2018 Fantasy Nascar Sleepers & Dark Horses (Daytona)

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Sleepers -

Michael McDowell - McDowell has some amazing numbers at the plate tracks and especially at Daytona. He has been a stud here lately in the finish department. In 6 of his last 7 Daytona races, he has finished in the top 15. Yes, 6 of the last 7 races. Including 5 straight top 15 finishes. During that time span, he has posted 10.6 average finish with 18.4 average running position and 72.4 driver rating. Not the greatest ''performance'' numbers in the series, but pretty damn good for him. If McDowell can keep his nose clean, then there is a good chance that he can finish at least in the top 20 and maybe more.

AJ Dinger - Dinger is a very underrated guy on the plate tracks, in my opinion. He is not a great plate racer, but he can be a very effective option. At Daytona of late, he has very consistent. In his last 7 races at Daytona, he has not finished worse than 21st. In his last four races here, he has not finished worse than 13th. Including 3 straight top 10 finishes at Daytona. Of the two plate tracks, this is one that I would recommend him at. For whatever reason, he has a knack for finishing well here at Daytona. Until he get a DNF, I am gonna keep employing him in my certain fantasy leagues. He's worth the risk, if you are in limited starts sort of fantasy league!

Other great options - Darrell Wallce Jr and Paul Menard 

Dark Horses -

Ryan Blaney - It is a little suprising that Blaney haven't won on a plate track yet, with how often he is up at the front at both Daytona and Talladega. In 4 of his last 5 Daytona races, he has finished in the top 20. In this season's Daytona 500, he was very strong. He led 118 laps on his way to 7th place finish. He probably had the car to beat in that event, in my opinion. That 12 car was impressive, so 7th place had to a little disappointing for him. The Penske Fords are always strong on these plate tracks. There is a reason why everyone point at his teammates as two of the best plate racers. And Blaney isn't too far behind anymore. Watch out for the 12 car!

Austin Dillon - Dillon has a knack for finishing strong at Daytona. In his last 9 races here, he has posted 6 top 10 finishes. Incluidng a win in this season's Daytona 500. I didn't agree how he got the win (some of that had to with - Aric Almirola was my fantasy pick), but the only thing mattered was the checkers flag. He took the checkers flag. Really, he has only had two poor finishes since the 2014 season at Daytona. In 7 of his last 9 races at Daytona, he has finished in the top 15. He has a chance to make it 8 of 10 in tonight's race!

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2018 Fantasy Nascar Final Rankings (Daytona)

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Final Rankings -

1. Brad Keselowski
2. Joey Logano
3. Kyle Busch
4. Chase Elliott
5. Denny Hamlin
6. Kevin Harvick
7. Clint Bowyer
8. Ryan Blaney
9. Martin Truex Jr
10. Kyle Larson
11. Jimmie Johnson
12. Austin Dillon
13. Ricky Stenhouse Jr
14. Kurt Busch
15. Jamie Mac
16. Aric Almirola
17. Ryan Newman
18. Paul Menard
19. Alex Bowman
20. Erik Jones
21. Daniel Suarez
22. William Byron
23. Michael McDowell
24. Darrell Wallace Jr
25. Ty Dillon
26. AJ Dinger
27. Trevor Bayne
28. Chris Buescher
29. David Ragan
30. Kasey Kahne

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2018 Fantasy Nascar Picks (Daytona)

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Fantasy Nascar Picks -

Driver Group Game -

A:

Starter - Brad Keselowski

Bench - Jimmie Johnson

Reasons - I thought about going with Hamlin this week, but then I noticed that Keselowski was criminally underown. It was a no doubter for me at that point. Keselowski is easily a top 3 plate racer in the series. He has a car to go to victory lane. Johnson got me some qualifying points.

