I knew that William Byron would be, well, William Byron—and that’s why he was my Brilliant Pick last week. He only led six laps, but those six laps were enough to get William Byron into the Round of 8 without a hitch. Kyle Larson and Bubba Wallace were both poised for the win, but Larson lost it, hit the wall, and left the race with 20 laps remaining after leading 99 laps.
Bubba Wallace led 111 laps and had victory in his sights until a late race caution; Wallace bungled the restart and William Byron swept in, leaving Bubba with a 3rd place finish. And no one was more disappointed in the 23 than the driver himself.
This week, the NASCAR Cup Series heads to Talladega where anything can happen—and probably will. Four drivers sit below the cutoff line, one driver just a breath above it, and everyone wants to get the win so they can advance to the next round with William Byron.
So, though Talladega is impossible to predict, here are my Brilliant, Bold, and Bonkers NASCAR fantasy picks for the second race in the NASCAR Cup Series Round of 12: The YellaWood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway.
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Brilliant – These expert fantasy picks for NASCAR have the best shot at a win this weekend
Ryan Blaney
Ryan Blaney is totally riding a cold streak; each time it seems like he catches a break, something happens to knock him backward. He has the advantage of experience in his corner here in Talladega and next week at the Roval—and I expect him to get a win at one of them. And it’s quite possible it’s gonna be here.
Wins in Talladega: 2
Top 5s: 5
Top 10s: 7
Denny Hamlin
Denny Hamlin will get booed right off the track in Alabama if he wins, which probably makes him want it even more. His numbers here are impressive, and he only has a few DNFs to boot. Watch the number 11 drive his way into the round of 8 on Sunday.
Wins in Talladega: 2
Top 5s: 10
Top 10s: 15
Chase Elliott
Chase Elliott still needs a win, and it’s possible that he can get it this week or next because he’s good at both tracks. Though he’s not a playoff contender, he still needs one win this season to continue his streak, so I’m gonna keep my eye on the number 9 this week and possibly next.
Wins in Talladega: 2
Top 5s: 5
Top 10s: 7
Bold – Here’s my NASCAR fantasy advice on this week’s sleeper picks
Bubba Wallace
There’s no reason to leave the number 23 out of the equation this week. I mean, he’s a good superspeedway racer and he has one win here under his belt. I know that Bubba Wallace is really pushing himself to advance and this is probably his best chance to do it. As long as he races clean, races smart, and restarts well, he has a chance.
Wins in Talladega: 1
Top 5s: 1
Top 10s: 1
Erik Jones
Erik Jones is on a roll, and this week he’s gonna stay on it. His numbers here are surprisingly good—he has finished inside the top 10 in every race here (except one) since 2019. Do not be surprised to see the 43 make some magic in Talladega.
Wins in Talladega: 0
Top 5s: 2
Top 10s: 7
Brad Keselowski
Brad Keselowski has really bounced back from his sad 2022 season. He has the most wins here of any current Cup Series driver so that has to count for something at this insane track. I think the number 6 will have a good day at Talladega.
Wins in Talladega: 6
Top 5s: 10
Top 10s: 14
Bonkers – Chances are slim that these drivers will benefit your NASCAR fantasy points this week
William Byron
Not that he can’t, but he probably won’t. William Byron isn’t going to take the chance of wrecking his car or himself at this crazy track now that he’s locked into the round of 8.
Wins in Talladega: 0
Top 5s: 2
Top 10s: 3
Martin Truex Jr.
Martin Truex Jr. is okay in the standings right now, and as long as he’s careful, he’ll continue to be that way. He has 13 DNFs here, but he can’t afford one this week, so I don’t think he’ll take crazy chances that can end his day early. I expect the number 19 to run conservatively and finish well, but not first.
Wins in Talladega: 0
Top 5s: 3
Top 10s: 9
Joey Logano
Another driver with plenty of DNFs here (9!) Joey Logano might fool you with his impressive win total (3!), but don’t let it sway you. He’s out of the playoffs and he’s not going to make any bold moves at a track this crazy just for bragging rights.
Wins in Talladega: 3
Top 5s: 9
Top 10s: 11
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