It was a wild ride at the return to Auto Club last week, and 5th Down Fantasy’s Brilliant Pick Kyle Larson drove his way through the rubble to grab his first—but certainly not last—win of the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season. Bold Pick Tyler Reddick fought through left leg numbness to lead 90 laps, the most led by any driver of the day, and win the first two stages before a flat left tire in lap 152, followed by a hit from Wiliam Byron, took him out for the rest of the day.
It seems that the Next Gen cars are evening out the playing field for some of the drivers that have struggled in recent years; notable performances by Erik Jones, Daniel Suarez, and Austin Dillon show that when good drivers have good cars, they’re capable of anything. If the first two races of the NASCAR fantasy season show us anything, it’s that these weekly picks might not always include as many familiar faces in the Bold section, instead taking chances on those who have a good deal of potential, and a whole ton of heart.
Brilliant – These expert picks for NASCAR have the best shot at a win this weekend
Joey Logano
Though the last three visits to Las Vegas have left Joey Logano disappointed, the many years prior to that show his dominance here. He fought hard in California last weekend, and I don’t see him giving in to the No. 5 this week where he’s been so good in the past. I think Joey is still riding high on his Busch Clash win and, coupled with the fact that this is one of his best tracks, he’ll rise to meet the expectations set upon him in Sin City.
Las Vegas Wins: 2
Top-5 finishes: 6
Top-10 finishes: 11
Martin Truex Jr.
Once the king of the intermediate track, Martin Truex Jr. has now proven himself all over the circuit. But his best records still hold at tracks like Las Vegas where he’s a two-time winner and finished multiple times in the top ten. He seems to have a good grip on these Next Gen cars, too. I expect that we’ll see an impressive run on Sunday, making the No. 19 an expert pick for your NASCAR fantasy lineup this weekend.
Las Vegas Wins: 2
Top-5 finishes: 7
Top-10 finishes: 11
Kyle Larson
You can’t pick the guy every single week—and at some point, I’ll stop stating the obvious when I hand out my weekly NASCAR fantasy advice—but this week I’m throwing the No. 5 out there as a smart bet. Larson loves the repeat performance, and if he can get past Joey and Martin, he’ll take the opportunity to show why he’s the defending Series Cup Champion.
Las Vegas Wins: 1
Top-5 finishes: 4
Top-10 finishes: 8
Bold – Here’s my NASCAR fantasy advice on this week’s sleeper picks
Austin Dillon
I like what I’ve seen out of the No. 3 so far this season. Third place at The Clash, second place at Auto Club, and some good runs here in the past. Austin Dillon is going to ride this hot streak while he has a chance, so give him ample consideration if you need a sleeper pick for Sunday.
Las Vegas Wins: 0
Top-5 finishes: 2
Top-10 finishes: 2
Ryan Blaney
I’m not into picking drivers too many races in a row, but you simply cannot argue with Ryan Blaney’s numbers at this track. Nor can you discount his past—only three double-digit finishes since he first came here on the Cup Series circuit in 2015. Though he finished 18th last week at Auto Club, he ran near the top for practically the entire race until the very end. And his Duel 1/Daytona 500 stats speak for themselves. Follow my NASCAR fantasy advice and roll the dice the No. 12 in Vegas.
Las Vegas Wins: 0
Top-5 finishes: 5
Top-10 finishes: 8
Tyler Reddick
Tyler Reddick is going to take that heat from his turn last week at Auto Club and fire it up hotter in Vegas, baby. He’s been so-so here before, but his last visit nabbed him stage points on both turns, five laps led, and a sixth-place finish in the end. Watch the No. 8 make some more magic on Sunday.
Las Vegas Wins: 0
Top-5 finishes: 0
Top-10 finishes: 1
Bonkers – Stay away from these drivers in your NASCAR fantasy lineup this week
Kurt Busch
Kurt Busch has been here 24 times, but it’s really not a good place for him. Yep, he has a win. But when you look at these numbers, it’s a hard no for your NASCAR fantasy lineup. His average finish here is 20th, and he has five DNFs. He might hang on for a bit and even get some stage points, but a win seems very far-fecthed.
Las Vegas Wins: 1
Top-5 finishes: 3
Top-10 finishes: 7
William Byron
It’s been a rough season for William Byron so far, which is kind of odd. Maybe he’s taking a bit getting used to the new cars, or maybe he’s just warming up, but I’m not convinced that he’s ready to win in Las Vegas this weekend. While it’s true that he’s gained a bunch of stage points here in the past, he’s never been able to seal the deal. With this current cold streak going, I’d give him a pass this week in your NASCAR fantasy lineup.
Las Vegas Wins: 0
Top-5 finishes: 0
Top-10 finishes: 2
Michael McDowell
Michael McDowell looked great in Duel 2 and at the Daytona 500, but Auto Club was a mess. Though I believe that we’ll continue to see good things out of the No. 34 throughout this season, I’m not confident in anything good in Las Vegas. He has seven DNFs here, the most of any active driver, and his average finish is 31st. Forget about it.
Las Vegas Wins: 0
Top-5 finishes: 0
Top-10 finishes: 0
