charlotte cup

So happy to have starting positions the day before. Let's get right to it.

• Kyle Larson -- All cash game lineups should start with Larson. He's on pole, he's led almost half the laps at the 1.5 mile tracks this season and he's run by far the most fastest laps at those tracks. In the last three races at 1.5 mile tracks, he's led at least 103 laps, run at least 57 fastest laps and scored at least 98 DK points. All without starting from pole or having the best pit stall in those races.
• Kyle Busch -- Love his upside from 20th. At the last three 1.5 mile tracks, he's finished 3rd, 5th and 1st. In the last four 600s, he's finished 2nd (63 LL, 67 FL), 1st (377 LL, 139 FL), 3rd (79 LL, 52 FL) and 5th (0 LL, 11 FL). He has said he is better when they get practice and he usually gets better as the race goes on -- which obviously helps most at the longest race of the year.
• Chris Buescher (27th) and Ryan Newman (25th) -- Teammates who have been pretty fast and very solid at the 1.5 mile tracks this season. In those four races, the two have combined for eight Top 20 finishes, including three Top 10 finishes. On top of that, Buescher has finished 6th and 11th in the last two Coke 600 races. I prefer Buescher over Newman slightly.
• Michael McDowell -- He has finished 6th, 17th, 19th and 13th at the 1.5 mile tracks this season.  18th, 22nd and 19th in the last three Coke 600 races. Shows it's realistic to look for a high teens finish here.
• Aric Almirola -- Man has he had some awful luck this year. The speed hasn't been great, which has put him in some tough spots, but he's also gotten downright unlucky in recent weeks. Starts 31st, so there's a great floor and still Top 10ish upside. He's been solid in recent Coke 600 races -- 13th, 11th and 16th in the last three years. But, three of four finishes at the 1.5 mile tracks this year are 29th or worse. 
• Joey Logano -- Just seems weird to have him priced under $9k from the 16th starting spot. But he hasn't been great at 1.5 mile tracks this year. He has finishes of 25th, 9th, 15th and 17th and has led a total of 19 laps and run a total of 9 fastest laps. 2nd and 14th in the last two Coke 600s, but he has generally struggled in this race ever since his dominating win in 2015.
• Matt DiBennedetto -- He's finished 16th, 11th and 4th in the last three 1.5 mile track races this season. He also had two Top 20 finishes at Charlotte last year, including 18th in the 600. A bit on the expensive side, but I think he's got a good shot to finish inside the Top 15 and give you a solid day.
• Alex Bowman -- He had a rocket at Charlotte last year, even though the end results didn't necessarily show it. In the 600 last year, he led 164 laps and ran 52 fastest laps. Lots of confidence and momentum heading into this race off his Dover win two weeks ago. Probably too risky for cash though.

Bets I am playing this weekend--

• Kyle Busch Ev Chase Elliott
• Reddick +105 C. Bell
• Buescher -115 Bubba
• Newman +115 Bubba
• Preece +160 McDowell -- saw odds down to about +120, which isn't good enough
• Bowman +1600 to win