The monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series will compete at New Hampshire Motor Speedway Sunday. I went off strategy last week and selected a balance lineup instead of just selecting the three best drivers (Martin Truex Jr., Kyle Busch and Kyle Larson) for the race. I will not make that mistake again.
There are 301 laps in the race and 301 bonus points available for leading laps and fastest laps Sunday. The Magic Mile is technically not a short track but it scores like a short track in Fantasy Live since there are so many bonus points on the line. Selecting dominators (drivers who can lead the most laps and score the fastest laps in the race) will be very important this week.
The driver who wins the pole has been a lock to finish in the top 3 of the Fantasy Live scoring this year. The pole winner has averaged 106.7 laps led and 53 bonus points per race in the game. Martin Truex Jr. is almost a lock to lead 100 laps and should be in all lineups this week.
Kyle Busch is my other dominator driver. He has a history of running well at the Magic Mile and he was very fast in practice. Kyle was 7th fastest in the morning practice and had the fastest time in the final practice. Kyle also had the 4th best 10-lap average speed. Few drivers could run the bottom as well as Busch.
Kyle Larson had his pole winning time disallowed for an illegal deck lid on the car. Last week Larson passed 91 cars when he started from the back. I think he can do it again. Larson should be in all lineups this week. He should easily move up 30 spots this week.
My two cheap drivers should both move up in the race. This will be my first time ever using Danica Patrick in Fantast Live. Her price never justified her value. Finally Fantasy Live lowered her price and she is now a good choice for the game. She starts 30th and should finish inside the top 25. She had the 24th fastest speed in final practice with the 20th fastest 10-lap speed.
David Ragan tested at New Hampshire in May and he said his car is pretty good in practice. Ragan has been one of the best cheap drivers the last 2 months. He should also move up 5-8 spots Sunday.
Here are my picks for the Overton’s 301…
Martin Truex Jr. $28.25 (Starts Pole)
Kyle Larson $27.75 (Starts 39th)
Kyle Busch $27.25 (Starts 7th)
Danica Patrick $8.75 (Starts 30th)
David Ragan $7.75 (Starts 32th)
PICK TO WIN: Martin Truex Jr.
MANUFACTURER: Toyota
Good luck this week!
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