Brilliant – These NASCAR drivers have the best shot to win in Phoenix
Kevin Harvick
Who can believe that Happy Harvick is still winless four weeks into the 2021 NASCAR season? It’s likely that the streak will end on Sunday. Other than last week’s rough finish in Vegas, the No. 4 has been solid in every race, and he absolutely dominates at Phoenix. Win number one is not only possible; it’s probable.
Wins in Phoenix: 9
Top 5 finishes: 18
Top 10 finishes: 25
Denny Hamlin
Denny Hamlin is on top of the points list, but still winless. Despite the strength of his car and his skills on the track, he’s come up short of the win for one reason or another each week. If the No. 11 can have clean pit stops without penalties, he might just have something to celebrate in Phoenix.
Wins in Phoenix: 2
Top 5 finishes: 14
Top 10 finishes: 18
Chase Elliott
He finished in second place at the Daytona 500—and it’s been downhill ever since for the No. 9. But every week is a new week and this is a track where Chase Elliott has done well in the past. With two Hendrick wins so far this season, you can bet he’s gonna do his best to catch his teammates and take his first victory lap of 2021 at Phoenix.
Wins in Phoenix: 1
Top 5 finishes: 3
Top 10 finishes: 6
Bold – These are my NASCAR sleeper picks for Phoenix
Kyle Busch
I just don’t know about Kyle Busch this season—again. It seems a shame to leave him out of the bold category, though, with a record like the one he has at Phoenix. Last week he had a third-place finish in Las Vegas. I expect the No. 18 team to build on that and do its best to propel Rowdy to another good finale, and maybe even a win, on Sunday.
Wins in Phoenix: 3
Top 5 finishes: 12
Top 10 finishes: 22
Kyle Larson
A fourth-place finish in Miami, a first-place finish in Vegas; that sounds like a hot streak to me. It’s at least warm enough to assume that Kyle Larson has a good chance to do a double and head to victory lane on Sunday. The talent in the No. 5 team can’t be denied, and this could be a very long season for the rest of the drivers if he keeps it up.
Wins in Phoenix: 0
Top 5 finishes: 5
Top 10 finishes: 7
Joey Logano
Joey Logano is another driver whom I expected would have a win in his fire suit by this point of the season. I think the rookies and two-years have been showing up the “distinguished gentlemen” this season, and that’s thrown a monkey wrench into everyone’s plans. It’s safe to say that Logano might be able to pull out the stops and win this race if he can keep the 4 and 11 in his rearview mirror.
Wins in Phoenix: 2
Top 5 finishes: 6
Top 10 finishes: 13
Bonkers – Stay away from these NASCAR drivers in your fantasy lineup for Phoenix this week
Alex Bowman
I have to admit: I expected more from this 48 team already this year, but the results have been disheartening. Let’s assume that Alex Bowman is just off to a slow start that will pick up later on in the circuit. Just don’t give him too much of a thought for the race at Phoenix.
Wins in Phoenix: 0
Top 5 finishes: 0
Top 10 finishes: 1
Austin Dillon
After a third-place finish at the Daytona 500, Austin Dillon’s results have been lackluster. This is not a track where he runs well in general, so I expect he’ll spend another week just trying to stay as close to the top ten as possible. I’d count him out until for a little while longer.
Wins in Phoenix: 0
Top 5 finishes: 0
Top 10 finishes: 2
Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. has kept himself inside the top-20 for every race so far this year, and he’ll probably keep holding steady as the season continues. I expect that he’ll nab a top-10 eventually this year—just not this week.
Wins in Phoenix: 0
Top 5 finishes: 1
Top 10 finishes: 2
