Perhaps I should have dug deeper into exactly who this Shane van Gisbergen was before I made my picks last week. He drove like the pro he is, barely beating out Justin Haley and last week’s Brilliant Pick Chase Elliott who came in second and third, respectively.
Shane van Gisbergen (better known as SVG) is a Supercars Champion who Trackhouse Racing invited to drive the 91 car in this event. Project 91 is a program created by Trackhouse owner Justin Marks that gives international drivers an opportunity to race in NASCAR. And this New Zealander took home the trophy as the first Project 91 winner.
Overall, it was an amazing finish for the first-ever street race in Chicago. Flooded streets and torrential downpours gave our boys quite an obstacle to overcome, but they did it. Despite a 75-minute delay that cut the race short by 25 laps, the show went on and it was exciting to watch. Cars getting wedged under tire barriers, people sliding and spinning for no apparent reason, and fresh faces up front made the day fun. And maybe just a tad nerve-wracking.
The first-ever Chicago Street Race was a success as far as I can tell. This is what keeps NASCAR fresh, folks, and we know that Chicago will see our boys again next season.
But now, we go back to a familiar track with a face-lift as the gang heads to Atlanta. This updated track has seen its share of madness, and I expect more of the same on Sunday. It’s a night race on a superspeedway, which should add to the excitement. So browse through my Brilliant, Bold, and Bonkers expert NASCAR fantasy picks for the Quaker State 400 Available at Walmart at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Brilliant – These expert fantasy picks for NASCAR have the best shot at a win this weekend
Chase Elliott
I’m not sure if Chase Elliott will leave my list before the playoffs, but if he does, it won’t be anytime soon. This is his home track, he has a good record here even after the change, and he’s been really close to the win in recent weeks. It’s a safe bet.
Wins in Atlanta: 1
Top 5s: 2
Top 10s: 7
Joey Logano
I’m seeing a trend in recent weeks, and that trend is a return to Joey Logano’s early-season streak. Past experience shows that he finds a way to finish well in Atlanta, so I think he’ll continue to ride that path and forge ahead to a good finish.
Wins in Atlanta: 1
Top 5s: 3
Top 10s: 7
Ryan Blaney
My prediction is that Ryan Blaney comes back with a vengeance this week in Atlanta. He’s had a rough go in recent weeks, but he’s good at this track, and it’s the perfect place to fix what ails him. Let’s just hope he can stay out of trouble.
Wins in Atlanta: 1
Top 5s: 4
Top 10s: 5
Bold – Here’s my NASCAR fantasy advice on this week’s sleeper picks
Ross Chastain
This guy did not do well in the beginning, but he has turned it around in recent years in Atlanta. This superspeedway track is the perfect place for Ross Chastain to have a top-five finish if not a win. Though the street race up north was a bust, this week will be different down south for the watermelon man.
Wins in Atlanta: 0
Top 5s: 2
Top 10s: 2
Alex Bowman
Alex Bowman strikes me as a winner this week. He’s my NASCAR fantasy sleeper, even though his last couple of races here weren’t exactly amazing. But as of this moment, he sits below the cutoff line, meaning he’ll miss the playoffs if he doesn’t get a win. Anything can happen on a superspeedway, and that might work to his advantage.
Wins in Atlanta: 0
Top 5s: 2
Top 10s: 3
Christopher Bell
Christopher Bell finished third here in March, and he’s got a great chance to finish there or better on Sunday night. Think about the number 20 car when you set your NASCAR fantasy lineup this week.
Wins in Atlanta: 0
Top 5s: 1
Top 10s: 2
Bonkers – Chances are slim that these drivers will benefit your NASCAR fantasy points this week
Daniel Suarez
I feel like Daniel Suarez does well in the start and middle, but bottoms out at the end of a race. And I have a funny feeling it will happen again this week in the form of a wreck that takes him out of contention. Best to hold off on the 99 for now.
Wins in Atlanta: 0
Top 5s: 1
Top 10s: 3
A.J. Allmendinger
Good on the road, but not so good on the speedways. Take a pass on the ’dinger until we get up north again this summer.
Wins in Atlanta:0
Top 5s: 0
Top 10s: 3
Noah Gragson
Poor Noah Gragson. It’s been a long season for this rookie, but, everything can be chalked up to experience, so I think that he’ll come out swinging in 2024. Step away from the 42 this week, though.
Wins in Atlanta: 0
Top 5s: 0
Top 10s: 0
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