The 2018 Driver Group Game picks got off to a good start, which is unusual for me. I typically start slow and then leap to the top of the standings one the tracks start to heat up. The hot start to the 2018 season means that my picks should be even better than before.
Here are my picks for Las Vegas…
GROUP A
Brad Keselowski (9): Keselowski runs too well at Las Vegas to sit on the bench. Also the Fords have a lot of speed and there is no guarantee they will have the same speed later in the season. I will save my allocation with Martin Truex Jr. and roll the dice with Keselowski at his 2nd-best track.
Group A Rankings: 1) Kevin Harvick 2) Brad Keselowski 3) Martin Truex Jr. 4) Kyle Larson 5) Joey Logano Johnson 6) Kyle Busch 7) Denny Hamlin 8) Jimmie Johnson
GROUP B
Ryan Blaney (8): Blaney must be started if he is on your team this week. He won the pole for the race and he looked good in practice. Blaney has finished 6th and 7th in his last two races at Las Vegas. I expect a top-five finish from Blaney Sunday.
Chase Elliott (9): I was worried about the Chevy’s this week but the No. 9 car has a lot of speed. He was in the top 10 on every speed chart. Elliott also has a history of running well at Las Vegas. The only driver to score more top-five finishes on the 1.5-mile tracks last year was Martin Truex Jr. I am not worried about using an allocation with Elliott this week.
Group B Rankings: 1) Chase Elliott 2) Ryan Blaney 3) Erik Jones 4) Clint Bowyer 5) Jamie McMurray 6) Ryan Newman 7) Kurt Busch 8) Paul Menard
GROUP C
Alex Bowman (8): The Chevy’s have really been struggling early in the season, but really no driver from this group looks too good this week. William Byron may have a little more speed then Bowman but I want to save Byron for latter in the year when he has more experience. I will roll with Bowman again Sunday.
Group C Rankings: 1) Alex Bowman 2) William Byron 3) Darrell Wallace Jr., 3) Chris Buescher 4) Michael McDowell 5) Cole Custer
Good luck this week!
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