The NASCAR Cup Series will travel to Music City this week to race at Nashville Superspeedway. This 1.33-mile, concrete track has produced some good racing in its short history. The racing on the intermediate tracks has been pretty good this year, so I expect the same this weekend. The Ally 400 can be seen Sunday at 3:30 p.m. on NBC.
The Cup Series had a 20-minute practice session Saturday to shake down their cars for Sunday’s race. Most of the teams were able to make some long runs in practice. That is important because there are usually some long green flag runs at Nashville. There were only two cautions in the race last year. Track position is also king at this track. Five of the drivers who finished in the top-six last year all started in the top-eight. We need to focus our picks on the drivers who start up front and have good long-run speed in their cars.
Here is my starting lineup for the Ally 400…
POST PICKS
DENNY HAMLIN (6): Hamlin has been in a slump lately, but a trip to Nashville should get him back inside the top-five. Hamlin has averaged 98 laps led, 17 Stage Points and a 4.5 average finishing position in the Gen-7 car at Nashville. He posted one of the fastest speeds in his group in practice and the No. 11 car won the pole for the race. Hamlin should score a lot of points for your Driver Group Game lineup Sunday.
ROSS CHASTAIN (5): Chastain has been the best driver at Nashville. He finished first, fifth and second in the three are in the Music City. He is also averaging 34 laps led and eight Stage Points per race. Chastain posted the fourth-fastest speed in practice, but he got loose in qualifying, so the No. 1 car will start 20th. Chastain finished second at Nashville from the 19th starting position in 2021. He should be able to move up again Sunday.
TY GIBBS (5): Gibbs hasn’t been very good lately. He finished 25th at Iowa and 16th last week in New Hampshire. The No. 54 team has been much better at the high-banked tracks then they have been at the flat tracks. Gibbs finished 10th at Dover and second at Darlington. Gibbs posted the fastest speed in practice and qualified eighth for the race. Gibbs should be one of the best picks in Group B Sunday.
AJ ALLMENDINGER (8): Allmendinger will be behind the wheel of the No. 16 car for Kaulig Racing Sunday. He has had a lot of success in this car at Nashville. Allmendinger finished 10th at Nashville last year and 19th in 2022. He posted the 11th fastest speed in practice. It was tough to pick between Allmendinger and Corey Heim, but I would go with the experience of Allmendinger Sunday.
* I would use AJ Allmendinger over Todd Gilliland if that is your two choices.
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