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Fantasy Nascar Update -
1. Kevin Harvick - Harvick struggled on Friday with some power steering issues and qualifying in mid-pack. On Saturday's afternoon, Harvick's team fixed him up and he went to the whip in that final practice session. He had the 2nd-best 20 lap average and looked very fast. Harvick has posted dominant performances almost every season since joining the #4 team. He has this place figured out and I would not bet against him. In my mind, he's the favorite!
2. Kyle Larson - Larson was very good here two years ago and finished 2nd.
Last season, he was okay and finished in 9th. He will start from 7th in
this year's race and has seems to have a lot of long run speed. He was
2nd fastest on the best-ten lap average chart and posted the best-20 lap
average. He's so good at running the top and that exactly where you can
expect him to be running! That 42 car will be one of the cars to beat,
if Larson can keep it off the wall!
3. Kyle Busch - Busch is starting clear in the back, but I don't think
that will stop him from contending for the race win at some point. He
looked very good, before going to a backup car. If he didn't go to a
backup, he probably would had been in my top 2 entering the race. Guys
with fast cars will eventually find themselves up at the front. I have
zero concerns about the speed in Kyle's car. He's talent enough to move
through the field. If anything, we get to see Kyle put on a show coming
through the field!
4. Martin Truex Jr - Truex Jr will start in the backend of the top 10, but I
think he will rise to the top before the end of it. Atlanta is a
Martin's kind of track, he loves these worn out racetracks. He was very
good on them in 2018 and he should be just as good in JGR's equipment.
Over the last few seasons, there has been only a few drivers better than
Martin at the 1.5 mile tracks. Since 2015, he has posted finishes
between 5th and 8th at Atlanta. He also does not have a driver rating
below 103.1. He finished 7th and 8th in 2016 and 2017, after starting
9th. I think he gonna be even better in this season's race.
5. Clint Bowyer - I am usually not high on Clint Bowyer, but I think he
will pretty decent in the race. Will he back up his weekend so far?
That's questionable, because he has been good on both Friday and
Saturday. On Sunday, he will start from the 3rd position. He topped the
final practice session on Saturday, however, he did not post a long run
in that final practice. That's a little worrisome, but it isn't end of
the world. He didn't exactly sound confident, but he also didn't sound
frustrated, either. Like many others, I think he don't know what to
expect in the race! It helps that he is teammates with a guy such as
Kevin Harvick. I think when it all said and done, he will finish between
3rd and 7th. That's the area, I am looking at!
6. Denny Hamlin - I am not really excited about Denny Hamlin this weekend, I don't he will challenge for the win. With that said, he is starting up front in the top 5. Even though, that doesn't mean too much. He doesn't have nearly much as speed as his teammate did, but I don't see how he finishes outside of the top 10. I think that 11 car is good enough to finish between 6th and 9th. I really don't know what to really say about him overall. He's good enough to challenge for a top 10, but you don't get the feeling he will contend for a top 5 finish, either, though. Hamlin is a fantasy pick that I refer as ''Fantasy Nascar Hell'' kind of pick. Big name that will deliver a solid finish, but you aren't exactly thrilled with, either. You want a top 10 finish? He might be what you are looking for!
7. Aric Almirola - At end of last season, Aric and the 10 team started to figure things out on this type of track. On Friday, he went out and won the pole. On Saturday, he looked good again. I wouldn't say that he will back up that pole speed. However, I do believe he will contend for a top 10 finish. He will most likely fall back and settle in between 7th-11th place. He may be able to jump a few guys in front of him, but I think 5th place is his ceiling. Still, I wouldn't complain about it!
8. Kurt Busch - Kurt has been very solid here at Atlanta for a long time and he looks good again this weekend. He will start from the 8th starting position and looked like a top 10 driver in Saturday's practice session. He was consistent throughout the session and that what I was kinda expected entering the weekend. He doesn't have the speed of his teammate, but I think he may be a safer pick than him, though.
9. Joey Logano - I didn't think Joey was bad in Saturday's final practice, I thought he was overall pretty good. However, he is starting from 27th position, though. Okay that isn't very ideal, but I think he will be fine and race his way into the top 10 by the second stage. Heck, I wouldn't be shocked if he got there by end of the first stage. Personally, I am not overly excited about the Penske Fords this weekend. They been decent, but none of them actually stand out as contenders for the win! Joey is probably the best among them!
10. Erik Jones - Last season, Jones was consistent on this type of track. So far this weekend, he haven't lit the world on fire. But I think the JGR cars will all be fast in the race. I am a big fan of his teammates, so there's no reason why Jones cannot at least finish in the top 10. He had some power steering issues at end of practice, though. I am not sure what's the status on that problem, but I would expect them to correct it before the race. If they did, you gotta love his upside for the race.
Just missed
Brad Keselowski
Chase Elliott
Ryan Blaney
Jimmie Johnson
Daniel Suarez
***All stats from DriverAvreages.com
Twitter - @JeffNathans18
