Here are my Brilliant, Bold, and Bonkers picks for this week’s Buschy McBusch Race 400 at Kansas.
Brilliant – These NASCAR drivers have the best shot to win in Kansas
Kevin Harvick
If the Gibbs boys don’t win here on Sunday, this SHR driver will take home his first win of the season. Kevin Harvick showed some life last weekend at Talladega, escaping the wrecks and coming up with a fourth-place finish. We all know a win is coming; might as well be here at a track where he’s dominated in the past.
Wins at Kansas: 3
Top-5 finishes: 10
Top-10 finishes: 17
Denny Hamlin
I feel like the No. 11 sits in this section every week. But with the season he’s had, there has to be a trip to victory lane sometime, right? If I leave him out, that’s sure to be the week he finishes in the top spot. So, here’s points leader Denny Hamlin chasing his first win of the season with an excellent chance to grab it at Kansas.
Wins at Kansas: 3
Top-5 finishes: 8
Top-10 finishes: 9
Martin Truex Jr.
And it’s back to a good track for Truex. Having finished in the top-10 in all but one race here since 2017, there’s a reasonable chance that he’ll have another great finish this weekend. I’m all in on the No. 19 this week in my NASCAR fantasy lineup.
Wins at Kansas: 2
Top-5 finishes: 9
Top-10 finishes: 12
Bold – These are my NASCAR sleeper picks for Kansas
William Byron
With a hot streak like this, there’s no way I’m gonna leave Willian Byron out of my NASCAR expert picks for Kansas. You have to go all the way back to the Daytona Road course to find a finish outside the top-10. This kid is on the verge of making history as the youngest driver to finish in the top-10 in nine consecutive races. And he’s been top-10 in Kansas for the last three visits. I’m banking on another win for the No. 24 this week. .
Wins at Kansas: 0
Top-5 finishes: 1
Top-10 finishes: 3
Chase Elliott
There was a time when Chase Elliott would be in my brilliant section for this race. But after the season he’s had, I can only give him a NASCAR sleeper pick for Kansas. Yes, he’s good here. Yes, he’s the reigning champion. But this season has not gone according to plan for the kid from Dawsonville. Having said all of that, I still expect the No. 9 team to come up with something better than the string of lousy finishes he’s had thus far.
Wins at Kansas: 1
Top-5 finishes: 4
Top-10 finishes: 6
Ryan Blaney
Something is compelling me to stick Ryan Blaney in my NASCAR fantasy lineup this week. He hasn’t been spectacular or horrible at Kansas in the past, but with the season he’s having, there’s a good chance for success on Sunday.
Wins at Kansas: 0
Top-5 finishes: 3
Top-10 finishes: 6
Bonkers – Stay away from these NASCAR drivers in your fantasy lineup for Kansas this week
Michael McDowell
Here’s the thing: Michael McDowell has a good starting position at Kansas, but as I’ve said before, it matters more where you finish than where you start. Mc Dowell has seven DNFs at this track and numbers that show it’s not his best place to race. Despite a third-place finish last week, I don’t expect it to get much higher this time around.
Wins at Kansas: 0
Top-5 finishes: 0
Top-10 finishes: 0
Aric Almirola
Aric Almirola showed a spark of life at Talladega last weekend, but Kansas has never been a strong track for the drive of the No. 10 and with the season he’s having, I don’t think it’s going to suddenly turn the tables on him. Keep Almirola out of your NASCAR fantasy lineup this weekend.
Wins at Kansas: 0
Top-5 finishes: 0
Top-10 finishes: 7
Ryan Newman
Like McDowell, Ryan Newman has seven DNFs at this track, making it a tricky place for him. His only win here came in 2003, and the last top-10 was 2017. Take a pass on the driver of the No. 6 at the Buschy McBusch race in Kansas.
Wins at Kansas: 1
Top-5 finishes: 3
Top-10 finishes: 7
