bristol race update & lineup

This is another tough race because there are a lot of variables up in the air due to the weather.  As of now, it looks doubtful that they can complete a full race at the scheduled time on Sunday.  So we're looking at the possibility of a delayed race on Sunday, possibly run at least in part during the night.  Or a race on Monday.  And no matter when it happens, conditions will be much different than what the teams saw at practice.  So, like last week, I'm urging some caution for this week due to the uncertainty and unpredictability.

That said, this is the lineup I'm planning to go with on Sunday for cash games:

• Kyle Busch -- Have to have this guy.  He had the best 10, 15 and 20 lap averages in final practice according to Fox.  Has 6 Bristol wins and the pole sitter has been in the Top 3 DK scorers in 5 of the last 6 Bristol races.  Expect a Top 5 finish and well over 100 laps led.
  
• Kyle Larson -- Great success at this track last year.  He will get the high line going at some point in the race and that will allow him to pass all the guys who are set up to run only the bottom grove.  He starts 6th, so there is some risk, but there is also race winning and 100+ laps led upside.
  
• Denny Hamlin -- His car seemed to come alive in the final practice.  He's excellent on the short tracks as it is and has three straight Top 10 finishes at Bristol.  And he starts 25th, which offers excellent position difference potential.
  
• Jamie McMurray -- Has a pretty good history here.  Starts 31st, so we're hoping for a finish between 15th-20th to give us a good 40-45 points or so.  On the downside, he didn't look very good in practice.  But he's on a solid team, so you have to figure they get the car going decent for the race.
  
• Trevor Bayne -- Starts 33rd, but has five straight Top 15 finishes at Bristol.  So the same story as McMurray.  And at a great price of $6,000.
  
• Ty Dillon -- This one scares me a bit.  He hasn't shown much this year, but he's had his two best races the last two weeks.  And, starting 32nd, all we need is for him to avoid a race ending wreck and move up about 5 spots.  If he can do that, finishing 27th would give him 22 points.  At his $5,900 salary, I'd take that.
• A note on Kevin Harvick.  I can't say he's a bad cash game play, but I really didn't like the way he looked in that back-up car.  He seemed very uncomfortable in both practices and wasn't putting up good times.  Personally, I would use him only in Tourneys -- if at all given his high salary.

Here are a couple other guys that I think are good Tourney plays only:

• Martin Truex, Jimmie Johnson, Ricky Stenhouse, Ryan Blaney

Have fun and enjoy the race.  If you have any final questions, Tweet them @illinisjc