B:

Starters - AJ Dinger and Ty Dillon

Bench - Chase Elliott and Ricky Stenhouse Jr

Reasons - For the last three seasons I used a combination of Casey Mears, AJ Dinger, Ty Dillon, Aric Almirola or Denny Hamlin in the B-list. You wouldn't believe the number of top 10 and top 15 finishes I had gotten from my b-list drivers from those drivers. So I am sticking to picking the underrated drivers. Two of them the most unpopular drivers this week is Dinger and Dillon. Both drivers had been finishing near the front this year on the plate tracks. I will keep on that bandwagon this weekend. If they wreck out, oh well. But if they don't, I think I am sitting pretty. Really it isn't about picking the best drivers, it about picking who you know you won't use of the rest of the year on other type of tracks.

C:

Starter - Michael McDowell

Bench - Alex Bowman

Reasons - McDowell has had a lot of success here in the past and he could easily add some more to that. He is the best pick in this grouping tier, in my opinion.

Dark Horse - Ryan Blaney

Winner  - Brad Keselowski

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2018 Fantasy Nascar Early Rankings (Daytona)

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Early Rankings -

1. Brad Keselowki
2. Kyle Busch
3. Joey Logano
4. Denny Hamlin
5. Kevin Harvick
6. Clint Bowyer
7. Ryan Blaney
8. Chase Elliott
9. Kyle Larson
10. Kurt Busch
11. Ricky Stenhouse Jr
12. Jimmie Johnson
13. Austin Dillon
14. Ryan Newman
15. Paul Menard
16. Aric Almirola
17. Erik Jones
18. Jamie Mac
19. Alex Bowman
20. Daniel Suarez
21. William Byron
22. Darrell Wallace Jr
23. Chris Buescher
24. Trevor Bayne
25. Kasey Kahne
26. AJ Dinger
27. Ty Dillon
28 Michael McDowell
29. David Ragan
30. Landon Cassill

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2018 Fantasy Nascar RaceDay Thoughts (Chicagoland)

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RaceDay Thoughts -

Jeff Nathans (@JeffNathans18):

- The Fords are all fast again. Shocker

- Kevin Harvick will not stay in 13th for long

- I think we are in for a crazy race

-The Toyota cars will be stronger in the race than they shown this weekend

Garry Briggs (@Garryy12):

- Aric Almirola is a very solid pick for today's race. He has been so consistent this season. He's due for a top 5 finish any week now.

- Paul Menard will finish in the top 10 today, after starting on the pole

- I am not super high on Truex Jr today

- I am higher on Erik Jones than most are

Driver Group Game's lineup -

Jeff's lineup - 4,41,12,24

Garry's lineup - 4,9,12,24

Dark Horse -

Jeff's Pick - Clint Bowyer

Garry's Pick - Ryan Blaney

Winner -

Jeff's Pick - Kevin Harvick

Garry's Pick - Kevin Harvick

2018 Fantasy Nascar Picks (Chicagoland)

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Fantasy Nascar Picks -

Driver Group Game -

A:

Start - Kevin Harvick

Bench - Kyle Busch

Reasons - Harvick has finished 4 of 5 races in the top 2 on 1.5 mile tracks this season. In practice, he looked like the man to beat on the long runs. He will start from 13th, but I think he goes to victory lane today. I think Kyle Busch and the Penske cars are next in line, followed by Truex Jr in this grouping tier.

B:

Start - Chase Elliott and Ryan Blaney

Bench - Aric Almirola and Erik Jones

Reasons - I really would love to start Erik Jones, as I only used up one start, but I am going with the best two drivers in this grouping tier. Elliott and Blaney. I think one of them will lead some laps early on and eventually finish in at least the top 10. I don't think the difference between Elliott, Blaney and Jones will be too much different. Only way it is, if one of them have issues in the race.

Clint Bowyer and Kurt Busch are awesome options this weekend, if you have plenty of starts left with them. Same goes for Aric Almirola.

