We’ve seen some exciting moves and maneuvers so far during the season, but the Bristol finish might hold the record. Last week’s bold fantasy pick Tyler Reddick lost out on his first NASCAR Cup Series win thanks to Chase Briscoe’s daring move in the final lap. Thankfully, Reddick still finished second, but the victory went to Kyle Busch who snuck up from behind to grab the glory. The dirt race was messy, muddy, and extra-long, thanks to a couple of rain delays, and many drivers are thankful that they won’t tread on dirt again until next season. The takeaway from Bristol: a win is a win, a loss is a loss, and no matter how long you lead, nothing is for certain.
This week’s NASCAR race at Talladega is sure to be full of bumps and bangs, crashes and bashes, and maybe even a fight on pit road on Sunday evening. It’s Talladega, baby, and you know what that means: it’s anyone’s race to win—or lose. Just about every active driver has a fair share of DNFs, with the exception being those who have only been here once or twice. Read on for my fantasy advice and expert picks as NASCAR heads to Alabama on Sunday.
Brilliant – These expert fantasy picks for NASCAR have the best shot at a win this weekend
Joey Logano
I think I mentioned it last week, but Joey Logano is on a hot streak, and that’s not gonna end at Talladega. His finishes here are some of the very best, and I have a feeling the No. 22 is about to make them even better with a Sunday victory.
Talladega Wins: 3
Top 5 finishes: 9
Top 10 finishes: 11
Brad Keselowski
It’s so tempting to leave him off my list of expert fantasy picks, but Brad Keselowski has been kicking ass at Talladega since his earliest days in the NASCAR Cup Series. Yep, his performance this season has been troubling, but this is his track. He’s got the superspeedway figured out, and if there’s one place for the No. 6 to finally pull himself together, it’s gonna be here.
Talladega Wins: 6
Top 5 finishes: 9
Top 10 finishes: 13
Ryan Blaney
When doing my NASCAR fantasy research this week, I was a tad bit surprised to see Ryan Blaney’s numbers at Talladega. He’s such a mild-mannered guy, I forget how laser-focused and tough he is on superspeedways, getting lots of stage points and leading plenty of laps. Bonus: he’s as hot as they come right now, with top-10 finishes in five of his last six races. Smokin’!
Talladega Wins: 2
Top 5 finishes: 3
Top 10 finishes: 5
Bold – Here’s my NASCAR fantasy advice on this week’s sleeper picks
Aric Almirola
Aric Almirola is known for his solid runs at Talladega. Though the last three trips here have been disappointing, this is a new season. The No. 10 has looked better this year than last, and with retirement looming, I think he’s gonna pull out all the stops to get this early-season win.
Talladega Wins: 1
Top 5 finishes: 5
Top 10 finishes: 9
Darrell Wallace Jr.
Bubba Wallace loves the superspeedways, and they love him back. This is the place he nabbed his first win for 23XI Racing, and if he can keep on pace, he’ll have another opportunity to repeat. Bubba has run well in most of the races this year, but he falls back at the end yielding unimpressive finishes. Let’s see if he and his pit crew can make some magic here on Sunday.
Talladega Wins: 1
Top 5 finishes: 1
Top 10 finishes: 1
Chase Briscoe
Chase Briscoe took a big fat chance to try to get a win at Bristol. It didn’t pay off, but it showed guts and determination, both of which are needed for superspeedway racing. He’s been here twice in the Cup Series, and he finished just outside of the top-10 both times. Keep an eye on the No. 14 this week when you pick your NASCAR fantasy drivers.
Talladega Wins: 0
Top 5 finishes: 0
Top 10 finishes: 0
Bonkers – Stay away from these drivers in your NASCAR fantasy racing lineup this week
Kyle Busch
He won last week, but don’t expect it again. Kyle Bush has seven DNFs here and an average finish of 21st. Leave him out of your NASCAR fantasy lineup this week at Talladega.
Talladega Wins: 1
Top 5 finishes: 6
Top 10 finishes: 8
Martin Truex Jr.
Never impressive on the superspeedways, Martin Truex Jr. has a total of 13 DNFs on this track and very little good stuff to negate them. Take a pass on the No. 19 and wait until he gets to an intermediate track to pick him for NASCAR fantasy.
Talladega Wins: 0
Top 5 finishes: 2
Top 10 finishes: 8
Kyle Larson
Yep. I put him down here, and that just might reverse the curse and send him to victory lane. But: he’s been here 14 times with five DNFs, only 13 laps led, and an average finish of 24th. I don’t think he’s gonna win this week. Sorry.
Talladega Wins: 0
Top 5 finishes: 0
Top 10 finishes: 2
