RADIO
After a surprising start to the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season, the cream rose to the top last weekend at Phoenix Raceway. The top 10 finishing positions were filled by the big four teams: Joe Gibbs Racing, Hendrick Motorsports, Stewart-Haas Racing and Team Penske.
Shouldn't be a shocker, especially since the championship race is in the desert. It didn't allow much wiggle room from the mid-tier teams, and some struggled, badly.
Expect the same this weekend at Atlanta. In fact, there are four drivers I could see you centering your DFS lineup around. But if at all possible, try to get two of those drivers on your team so that it's top heavy. Let's take a look at who those drivers should be.
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Kevin Harvick
(DraftKings $11,000 | FanDuel $14,000 | DK SportsBook +550 )
So much for people worrying about Harvick. Outside of a disappointing run at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the No. 4 team has top-10 finishes in the other four races this year. At Phoenix last weekend, he ran on par for what's been the norm over the last three years at the 1-mile circuit.
But when it comes to Atlanta -- that's Harvick's new personal playground. Dating back to 2014 (seven races at AMS), Harvick has led at least 45 laps in each race at the track. And outside of those disappointing 45 led in 2019, he's led at least 116 laps in the other six events.
No matter how Harvick is running, it's hard to bet against him at Atlanta. I wouldn't.
Kyle Larson
(DraftKings $10,400 | FanDuel $12,500 | DK SportsBook +650)
Who won the last race on an intermediate track? Larson. Who's also pretty solid at Atlanta? Yup, you guessed it, Larson.
The last time Larson raced at Atlanta -- 2019 -- he led a race-high 142 laps, dominating the first stage. He finished second to Harvick in the second stage, but it was a speeding penalty in the final stage that costed Larson a shot at the victory. Instead, he finished a disappointing 12th.
Look, Larson has been among the top five fastest cars to kickoff the season. Don't be surprised if he wins again on Sunday.
Brad Keselowski
(DraftKings $10,200 | FanDuel $13,000 | DK SportsBook +750)
Outside of Harvick's stellar numbers at Atlanta over the past decade, Keselowski has been next in class.
The Michigan native has won two of the last four races at AMS, leading a combined 54 laps in those two races. However, the No. 2 car is on a streak of six straight top-10 finishes at the track, tied with Martin Truex Jr. and Kevin Harvick for the longest active streak.
With the speed Keselowski -- and Team Penske -- has shown this season, I fully expect him to run among the top five for most of the race, and be there at the end when it counts.
Martin Truex Jr.
(DraftKings $9,600 | FanDuel $13,500 | DK SportsBook +650)
Last weekend's win at Phoenix was a statement for Truex, who was coming off a one-win season just last year. Five race in, he's matched that total.
And though he's never won at the track, Truex is no slouch at Atlanta. Since 2012, he's scored eight top-10 results in nine races at AMS. On three occasions he's led at least 65 laps in a single race at the track, including last year.
Like Larson and Keselowski, the No. 19 team has been among the quickest cars in the field on a weekly basis this season. I don't see anything changing this week, and given that he starts second, he could have a head start on the competition.
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Austin Cindric
(DraftKings $8,600 | FanDuel $6,200 | DK SportsBook +15000)
Wanna go on a bit of a limb? Put Cindric on your team.
In his Cup debut at the Daytona 500, Cindric put on an impressive performance, even leading two circuits. Coming from the back this weekend will surely be more difficult, but it's essentially a test session for the Ohio native, giving him experience in a Cup car.
Though it will be just Cindric's second start, he's running for Team Penske, so the car will be fast. Because he starts shotgun, there's only one way to go: Up. That's an attractive trait for fantasy players.
Tyler Reddick
(DraftKings $8,400 | FanDuel $7,500 | DK SportsBook +8000)
If someone needs something to go right this weekend that driver is Reddick.
After his runner-up finish at Homestead-Miami Speedway three weeks ago, the No. 8 team has scored consecutive finishes outside the top 20, dropping to 27th in points. Because of a disappointing run last weekend in Phoenix, Reddick will take the green flag from 29th position.
Atlanta's abrasive, worn out track surface suits someone like Reddick, who gets speed rim-riding around the track. In his lone Cup start at AMS, he finished 16th after spending time inside the top 10. If he can improve on that performance this weekend, it'll be a bonus for your team.
Chis Buescher
(DraftKings $6,000 | FanDuel $5,500 | DK SportsBook +20000)
It's a small sample size, but the last intermediate track the Cup Series went to with a worn out surface, Roush Fenway Racing showed some of its past excellence. Hell, Buescher won a stage (just the second of his career).
If you're expecting the No. 17 team to repeat that performance (leading 57 laps), maybe you shouldn't choose Buescher for your team. But if you're looking for a driver that can run solid and be a quality driver to fill out your lineup, he might be your guy.
The No. 17 car rolls off from 17th on Sunday, one position above his average finish on the season. In five starts at Atlanta, Buescher's track record isn't stellar, scoring a best finish of ninth with JTG Daugherty Racing in 2019, but his four other finishes are in the 20s.
Corey LaJoie
(DraftKings $5,300| FanDuel $4,000 | DK SportsBook +100000)
Prior to the 2021 season beginning, LaJoie was hyped about his opportunity with Spire Motorsports. Thus far, the results -- which includes two mechanical failures -- have been nearly the same.
But there's reason to believe the No. 7 team can turn it around. Spire is running chassis from Chip Ganassi Racing this season with engines coming from Hendrick Motorsports.
LaJoie starts 30th at Atlanta, and is looking to improve on his best finish of 27th at the track, which came last season. For the price, the No. 7 car is worth taking a gamble on.
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