The Cup Series travels to World Wide Technology Raceway (Gateway) this week for the Enjoy Illinois 300. We are over half-way through the regular season and we should have a good idea of how we are stacking up against our competition in our Driver Group Game leagues. We typically see new teams find speed as the tracks get hotter and slicker. I will do my best to keep up with the changes over the summer so we can take a lead into the playoffs races. The Enjoy Illinois 300 can be seen Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET on FS1.
STRATEGY FOR GATEWAY
So what do we do this week? Do we focus our picks on the drivers who have had success in the two races at Gateway in the Gen-7 car or select the drivers who were fast in the two flat track races this year (Phoenix and Richmond). I am mixing up the picks this week. I will take some drivers who were fast at Gateway and other drivers who had a lot of speed this year on the short, flat tracks. This should guarantee that we will have a good starting lineup for Sunday’s race.
The Enjoy Illinois 300 is one of the shorter races on the schedule. The race Sunday is only scheduled for 300-miles (240 laps). The first Stage is only 45 laps. This means track position is going to be everything Sunday. It is hard to pass with the Gen-7 car on the intermediate, flat tracks and the drivers will not have much time to make their way through the field. We need to select the drivers who start up front for our starting lineups at Gateway.
Here are the picks for the Enjoy Illinois 300 …
GROUP A DRIVERS
KYLE LARSON (5): I originally had Martin Truex Jr. in this spot, but then I read the statement posted by Kyle Larson on X (Twitter). He sounds pissed off after the events last weekend with his attempt to complete the double. I then found out that Larson was going to Iowa Speedway to test this week. Iowa and Gateway will use different aero packages, but a friend who works at RFK Racing told me the teams will “definitely” find something at Iowa that they can use on the flat track in St. Louis. I just cannot fade a pissed off Larson who had extra time to test this week.
DENNY HAMLIN (7): Hamlin has dominated the short tracks this year. He won at Bristol, Richmond and Dover. He should be good again this week. Hamlin qualified 3rd, finished 3rd in Stage 1, 3rd in Stage 2 and 2nd in the race at Gateway last year. I had to decide between Hamlin and Martin Truex Jr. for this pick. Both drivers should be good, but Hamlin has been more consistent.
(OTHER PICK) KYLE BUSCH (9): The stats scream “PLAY KYLE BUSCH!” There have been two races at Gateway for the Cup Series and Busch dominated both of them. He won the pole, led 121 laps, scored 19 Stage Points and went to Victory lane at Gateway last year. He led 66 laps, scored 11 Stage Points and finished 2nd in 2022. I just do not trust the No. 8 team right now. Their pit crew ranks 28th in the Cup Series and Busch has had bad luck on the track. He should win Sunday based on the stats, but my gut says they will find a way to screw it up.
GROUP A DRIVER RANKINGS: 1) Kyle Larson 2) Denny Hamlin 3) Martin Truex Jr. 4) Kyle Busch 5) Ryan Blaney 6) Christopher Bell 7) William Byron 8) Chase Elliott
GROUP B DRIVERS
JOEY LOGANO (8): Logano is my pick to win this week. I know he has not been very good this year, but the No. 22 team tested at North Wilksboro earlier this year and hit on something for the flat tracks. Logano then went to Richmond and finished 2nd and totally destroyed the field by leading all but one lap in the All-Star Race at North Wilksboro. I am sure the No. 22 team will bring the setup that worked at Richmond and North Wilksboro to the track this weekend. Logano won at Gateway in 2022 and he finished 3rd last year. He will have a great chance to win Sunday.
BRAD KESELOWSKI (5): Keselowski has been horrible in his two races at Gateway. So, why am I playing him this week? The No. 6 team is on a hot streak right now. Keselowski has finished 4 of the last 6 races in the top 2. RFK Racing did not find speed until after the race at Gateway last year. They are a completely different team from what they had at this track last year. Keselowski finished 4th at Phoenix and 8th at Richmond this year. It also helps that Keselowski had extra time this week since he competed in the test at Iowa Speedway.
CHRIS BUESCHER (8): I will stay in the RFK Racing Garage and select Buescher as my 3rd driver for Group B. He has been better than his teammate (Brad Keselowski) on the flat track this year. Buescher finished 2nd at Phoenix and 9th at Richmond. Buescher also finished 12th at Gateway last year, but that was before his team went on a hot streak. I have plenty of allocations left with Buescher, so I will take a chance with the No. 17 car this weekend.
TY GIBBS (7): The last pick for Group B was tough. Ross Chastain, Alex Bowman, Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick were all in consideration for this pick. I decided to take a chance with Gibbs since the Joe Gibbs Racing cars have been so good on the flat tracks this year. Gibbs finished 3rd at Phoenix and 16th at Richmond. I am not worried about his poor finish at Gateway last year because Gibbs is much improved since that race. Gibbs came out as the 4th best driver in Group B when I sorted the stats for this race. I will trust the numbers and play the No. 54 car this weekend.
(OTHER PICK) ALEX BOWMAN (7): I almost pulled the trigger with Alex Bowman over Ty Gibbs in my lineup, but I trust Gibbs a bit more than I do Bowman. The No. 48 team is on a hot streak right now. Bowman has finished his last five races in the top-10. His stats at Gateway are not great, but I expect Kyle Larson to bring back some information from their test at Iowa Speedway that will help all of the Hendrick Motorsports cars.
GROUP B DRIVER RANKINGS: 1) Joey Logano 2) Brad Keselowski 3) Chris Buescher 4) Ty Gibbs 5) Tyler Reddick 6) Alex Bowman 7) Bubba Wallace 8) Ross Chastain
GROUP C DRIVERS
CHASE BRISCOE (5): Briscoe has a history of running well on the flat tracks. His only win in the Cup Series came at Phoenix in 2022. His stats at Gateway suck, but there is more to the story than what his finishing position says. Briscoe won the pole, led the first 27 laps and then was spun out at Gateway in 2022. He had a top-five car in that race. Briscoe has been hit or miss this year, but the options are limited in Group C this week. He has a lot of upside, if the No. 14 team brings the right setup to the track.
NOAH GRAGSON (6): I have been playing Gragson a lot lately and I will continue to play him until another driver in Group C steps up. Gragson has been pretty good on the flat tracks this season. He finished 12th at Phoenix and 12th at Richmond. Gragson should have a god chance to finish in the top-15 again Sunday.
(OTHER CHOICE) RYAN PREECE (8): Preece hasn’t been very good this year but he has been good on the flat tracks though. Preece finished 5th at Richmond last year, 14th at Phoenix this year and 9th at Martinsville. I do not trust the No. 41 team in my lineup, but this should be one of the better tracks to take a chance with Preece in your lineup.
* I know the Stewart-Haas Racing drivers are “lame ducks” but I think this could motivate them to race harder. They are essentially racing for jobs the rest of the year.
GROUP C DRIVER RANKINGS: 1) Noah Gragson 2) Chase Briscoe 3) Ryan Preece 4) Carson Hocevar 5) Todd Gilliland
* Be sure to check back Sunday morning for my starting lineup.
TRUCK SERIES PICKS
XFINITY SERIES PICKS
* I know AJ Allmendinger may have to start from the back. I am still using him tonight.
Good Luck This Weekend!
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