It was a spectacle to behold in Richmond last weekend. William Blaney and Martin Truex Jr. took a chance on skipping pit road when the rest of the gang went in for fresh tires and it almost paid off. Denny Hamlin and Kevin Harvick, however, stole the show in the final lap when they took advantage of those fresh tires and finished in first and second place, respectively. Is this a sign that the seasoned drivers are finally finding their footing or just a fluke that relied heavily upon pit strategy? Could be either, but maybe a change in pitting can shift the weight of the pressure some of these drivers are facing.
This weekend, NASCAR heads to Martinsville under the lights on Saturday night, and that’s going to make things even more interesting. On such a short, low-speed, tight-cornered track, drivers have to bump, grind, push, and fight their way to the finish line—and that isn’t going to be easy for the less vicious guys in the lineup. Martinsville isn’t for the shy or faint of heart, so when you make your expert picks for NASCAR fantasy this weekend, consider the guys who have done it, won it, and don’t care who they have to push out of the way to do it again.
Brilliant – These expert fantasy picks for NASCAR have the best shot at a win this weekend
Martin Truex Jr.
Martin Truex did it again at Richmond, achieving his fourth top-10 finish of the season. Of course, a different pit strategy would have shoved him into first place, but I think he’s content with what he got. His post-race interview was all smiles, which is not like him if he feels sour over his performance. I think you’ll see a smiley Martin again this week because he’s on fire.
Martinsville Wins: 3
Top-5 finishes: 9
Top-10 finishes: 15
Denny Hamlin
Denny Hamlin’s pit crew catapulted him to the win, achieving the fastest stop of the day to give him a hot opportunity. And his post-race fist pump speaks volumes about his frustration so far this season. Be aware that once the No. 11 gets a taste of victory, it’s like a shark getting a bite of a leg: he’ll do all he can to get more.
Martinsville Wins: 5
Top-5 finishes: 16
Top-10 finishes: 22
Kyle Busch
I’m going to step out on a limb and suggest Kyle Busch this week as my final brilliant fantasy NASCAR pick at Martinsville. It’s tricky because he’s been struggling a bit this year, but it’s also kind of a no-brainer because he’s great here and he has the guts to kick someone out of his way without a second glance.
Martinsville Wins: 2
Top-5 finishes: 17
Top-10 finishes: 20
Bold – Here’s my NASCAR fantasy advice on this week’s sleeper picks
William Byron
Willaim Byron was so very close to victory lane in Richmond, but pit strategies didn’t pay off enough to give him what he wanted. Third place was sweet, but I expect the 24 is going to run hard and fast this week to do better. Keep him on your radar for a hot NASCAR fantasy pick at Martinsville.
Martinsville Wins: 0
Top-5 finishes: 3
Top-10 finishes: 4
Ryan Blaney
Seems like Ryan Blaney has been the racing bridesmaid but never the bride in this crazy NASCAR fantasy season. You can always count on him to run well for the majority of the race, but pulling off the win seems elusive. Still, I can’t think of a better sleeper pick for Martinsville than the No. 12.
Martinsville Wins: 0
Top-5 finishes: 5
Top-10 finishes: 6
Kurt Busch
I’m throwing Kurt Busch into this mix of aggressive drivers because it’s been a couple of races since we’ve seen what he can do and I think he’s ready to show up again. He has it in him, after all, and has several stage points and single-digit finishes here in the last few years. As long as his car is good, his pit even better, and wreck-avoidance at an all-time high, there just might be a little magic in the night for this newest member of 23XI Racing.
Martinsville Wins: 2
Top-5 finishes: 4
Top-10 finishes: 10
Bonkers – Stay away from these drivers in your NASCAR fantasy racing lineup this week
Daniel Suaréz
The track is small and tight, and there’s gonna be a mish-mash of drivers competing for the win Saturday night in Martinsville. Daniel Suaréz looks better than ever this season already, but I’m not banking on a win. Take a pass on the Trackhouse Racing 99 when you fill out your NASCAR fantasy lineup.
Martinsville Wins: 0
Top-5 finishes: 0
Top-10 finishes: 2
Erik Jones
Forget Erik Jones in Virginia. Though I think he has higher hopes in Martinsville than he had in Richmond, I still don’t see him pushing past some of the more persistent drivers to get his first win of the season.
Martinsville Wins: 0
Top-5 finishes: 0
Top-10 finishes: 1
Cole Custer
It’s not a good look for Cole Custer at Martinsville, and the way he’s been running lately, it’s best to pick someone else for your NASCAR fantasy team this weekend.
Martinsville Wins: 0
Top-5 finishes: 0
Top-10 finishes: 0
