RADIO
TALLADEGA, AL --- It has been an electric weekend so far here at Talladega Super Speedway. I arrived here Friday afternoon and have been in the infield non-stop since. Fans and Drivers alike are ready to run this track more than ever because of the elimination of restrictor plates for the first time since 1987 (some of these drivers weren't even born). Using the tapered spacer instead has these cars running in a completely different way and poses many questions for NASCAR DFS players.
Earlier on Saturday I was able to chat with Jeffery Earnhardt and Landon Cassill before the Money Lion 300 Xfinity Series race and asked them how they felt about their cars with this change. "Its a little bit of an unknown. I think the race is gonna be crazy and we're gonna try to take care of our car" was Cassill's response before he jumped in his whip. Earnhardt said "We have to do some work but we got her dialed in pretty good" about his Xtreme Concepts Toyota that he'll be racing on Sunday.
While I was in the garage area I got to take a look behind the scenes to see what really goes on and it's given me a new level of respect for the crews. Having to make sure that everything is just right on these expensive cars is highly challenging. Sometimes things don't go as planned and that is one thing that happened with Austin Dillon on Saturday. NASCAR confiscated Dillon's rear deck lid and have made a statement that the penalties will be announced by Sunday.
Qualifying was amazing to watch up close and personal. It's great to hear what the drivers are chatting about before they compete for the pole. I found that most drivers are just relaxed talking to fans and with their crew about topics unrelated to the moment and the race. Driver Matt DiBenedetto opened up to me about how he felt about his number 95 Toyota. "The runs are incredible." is how DiBenedetto described it and even though he qualified 26th he could still be a great sleeper play for the week.
Chillin with @mattdracing at qualifying talking about the elimination of restrictor plates at Talladega. #Geico500 pic.twitter.com/7igdivkszj
— Garage Guy Chase (@GarageGuyChase) April 27, 2019
Everything about Talladega is wild. From the parties in the infield to the three and four wide racing on the track, it's a place that never gets old to me. If you've never been here you should really look into visiting. Honestly I think everyone should at least visit one race track in their lifetime because there is nothing like a weekend at a track to get you hooked on the sport. Fantasy NASCAR is a big step to making the sport a continued success through generations.
Garage Talk with @ClintBowyer after qualifying third for the #Geico500 pic.twitter.com/tMqF6Azx6w
— Garage Guy Chase (@GarageGuyChase) April 27, 2019
Geico 500 - Starting Lineup
- (#3) Austin Dillon - Chevrolet
- (#10) Aric Almirola - Ford
- (#14) Clint Bowyer - Ford
- (#2) Brad Keselowski - Ford
- (#8) Daniel Hemric - Chevrolet
- (#17) Ricky Stenhouse Jr. - Ford
- (#12) Ryan Blaney - Ford
- (#22) Joey Logano - Ford
- (#88) Alex Bowman - Chevrolet
- (#42) Kyle Larson - Chevrolet
- (#9) Chase Elliott - Chevrolet
- (#34) Michael McDowell - Ford
- (#13) Ty Dillon - Chevrolet
- (#1) Kurt Busch - Chevrolet
- (#38) David Ragan - Ford
- (#41) Daniel Suarez - Ford
- (#21) Paul Menard - Ford
- (#36) Matt Tifft - Ford
- (#4) Kevin Harvick - Ford
- (#19) Martin Truex Jr. - Toyota
- (#48) Jimmie Johnson - Chevrolet
- (#18) Kyle Busch - Toyota
- (#11) Denny Hamlin - Toyota
- (#6) Ryan Newman - Ford
- (#24) William Byron - Chevrolet
- (#95) Matt DiBenedetto - Toyota
- (#20) Eric Jones - Toyota
- (#43) Bubba Wallace - Chevrolet
- (#47) Ryan Preece - Chevrolet
- (#37) Chris Buescher - Chevrolet
- (#00) Landon Cassill - Chevrolet
- (#81) Jeffery Earnhardt - Toyota
- (#15) Ross Chastain - Chevrolet
DFS Lineup Picks - DraftKings, FanDuel
Rickey Stenhouse Jr. #17 (DraftKings $7,400 | FanDuel $10,500)
Stenhouse has been excellent in years past at Talladega and I'm very confident starting him in my lineup this week as he is sitting sixth from the pole. He's had an impressive three Top 5s in the past four years and one victory at the site. In the second practice on Friday, Stenhouse showed major strength in the long run game with a speed of 204.127 and qualified with a speed of 191.378. Stenhouse also has a ton of confidence. seeing him around the track, and the way he carries himself shows that he's in a winning mindset and hopefully that should transfer into his driving on Sunday. Look for him to run in the top of the pack.
Denny Hamlin #11 (DraftKings $9,200 | FanDuel $12,800 )
Hamlin was the Daytona 500 winner so that obviously makes him a sexy start this week in the Joe Gibbs Fedex 11 Toyota. Hamlin said that he's expecting five wins this season and he has a solid chance to go 2-0 in the bigger tracks that NASCAR has to offer. Hamlin ran a speed of 189.264 in qualifying, which bought him a spot at 23rd in Sundays race. This is good, though, due to the aggressive driving habits he carries. History shows that Hamlin performs better in the fall at Talladega, but with the new package I see him flipping the switch to nail a Top 5 this weekend.
Ryan Newman #6 (DraftKings $7,800 | FanDuel $7,300)
On Saturday I joined Scott Engel and Real Talk Raph on Sirius XM Fantasy Sports Radio to talk about some of the drivers and what I've been seeing at the track. One driver I mentioned that is an INSANE value this week is Ryan Newman. He posted the fastest lap on the track in practice two with a speed of 204.157. Newman also inked a new sponsorship with Mazola Corn Oil, so it seems like things are looking up for him at Rousch Fenway. That feeling can transfer into positive vibes to compete at the top of his game. Newman has also had some success recently at Talladega, cracking the Top 10 in two out of his last three races at the track.
Kurt Busch #1 (DraftKings $9,000 | FanDuel $11,200)
Kurt Busch is just on fire since his switch to Chip Ganassi Racing and this week his teammate (one of my my sleeper picks) Kyle Larson posted the team's only Top 10 in qualifying. I'm excited that the Clover car may be throwing Larson some luck, but when it comes to sure points in a lineup you go with Busch. The Monster Energy Chevy Camaro finished first in practice one and 15th in final practice. Busch qualified inside the Top 15 on the pole for Sunday and should be on the move for a Top 10 spot quickly when the checkered flag waves. The data shows that Kurt races his best in the spring race and he's cracked one Top 5 and a Top 10 in the past two years. Busch qualified with a speed of 190.317.
For any and all fantasy NASCAR questions, find me on Twitter @GarageGuyChase. Good luck RotoBallers!
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