The Fantasy Nascar Guy
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • LINKS
  • Support
I started this blog to provide a casual, recreational level of fantasy NASCAR advice and discussion.  I've been playing these contests for a number of years and am annoyed by lineup sellers and groups of players using the same lineup.  I'm hoping to give the casual player some help in building solid lineups that can beat that annoying crowd most of the time.  I'm not a "tout" and don't do this for a living, so proceed accordingly.  I hope you enjoy the discussion here and Good Luck!

atlanta cup series

2/23/2019

2 Comments

 
This will be the first race using most of the new rules package in the Cup series.  In all honesty, no one really has much of an idea how everything is going to shake out when we get 40 cars up to speed using this new package.  Now add in the extreme tire fall off at Atlanta PLUS the fact that it's been cloudy all weekend thus far, rained on Saturday night to wash all the rubber off the track, but is predicted to be sunny by race time Sunday afternoon.  Simply put, no one can meaningfully forecast how this race will go.

Here are my lineup thoughts:
  • What to do with Harvick?  Since joining SHR five years ago, he's never led less than 110 laps in the Atlanta race.  He's simply been a beast at this track.  The question is whether this new rules package slows him down.  He starts 18th, so comes with massive upside if he's able to get to the front and lead the kind of laps he has the last five years.  I haven't made a final decision, but I'm leaning toward fading him in cash games and 50/50s.  While I like that he made a very long run in final practice and showed excellent long run speed, I'm not convinced he'll mow down the field like in years past and his top price prevents you from getting the balance you want from a cash lineup.
  • There are some good options starting even further back in the field -- Chase Elliott, Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano all start from 22nd on back.  I like all of them for cash games.  Elliott has finished in the Top 10 here in each of his three Cup series races -- twice coming from a starting spot of 24th or worse.  Since coming to Team Penske, Logano has finished in the Top 6 in four of his six races here.  He hasn't finished worse than 14th in those races.  Blaney does not have great history here, but he does come with an enticing $8,900 salary and almost no downside risk from his 26th place starting spot.
  • Clint Bowyer has shown great short run speed this weekend, but his lack of success at 1.5 mile tracks worries me.  In 24 such races at SHR, he has only six Top 10 finishes and has led a grand total of 45 laps in those races.  I'm also concerned that he didn't run even 10 consecutive laps in final practice, so we don't have any indicator of his longer run speed.  From his 3rd place starting spot, he's a tournament only play for me.
  • Chris Buescher looks enticed at $6,200 and starting 30th.  But he's finished in the mid-20's in all three of his Cup series races here.  He's still a good play, but don't expect anything more than that.
  • From the very bottom, salary saver tier, I think Chastain, Cassill and Klingerman are your best bets -- probably in that order.  I don't like any of them, but if that's the salary you have left, there you go.
  • I like Kyle Busch as a tournament play.  He was clearly the fastest car in final practice before hitting the wall.  He'll go to a backup car and start from the rear despite officially having the 6th place starting spot.  Particularly in a 500 mile race, he has plenty of time to go through the field and lead 150+ laps if his backup car has similar speed.  Also, they say these cars with the new rules package drive a bit like the trucks.  Did you see how KB carved up the truck field on Saturday?
  • I'd also throw Larson into some tournament lineups.  He had the best 20-lap average speed in final practice and was second on the 10-lap chart behind Busch.  It wouldn't shock me if Larson dials in the top groove and drives around people that way just like Tyler Reddick did all race long in the Xfinity championship race at Homestead last year.
2 Comments
Jay
2/24/2019 05:46:15 am

With so many dominator points available do you feel like it's a must to have at least one dominator in your cash lineup?

Reply
Steve link
2/24/2019 10:37:02 am

Yes, but picking a Dom is real tough this week. Not only do we have the new rules package, we also have a somewhat oddball group starting up front. If Kyle Busch or Harvick were starting in the Top 5, I'd easily lock them in as a dominator figuring 100+ laps led was likely. I'm having trouble seeing that from anyone starting up front today.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    My name is Steve and I've won thousands playing NASCAR fantasy racing games.  This blog will share my advice for enjoying and winning your fantasy racing games. 

    Archives

    January 2023
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017

    Categories

    All
    2018 Preview
    Atlanta
    Background/Intro
    Charlotte
    Daytona

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • LINKS
  • Support