Texas Wrap and KC Picks
O’Reilly’s Auto Parts 500 Texas
Wrap-up and Results
Texas. The place where everything is bigger... including race surprises.
The race was a surprise from a variety of angles. We had strategies… four tires, two tires, no tires. We had penalties… prerace inspections to blend lines. Wrecks-from the Big One to the Silly One. Lots of lead changes - 29. Just a shame that most were on restarts and “strategy” passes. And when it was all said and done, Austin Dillon used pit strategy to get out front and use clean air to ride to Victory Lane, followed by rookie teammate Tyler Reddick. The 3 and the 8 provided the first 1-2 RCR finish in forever. Congratulations.
On the Fantasy side it was Kelly Meiste who came in as this week’s winner with his Kyle Busch pick. It looked like after the #18 went pinballing through the infield on a restart and embarking in a bit of an agricultural expedition that left his splitter full of sod, that his day was done. But somehow, some way Kyle soldiered on to a fourth-place finish, holding off a growling pack of Harvicktites, which was good enough for the Fantasy win for Meiste. Congratulations Kelly!
Wrap-up and Results
Texas. The place where everything is bigger... including race surprises.
The race was a surprise from a variety of angles. We had strategies… four tires, two tires, no tires. We had penalties… prerace inspections to blend lines. Wrecks-from the Big One to the Silly One. Lots of lead changes - 29. Just a shame that most were on restarts and “strategy” passes. And when it was all said and done, Austin Dillon used pit strategy to get out front and use clean air to ride to Victory Lane, followed by rookie teammate Tyler Reddick. The 3 and the 8 provided the first 1-2 RCR finish in forever. Congratulations.
On the Fantasy side it was Kelly Meiste who came in as this week’s winner with his Kyle Busch pick. It looked like after the #18 went pinballing through the infield on a restart and embarking in a bit of an agricultural expedition that left his splitter full of sod, that his day was done. But somehow, some way Kyle soldiered on to a fourth-place finish, holding off a growling pack of Harvicktites, which was good enough for the Fantasy win for Meiste. Congratulations Kelly!
Points leader Frank Buhrman’s Kyle Busch pick bore little fruit as the 21st place finish coupled with a fourth-place finish by PattyKay Lilley and Nordin’s win saw his points lead take another hit. He’s still atop the leaderboard but takes a narrow nine points into Texas this weekend. It should make for an interesting weekend. Can he hang on or will we have a new points leader? We’ll know come Sunday evening. Here are the points standings after seventeen races-
On to Kansas City for another midweek COVID race.
Super Start Batteries 400 Kansas
Picks and Prognostications
This week finds another curve ball in the 2020 Cup season as the Traveling Circus makes their way to Kansas City for 400 miles on the 1.5-mile oval. This is the third cookie cutter in a row. Should have things down this week.
The usual cast of characters have found Victory Lane here. Brad Keselowski won the first race last May, while Denny Hamlin took the fall playoff race, each their second win here. Kevin Harvick and Jimmie Johnson have won three times, Martin Truex, Jr., Joey Logano and Matt Kenseth each have two wins, while Chase Elliott, Kyle Busch and Ryan Newman have a single win each.
Kurt Busch, Ryan Blaney, Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., Clint Bowyer and Texas winner Austin Dillon have also showed strong here.
Lots of choices. COVID variables like no practice, no qualifying and a mid-week race just to keep things interesting.
Our Fantasy Racers have run everything through their systems and have come up with their picks for Kansas City success. Take it away, PattyKay!
PattyKay Lilley
I guess at some point in time, I have to employ the services of a driver not named Kevin Harvick, and Kansas seems like a good place for that to happen. He's still one of the best here too, but this week, young Chase Elliott has my heart and my vote. Mama will ride in the #9 at Kansas... if, indeed, we MUST go to Kansas!
Frank Buhrman
Kansas. If it weren't for this game, I'd just take the week off and forget about NASCAR completely, seek a secluded mountain spot for a picnic and maybe a nap. After all, for a state that struggles to distinguish itself, NASCAR has given us the most anonymous racetrack possible. A track in Kansas should be octagonal, or maybe V-shaped (From the Tricky Triangle, we shift this week to the "Vicious V.") But here we are, so who's gonna do well. I'm moving away from Hamlin and Busch for a week and go with a driver who's consistent and quiet, kind of like Kansas, Chase Elliott.
