Fantasy Picks ~ ISM 1
Last
Week’s Recap and Results
Pennzoil 400 Presented by Jiffy Lube
Las Vegas
The
first race of the 2019 season with the second “package” resulted in an interesting
round of picks for the 1.5-mile track.
Racing with the same engine and aero package that will be used later at
Daytona and Talladega saw our racers going to the other extreme with only two
sets of duplicates picks as PattyKay and Hal drafted together for the win with
their Brad Keselowski pick. Frank and
Will hooked up with Kyle Larson with slightly less success. The remaining picks were all singles. Where Atlanta looked like pack racing, Las
Vegas looked like a Pocono restart with field fanning out six wide.
Six
racers finished in the top 10 with finishes of 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 8th. Three more had finishes of 12th or 14th. Only one finished outside the top 20. Overall it was an impressive week of picking
which saw Kelly remain atop of the leaderboard, but saw our field shuffling
throughout the field.
Enough
talk, let’s see what our Fantasy Standings look like after Week Two at Atlanta.
This
Week’s Picks
Ticket Guardian 500
Phoenix
Week
Four finds the Traveling Circus at the second stop of their Cup’s Western Swing
as they roll into Phoenix with the final aero and engine package. Larger tapered spacers and no aero ducts
throws another set of variables into consideration in this week’s picks. Kevin Harvick is the winningest driver here
with 9 wins. Other winners include
Jimmie Johnson (3), Kyle Busch (2), Ryan Newman (2), Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano,
Martin Truex Jr. and Kurt Busch. Strong
contenders who haven’t found Victory Lane include Brad Keselowski, Aric
Almirola, Erik Jones and Chase Elliott.
Will
this final “package” be enough to change the racing here and put a new face in
Victory Lane or will we see former victors figure it all out and add to their
win totals?
Our
ten Fantasy Racers have been hard at work to come up with their winning
picks. Let’s take a look and see who
they think will be celebrating in Victory Lane.
PattyKay
Lilley
Don’t
be fooled by this ISM thing. This is Phoenix, and Phoenix is Kevin Harvick’s private playground. I’m not looking to run away
and hide from anyone with sneaky moves or reverse logic. When a track has someone that stands out as
obviously as Kevin does here, I’m riding that horse! Freaky Fast #4 for me this week!
Frank
Buhrman
Harvick’s won more races here than most of his
competitors have won total, so that’s the easy pick, but if you’re buried down
in the standings, you have to take a chance.
Two weeks ago, I did that and picked by the car number that had won the
first Cup race at that track-my strategy didn’t turn out too well, soooo... we’ll try it again. Oops-the first Phoenix winner was Alan
Kulwicki in #7, a car number which won’t be in the field this year. Runner-up was Terry Labonte in Junior
Johnson’s #11. Good driver, good car,
good number. Let’s see how it works 31
years later: Denny Hamlin (#11) it is.
Vivian
Simons
How
does one not pick Harvick at Phoenix? He has always been the driver of choice
to win the races there. This year he seems to have the speed and his pit crew
seems to be on top of their game so why am I hesitant to pick him to win at
Phoenix? I feel the new rules are playing a part in the outcome of the races
this year. We always hear that ultimately the cream rises to the top, and Kevin
is definitely the cream at ISM. That being the case, I look forward to seeing
Kevin in Victory Lane...
Berra
Nordin
So
who to pick this week? So far this year we seen strong runs from the Penske
cars with Gibbs and SHR close behind. Now with a shorter track maybe one of the
HMS cars can get a win. It would be nice to hear the siren again sometimes soon
but this week my pick goes out to #18 Kyle Busch. He messed up last week so he is on a
mission this week!!
Vicq
Ruiz
Desert
sands are hot
but whiner will be hotter
KyBu one more time!
Kelly
Meiste
As
much as I hate to do it I'm afraid I'm going to have to pick the biggest butt
head in the bunch --- Kyle Busch (sorry).
Hal
Ashburn
Everybody
knows the smart choice for Phoenix. I think I'll take a small gamble and
stick with #2. Brad's been good to me the last two races. Good
Luck
Will
Dossett
I'm
going with #1, Kurt Busch this week.
J.
L. Steele
I'll
keep it short and sweet since they're racing at Phoenix. Kevin Harvick. He was
5th there back in the fall but with his record there, until something happens
he's still the man to beat. It should be quite the day when he pulls it off
since it will also be his 650th career Cup start. Enjoy that Bloomin' Onion on Monday.
David
Nance
Ryan
broke my heart again. I’ll stay with
Penske but go with Joey Logano this week.
Not sure he can go back to back but he has momentum so let’s try that.
That’s
a wrap for this week’s picks for the Track Guardian 500 from Phoenix.
Agree? Disagree?
You’ve seen our picks-now make yours below!