Fantasy Picks ~ Atlanta
Last
Week’s Recap and Results
Daytona 500
2019
is off and running… or maybe better described as off and crashing. A recent check of Racing Reference shows they
are still crashing at the 2.5-mile high banks.
For the final NASCAR restrictor plate race it sure was… like a
restrictor plate race.
The
RFF Fantasy Race Game fits the “off and crashing” description as well. Kelly Meiste picked Joey Logano and Berra
Nordin with Michael McDowell skillfully missed the Big Ones (note plural-which
is never a good sign) and finished behind the JGR sweep to take the top two
positions in this week’s game.
Congratulations
Kelly on the win!
The
rest of the field either caused wrecks (I raise my hand), got caught up in the
high speed demolition derby or was impacted by them. J. L.’s Kez pick
came in a respectable 12th and the Chase Elliot train with PattyKay,
Frank and Vicq came in 17th.
The rest… weren’t running at the end.
I
think most true fans would say “Finally!” and “Good Riddance!” to the
plate. Hopefully, tapered spacers won’t
create the same results…but we’ll know that soon enough.
When
the smoke finally cleared on this year’s initial crash-fest and the points were
all counted, the first week of the 2019 Fantasy Racing Game looked something
like this.
“Folds
of Honor Quik Trip 500”
Atlanta Motor Speedway
Not
sure what to say about this week’s race.
Old race surface + New rules package = 2019 NASCAR Crapshoot V.
2.0. If you look at past performance
here, Kevin Harvick won last year’s race with Brad Keselowski winning the year
before that. Daytona winner, Denny
Hamlin found Victory Lane in 2012 and Kurt Busch has won here as well. Multiple time winners include Kyle Busch with
2 and Jimmie Johnson with 4.
Other
strong performers include Martin Truex Jr., Ryan Newman and Joey Logano. Kyle
Larson’s 3 top 10s in five starts puts him into consideration. Chase Elliott likes his home track and is
worthy of a nod, finishing in the top 10 in his three starts here, including a
5th place finish in 2017.
Of
course that’s the past. The track is
another year older and who knows who benefits from this new rules package.
All
that said, this is who our Fantasy Racers believe will win this week at
Atlanta.
PattyKay
Lilley
Well,
the Daytona Massacre is over, so let's move right along to Atlanta.
Sorry, but we can't offer you Bill France weather as Daytona did. Here
you'll need your jackets and probably rain gear as well. That's February in
North Georgia. Aside from that, who runs the best here? There are a couple,
and neither is one of those fresh-faced young lads that have no need to
shave. Best of the best are Harvick and Keselowski. Both drive Fords, but
one, I believe drives his better. I'll have a heaping helping of #4, Kevin
Harvick at Atlanta.
Frank
Buhrman
With
the new rules, the crapshoot stage might not be done, yet.
Fifty-nine years ago, the first NASCAR Grand National/Cup race at Atlanta Motor
Speedway was won by Fireball Roberts in car #22. It says here that Joey Logano,
driving car #22, will honor Fireball's memory and take the victory in 2019.
Vivian
Simons
Lots
of new stuff this year on the cars, engines and other rules. Hard to predict if
same drivers will fare the same as they did before the changes. However, to
quote a certain DW, "the cream always rises to the top" has made me
decide that Joey Logano in his #22 is going to be on top and in Victory Lane on
Sunday at Atlanta.
Berra
Nordin
This
week I think I'll just play it safe, if there is any such thing as safe in the
racing World, and go with someone from the bigger teams. So I’ll go with #4 Kevin
Harvick to win this weekend or maybe Mother Nature does!
Vicq
Ruiz
Logano - checkers
In Georgia's biggest city
Sliced Bread brings it home!
Kelly Meiste
This week I'm torn between Brad and Harvick, so I
flipped the coin and it came up Harvick.
Please put me down this week for the # 4 of Kevin Harvick, thanks.
Will
Dossett
This
one is a complete toss-up! I am going with Chris Buscher.
Kid is due!
Hal
Ashburn
My
pick is Bad Brad I know he's tired of being third on the team. #2 is my
pick. I don't even like it but so it goes
J.
L. Steel
Daytona
is often referred to as a crapshoot, or anyone's race due to the pack racing
the big track produces. It can be said for now that Atlanta is the same. With a
new rules package in place, it's anyone's guess what kind of racing it will
produce and who will win. With no idea what kind of racing we'll see or what
manufacturer might have an advantage, logic says to go with what little we do
know.
The
Fords had a strong year last year and even with a new model debuting this
season, they still looked fast last week. Leading that Ford brigade was of
course, Kevin Harvick. Based on his recent success at mile-and-a half-tracks,
specifically Atlanta, he's my pick to win this week.
David
Nance
After
last week I’m in a bit of a tailspin.
Sorry I took so many of my competitors out so late in the opener. I think I’ll give the #12 car a try this
week. Maybe that will put a little bear
bond on my crumpled fantasy effort and get me a few points. Deep hole early. Thankfully, it’s a long season.
Agree? Disagree?
Let us know!
Enter your picks in the comments below.
Good luck and safe racing!