The monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series will compete at Homestead-Miami Speedway Sunday. Fantasy Live has been my best game this season. My picks are now in the top 99.9% and ranked 236th overall. My career best in this game came in 2015 when I finished 76th overall. I doubt I will be able to beat my career high but another strong performance Sunday should put me into the top 200. That is not too bad out of roughly 400,000 entries.
Before I get into the picks I want to say thank you for giving my new website a chance this year. This was my first year posting picks on the website and I think it was a huge success. I cannot wait to make it even better in 2018.
Stacking up on the 4 drivers who are competing for the championship is a good strategy this week. It will be impossible to get all 4 into your lineup but I suggest using at least 2 of them. The 36 cars who are not competing for the Championship usually give these cars plenty of room on the track. The last thing they want to do is become the reason why a drivers championship season was ruined.
Martin Truex Jr. had the fastest car in final practice. He also had the 2nd fastest 10-lap average speed. Truex has dominated the 1.5-mile tracks this season and I see no reason why that will change Sunday. The No. 78 car is likely to lead many laps this week and it will be dangerous to fade him.
Denny Hamlin starts from the pole so he has some risk if he cannot stay up front. I chose him because I think he will stay up front. Hamlin led 132 laps and won the race at Darlington and that track is similar to Homestead because of the banking and the way it eats up tires. I think he has a lot to prove this week so I will take a chance with him.
My third driver was tough. Who should I leave off my team..the No. 18 or the No. 4? Both of these cars are blazing fast this week. I went with Kevin Harvick because he has the potential to score some position differential points, he has never finished outside the top 3 at Homestead while driving for Stewart-Haas Racing and he won the last race coming from behind at Texas. Harvick has been money at Homestead, so I will put my team in his hands this week.
Aric Almirola is on the team because of his price. He is not a great value but he has been OK on the 1.5-mile tracks this season. He starts 20th and I am hoping he can finish inside the top 20 in his final race in the No. 43 car.
Matt Dibendetto has been good on the large steep tracks in his career. I am just hoping he can move up 5-8 spot Sunday.
Here are my picks for the Homestead…
Martin Truex Jr. $28.50 (Starts 2nd)
Denny Hamlin $27.25 (Starts Pole)
Kevin Harvick $28.00 (Starts 9th)
Aric Almirola $11.00 (Starts 20th)
Matt Dibenedetto $5.00 (Starts 31st)
PICK TO WIN: Martin Truex Jr.
MANUFACTURER: Toyota
Good luck this week!
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