Fantasy Picks ~ Las Vegas 1
Last
Week’s Recap and Results
Folds of Honor Quick Trip 500
Atlanta
The
first race of the 2019 season with the new “package” resulted in an interesting
round of picks for the 1.5 mile aged asphalt track. The bulk of our fantasy
racers lined up into two camps - Kelly, Berra, J. L. and PattyKay were all
aboard the Happy Harvick train, while Frank, Vivian and Vicq were riding the
Double Deuce of Joey Logano. Hal, Will
and David all went solo.
Hal’s
pick of Brad Keselowski looked pretty touch and go and Brad fought a stomach
virus all weekend. But when the laps
were run and the Checkered Flag fell, Brad overcame the big three and the aero
package to deliver 40 valuable points to Hal.
Harvick was strong mid-race but couldn’t get to the front to challenge
at the end, coming across in 4th. Will
with Chris Buescher was the only other fantasy racer in the top 10.
When
the points were tallied we saw no change in our top four as Kelly remains atop
the leaderboard. Hal’s win sent him
skyrocketing up the leaderboard while the lower half of the field shuffled to
gain position.
Enough
talk, let’s see what our Fantasy Standings look like after Week Two at Atlanta.
This
Week’s Picks
Pennzoil 400 Presented by Jiffy Lube
Las Vegas
Week
Three starts Cup’s Western Swing as the next three races will be held on the
left side of the Mississippi River. This
will see another change in the “package.”
This one is the “Ultra”, which has the engine choked by the smallest
tapered spacer and the car having the most aerodynamic encumbrances. How that will all factor in is again anyone’s
guess!
Traditional
wisdom would lean toward previous race winners like Kevin Harvick (2 wins and
defending race winner) or Brad Keselowski (3 wins, including last season’s fall
race). Other winners here include Martin
Truex Jr. and Kyle Busch with one win each.
Jimmie Johnson leads all drivers here with four wins, but none in the last
decade here. Other drivers who have had
strong showings include Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano, Kyle Larson and Denny
Hamlin-all names we have seen up front in our first two races.
Will
history play a role this week or will the aero package shake things up enough
to put a new face in Victory Lane? Let’s
see what our ten Fantasy Racers think about the Pennzoil 400.
PattyKay
Lilley
And
off we go on our “Western Swing”, which sounds more
like square dancing than racing, doesn’t it? First up is Las Vegas. Round up
the usual suspects and give ‘em yet another new “package.” It’s early and I’m
not last, so I think I’ll stay with a Ford this week… but a different one. This
time I’ll ride with Brad K. in the #2. He was pretty convincing at Atlanta. Las
Vegas is nothing like Atlanta, but it’s a track where his finishes are the
best. Go Brad!
Frank
Buhrman
Vegas
will tell us more about this year than Daytona and Atlanta combined, but what
those two races told me is that Kyle Larson has his act together this year but
needs some luck, which wasn't in his cards the last two weeks. I think the
4-leaf clover says #42 in the city where luck is usually bad - unless you own a
casino. Stay away from the slots, Kyle, and maybe there'll be a little luck
left for Sunday. I think there will be.
Vivian
Simons
Seems
like Fords have won most of the races at Las Vegas the past few years. I think
perhaps Ford will maintain that lead so I am going with #4, Kevin
"Happy" Harvick to be in Victory Lane. It is time for him to hoist
that trophy!
Berra
Nordin
So
here we go Vegas and package number three!! We may need something to keep track
of all the different kind of packages! Atlanta was an OK race but Atlanta is a
stand out so not to jump to any conclusions just yet about the "new"
packages. But one thing that strikes me is Larson leading the field and when
put in back in traffic he couldn't do anything! Another is HMS still
behind and the trend we see there makes me think of the down fall of RFR a
bit!
So
what about this week? Who to win?? If the NASCAR gods had it their way we'll be
hearing the siren in Dawsonville again this weekend or maybe a SHR Win. I don't have any clear idea this warm (43 F ) and grey Wednesday morning here in the middle of
Sweden! So I’ll go with my first feeling that it is time for a SHR Win and #14
Clint Bowyer is the man to do it!
Vicq
Ruiz
No
more cards, dealer.
I'm standing on hard eighteen -
Kyle Busch wins at home.
Kelly
Meiste
I'm
betting another new face will be in Victory Lane on Sunday. I'm
predicting that Martin Truex Jr will be coming out on top in his first win with
his new #19 Toyota.
Hal
Ashburn
I
think I'll ride that horse 1 more time. So here's hoping Brad is still
sick. 2nd win for the #2.
Will
Dossett
I'm
going with Kyle Larson, 42 this weekend. I think he figured this thing out!
J.
L. Steele
Las
Vegas will be the first track where the new aero package will be used in its
entirety. In my mind, the biggest factor it might change (notice I said might)
is take away the advantage Kevin Harvick had last year on mile and a half
tracks. The other big name that's usually in the mix when the NASCAR circus
hits this place is Kyle Busch.
Kyle,
however, isn't the only Busch to hail from Vegas. I think Kurt Busch picks up
his first win of 2019 and his first for Chip Ganassi Racing. He showed a lot of
bold moves last week in Atlanta. Although the full rules package wasn't in
place last week, he seemed confident in what he could do with the car. This
weekend he takes it a step further and gets the checkers.
David
Nance
Well,
we could have gone all season without a finish like that. I felt Penske was ready to win at Atlanta and
I was right... I just picked the poorest finisher out of that stable. But I saw some good stuff out of the lad in
the #12 car. I’ll give him another go
this week. Ryan, you owe me!
That’s
a wrap for this week’s picks for the Pennzoil 400 Presented by Jiffy Lube from
Las Vegas.
Agree? Disagree?
You’ve seen our picks-now make yours below!