It was a wild, crazy race at Martinsville for the drivers attempting to secure their spots in the final four. Bold Pick Chase Elliott outran everyone else for the win, nabbing his ticket to race for a Championship in Phoenix on Sunday.
After an incredible season that deserves its own award, Kevin Harvick fell just shy of an opportunity to run in the final four. But, that’s how the modern NASCAR format works.
The final race of this NASCAR Silly Season commences on Sunday as Joey Logano, Brad Keselowski, Denny Hamlin, and Chase Elliott compete for the Championship at Phoenix Raceway. Enjoy the race, relax in the off-season, and we’ll see you back here in February for The Clash at Daytona RC.
Here’s my NASCAR fantasy advice guiding you to the Brilliant, Bold, and Bonkers drivers for the Season Finale 500 at Phoenix Raceway:
Brilliant – These NASCAR drivers have the best shot to win in Phoenix
Kevin Harvick
Yeah, this guy isn’t finished yet. I’d bet my NASCAR season on a win from the No. 4 team this week just so he can throw it in NASCARs face. Harvick is King at Phoenix, and he’s going to polish his crown and let it shine bright on Sunday.
Wins at Phoenix: 9
Top 5 finishes: 18
Top 10 finishes: 24
Denny Hamlin
With Harvick out of the running for the 2020 title, it makes sense that Denny Hamlin would take home the trophy. He has a great record at this track and he really, really wants to grab his first Championship at age 39. It’s all going to come down to pit stops, penalties, and patience. As long as he finishes ahead of any of the other three drivers, even if it’s not first, he’s got it.
Wins at Phoenix: 2
Top 5 finishes: 13
Top 10 finishes: 17
Joey Logano
Joey is sneaky—just look at the way he snuck into the final four when no one was looking. The No. 22 has a sweet record at this track and he will race everyone around him as if he’s racing for his life. He’s not my top pick, but he’s no slouch. It’s possible another Championship is on the way for Logano.
Wins at Phoenix: 2
Top 5 finishes: 5
Top 10 finishes: 12
Bold – These are my NASCAR sleeper picks
Chase Elliott
Chase might not have an amazing record at this track, but he has an amazing record when it comes to getting the win that he desperately needs. He’s on a super-hot streak that might just carry him through for the most important win of his season.
Wins at Phoenix: 0
Top 5 finishes: 2
Top 10 finishes: 5
Brad Keselowski
I don’t have the highest hopes for Keselowski this weekend. In fact, if he wasn’t in the final four, I wouldn’t even include him in this article. His record here is rather poor, especially compared to the rest of my NASCAR fantasy picks. The only thing that puts him on the bold list is his ability to race hard for what he wants, so there’s a slim chance he could pull off an upset.
Wins at Phoenix: 0
Top 5 finishes: 6
Top 10 finishes: 10
Kyle Busch
Kyle Bush is great at Phoenix, and he’d love another win to wrap up this ridiculous 2020 season. I suspect he’ll continue to race everyone hard (with the possible exception of his No. 11 teammate) and do his best for the win on Sunday.
Wins at Phoenix: 3
Top 5 finishes: 12
Top 10 finishes: 22
Bonkers – Stay away from these NASCAR drivers in your fantasy lineup this week
Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
Stenhouse Jr. didn’t achieve all he’d hoped for in this silly NASCAR season, but he did end up in the top-five twice. You can bet he’s already looking to the future and planning his Daytona 500 run, so he’s not going to focus much on this last race at Phoenix.
Wins at Phoenix: 0
Top 5 finishes: 1
Top 10 finishes: 2
Clint Bowyer
This is the last race for Clint Bowyer, and he’s going to enjoy every minute as he cruises around the track. He’s not going to get in anyone’s way to play spoil-sport, so I’d sit him out for the Championship race at Phoenix.
Wins at Phoenix: 0
Top 5 finishes: 3
Top 10 finishes: 9
Austin Dillon
Austin Dillon should pat himself on the back for getting into the playoffs this season. He had a good run with a bunch of top-10s and a handful of top-fives—not to mention the win at Texas. It has given him a lot to build on for next year, but he’s not a great pick for the race on Sunday, so skip over the No. 3 team. .
Wins at Phoenix: 0
Top 5 finishes: 0
Top 10 finishes: 2