Vivian Simons
Short and simple: It is time for that #4 to be back in Victory Lane at Kansas! Kevin is my pick.
Berra Nordin
So, Kansas this week and yet another cookie cutter! I was thinking of going a bit outside the box for this week but after last week's bad luck I'm not too sure about that so I can't see any other option than go with #12 Ryan Blaney this week and hope the 100-mile shorter distance makes him hold it together all the way to the checkered flag, the Black and White that is!!!
Kelly Meiste
#18 was the top finisher at Texas. He’ll take the checkers this week.
Vicq Ruiz
I'll take Joey in the 22 this week.
Hal Ashburn
Guess I'll go back to Denny. #11
Will Dossett
Shoulda, woulda, coulda stayed with #8! This week I'm back with Tyler, #8.
J. L. Steele
Since there's a whole posse going with Harvick, I'll shake things up and take Chase Elliott.
John Barnes
Guess I’ll go with Keselowski. I’m stinking it up this season!
David Nance
Weird year. Weird race time. So why not a weird pick? Going with the #1 for some mid-week ME.
Agree? Disagree? Play Along! Make your Picks in the Comments Below!
Super Start Batteries 400 Kansas
Picks and Prognostications
This week finds another curve ball in the 2020 Cup season as the Traveling Circus makes their way to Kansas City for 400 miles on the 1.5-mile oval. This is the third cookie cutter in a row. Should have things down this week.
The usual cast of characters have found Victory Lane here. Brad Keselowski won the first race last May, while Denny Hamlin took the fall playoff race, each their second win here. Kevin Harvick and Jimmie Johnson have won three times, Martin Truex, Jr., Joey Logano and Matt Kenseth each have two wins, while Chase Elliott, Kyle Busch and Ryan Newman have a single win each.
Kurt Busch, Ryan Blaney, Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., Clint Bowyer and Texas winner Austin Dillon have also showed strong here.
Lots of choices. COVID variables like no practice, no qualifying and a mid-week race just to keep things interesting.
Our Fantasy Racers have run everything through their systems and have come up with their picks for Kansas City success. Take it away, PattyKay!
PattyKay Lilley
I guess at some point in time, I have to employ the services of a driver not named Kevin Harvick, and Kansas seems like a good place for that to happen. He's still one of the best here too, but this week, young Chase Elliott has my heart and my vote. Mama will ride in the #9 at Kansas... if, indeed, we MUST go to Kansas!
Frank Buhrman
Kansas. If it weren't for this game, I'd just take the week off and forget about NASCAR completely, seek a secluded mountain spot for a picnic and maybe a nap. After all, for a state that struggles to distinguish itself, NASCAR has given us the most anonymous racetrack possible. A track in Kansas should be octagonal, or maybe V-shaped (From the Tricky Triangle, we shift this week to the "Vicious V.") But here we are, so who's gonna do well. I'm moving away from Hamlin and Busch for a week and go with a driver who's consistent and quiet, kind of like Kansas, Chase Elliott.
Vivian Simons
Short and simple: It is time for that #4 to be back in Victory Lane at Kansas! Kevin is my pick.
Berra Nordin
So, Kansas this week and yet another cookie cutter! I was thinking of going a bit outside the box for this week but after last week's bad luck I'm not too sure about that so I can't see any other option than go with #12 Ryan Blaney this week and hope the 100-mile shorter distance makes him hold it together all the way to the checkered flag, the Black and White that is!!!
Kelly Meiste
#18 was the top finisher at Texas. He’ll take the checkers this week.
Vicq Ruiz
I'll take Joey in the 22 this week.
Hal Ashburn
Guess I'll go back to Denny. #11
Will Dossett
Shoulda, woulda, coulda stayed with #8! This week I'm back with Tyler, #8.
J. L. Steele
Since there's a whole posse going with Harvick, I'll shake things up and take Chase Elliott.
John Barnes
Guess I’ll go with Keselowski. I’m stinking it up this season!
David Nance
Weird year. Weird race time. So why not a weird pick? Going with the #1 for some mid-week ME.
Agree? Disagree? Play Along! Make your Picks in the Comments Below!