Holy rubber-to-the-road, Batman—NASCAR is back! The winter between The Championship and The Clash is dark and dreary without a weekly race fix, but the light will shine again this Sunday in LA.
NASCAR returns to The LA Coliseum on February 5th to run a super-short (quarter-mile) track created just for the occasion. This is our chance to get reintroduced to the drivers we know and love, the drivers we love to hate, and the new guys who left Xfinity behind to traverse the Cup Series chaos. After all, they’re gonna stick around in our lives until mid-November, so we better get used to ’em.
As always, 5th Down Fantasy will treat you to the smartest, and not-so-smart, expert picks for each weekly NASCAR race. Picks are determined by streaks and track experience and chosen well before qualifying takes matters into its own hands.
Let’s see where the boys take us this week when they hit the hottest spot on the West Coast. Behold, this week’s NASCAR fantasy picks for The Busch Light Clash at The Coliseum.
Brilliant – These expert fantasy picks for NASCAR have the best shot at a win this weekend
Kyle Larson
Fifth place in LA last year could turn around to first in 2023. Kyle Larson has short-track experience like no other his age, and he’s tough enough to push through the traffic in these tight quarters.
Kyle Busch
A new team, a new car, and a new number give Rowdy a chance to begin anew. And, since he rolled across the finish line second last year, I expect he’s going to kick ass and take names in LA on Sunday.
Joey Logano
Fresh off of his 2022 Championship run, Joey Logano ain’t slowing down as we begin 2023. He won it here last year and though he faces tough competition for everyone else, he’s bound to be close to the front when the checkered flag flies.
Bold – Here’s my NASCAR fantasy advice on this week’s sleeper picks
Erik Jones
Last season, Erik Jones began to look like he did back in the Gibbs days. This season, he’s under the tutelage of NASCAR GOAT Jimmie Johnson, and partnered with tough-guy rookie teammate Noah Gragson. Last Clash brought him to fourth place, much to the frustration of Ryan Blaney—I think he’ll hang in there again this time.
Christopher Bell
Fresh off a final-four run, I predict Christopher Bell continues the streak and has a sweet turn at The Clash. He stayed in the top 10 here last season, and he’s fire on the short tracks. Take a chance on the 20 and you won’t be disappointed.
Kevin Harvick
Kevin Harvick’s retirement tour can go one of two ways: fun or lousy. Let’s assume it’s gonna be fun; then we’ll say that he starts with a big bang in LA. That’s my fantasy advice, and I’m sticking to it.
Bonkers – Stay away from these drivers in your NASCAR fantasy racing lineup this week
Austin Cindric
I haven’t seen too much from Austin Cindric on the short tracks yet, but he’s still a youngster. Give him time, but don’t give him a place on your NASCAR fantasy list until the 500,
Bubba Wallace
Much like the No. 2, Bubba Wallace lights it up on the Superspeedways. Not so much on really short tracks. I feel like he’ll get tangled up in something messy before the 20th lap. Skip.
Tyler Reddick
So, let’s talk about Tyler Reddick and the short tracks. As I scan his results over the past couple of years, I see nothing but a big fat bummer. And that leads me to believe that he’s best saved for another time.