C:

Start - William Byron

Bench - Alex Bowman

Reasons - Byron has looked really consistent this weekend and qualified in the top 10. I haven't seen anything out of him that says to avoid him honestly. I think the 24 will be in the top 15, when it all said and done

Dark Horse - Ryan Blaney

Winner - Kevin Harvick

***All stats are from DriverAverages.com and FantasyRacingCheatSheet.com

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2018 Fantasy Nascar Sleepers & Dark Horses (Chicagoland)

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Well, folks it was another busy week for your boy. I was suppose to go to Chicagoland Speedway this weekend, but things didn't quite work out. Which was very disappointing, but I am fine staying in the air condition and staying cool. Even though, I would be having a lot more fun at the track. Still, I am excited for today's race. I think the cream will rise to the top, regardless where they are starting. You can make passes here, so it is not like you cannot overcome a poor starting spot. There will be comers and goers, the key is to be a goer at the end.

Sleepers -

Ricky Stenhouse Jr - Ricky is a sneaky good option this weekend at Chicago, I think. His numbers of late at Chicago isn't very good. But momentum-wise, I think this is the best the No.17 team has looked all year. In 6 of his last 7 races, he has finished in the top 18. From Talladega to Pocono, he did not finish outside of the top 15. Two races on 1.5 mile tracks, I might add too. He finished 10th at Charlotte and 11th at Kansas. In those two races, he had 10.5 average finish, 15.5 average running position and 76.6 driver rating. He wasn't quite as good as his finishes, but still he was in the range. Not like he finished 10th and 11th, while running in the 20s. He had legit races at both tracks. He wasn't super impressive in practice, but I do believe we will see Ricky somewhere between 13th-18th in the race.

Paul Menard - I been hyping this man, Paul Menard, up for weeks now. It is no suprise that the 21 car is fast and is on the pole. He has Penske power under the hood and has looked great in recent weeks. From Kansas to Michigan, he had no finishes worse than 14th. He had finishes of 5th at Kansas, 6th at Michigan and 14th at Charlotte. He has been strong on the intermediate tracks in general. The No.21 car is fast again this weekend. He showed a lot of speed on Saturday and looking damn fine entering today's. Yet, not enough people are taking him seriously as legit threat. He should be considered a legit threat. Especially for a top 10 finish. Worse comes to worse, he finishes somewhere in the low-teens. I don't see the downside in taking some stock in Paul Menard. 

Dark Horses -

Ryan Blaney - Another intermediate track, another weekend that the 12 car is looking quick on the speed charts. The 12 car qualified in the top 3 and should be considered a top 10 car entering the race. I think what I love most is his upside for the race. He is one of those drivers who you can feel has the ''it'' factor. Some drivers are just plain and drive around. But not Ryan Blaney. You can feel there is something different about him. He has that upside that we are always craving in fantasy nascar picks. Blaney has been his strongest on the intermediate tracks this season. I expect him to stay at the front at least contend for a top 10 finish. I would be disappointed, if he didn't honestly.

Chase Elliott - Elliott has looked good this weekend, but not great. Still, he is one of those drivers that has the potential to breakout in a big way. Elliott will start from 3rd place and could have a chance to lead some laps, if he can get around Menard and Blaney early on. I wouldn't bank on it though. As both of those cars seem to be just a little better than Elliott. I think Elliott will have a very solid run in the race. I see him as a top 10 guy with unlimitless upside. I think the changes that his team makes in the race will be key. If they get him a little better, I think they can be top 5 contenders.

Other great choices - Kurt Busch, Clint Bowyer and Erik Jones

Bust of the weekend -

Martin Truex Jr - I don't think Truex Jr is as good as everyone makes him to be. He had his time disallowed, but you know the narrative now, right? ''Oh he will be at the front in no time and blah blah blah'' I would buy that crap, if he had a great car. I haven't seen anything this weekend that screams he has a great car. I think he's pretty good, but I don't he has a winning car. He might make it to latter part of the top 5, but I haven't really been impressed by the 78 car. For a guy who has won the last two races here, I think he gonna end up being a major disappointment. And add in the hot weather and everything, it might be a long day for his pit crew, too. That's another concern for me. His pit crew. I would put money on his crew to at least screwing up at least one stop today.

***All stats are from DriverAverages.com and FantasyRacingCheatSheet.com

Have a question or want to chat?

Email - briggs_garry48@yahoo.com

Twitter - @Garryy12