher, and he’ll master the coliseum in due time. Just not right now.