The NASCAR Cup Series is back after a week off to celebrate Easter. They will bring their 750 HP Package to the high-banks of the concrete track in Bristol. This new package put on a good show on the high-banks of Darlington Raceway. The package was a dud for the race at Martinsville. What will we get this week at Bristol? This concrete track tacks rubber quickly, so I expect the tires to wear out and the racing will be pretty good. It is hard not to get excited Sunday, because this is Bristol Baby!
Here are my updated picks for your season long Fantasy NASCAR games…
DRIVER GROUP GAME PICKS FOR BRISTOL
GROUP A DRIVERS
KYLE LARSON (9): Larson should be the driver to beat Sunday, but will the new nose on the Chevy hold him back? I doubt it. Teams do not rely on aero at Bristol as much as they do at the larger tracks. Larson led 462 laps, won both Stages and went to Victory Lane in the 2024 Bristol Night Race. He came back last spring and led 411 laps, won both Stages and won the race. I just cannot fade those types of stats. Larson should be a threat to dominate the race again Sunday.
CHRISTOPHER BELL (8): Bell has actually been better at Bristol than Larson in the Gen-7 car. His 5.4 average finishing position in the Gen-7 car at Bristol is the best in the Cup Series. He won the last race at Bristol and he will have a good chance to do it again. The big advantage for Bell this week is his pit crew. They are the best in the Cup Series and green flag pit stops could gain him some valuable track position in this race. I thought about pairing Denny Hamlin with Kyle Larson, but Bell is the better pick for Bristol.
GROUP B DRIVERS
TY GIBBS (8): Gibbs is having his best season in the Cup Series. He finished 4th at COTA, 4th at Phoenix, 5th at Las Vegas, 6th at Darlington and 4th at Martinsville. The only two drivers who have been better than Gibbs at Tyler Reddick and Denny Hamlin. Now we get to see what Gibbs can do at his best track. He led 201 laps and finished 10th in the Bristol Night Race last year. He also finished 3rd in the Food City 500. If Gibbs is going to win a race this year, this is it. He is just too good this year and at this track to fade Sunday.
BRAD KESELOWSKI (8): I used Keselowski at Darlington and it worked out well. He led the most laps, won both Stages and finished 2nd. Darlington is similar to Bristol, so Keselowski should be good again this weekend. Keselowski finished 2nd in the last race at Bristol. The RFK Racing cars have been pretty consistent this year, so I will take a chance with Keselowski at Bristol.
CHRIS BUESCHER (9): Buescher looked fast at Darlington, just like his boss (Brad Keselowski). Buescher led 41 laps and finished 9th at “The Track Too Tough to Tame.” That speed should translate in speed at “The World’s Fastest Half-Mile.” Buescher won in the Gen-7 car at Bristol in 2022. The No. 17 car should have the speed to finish in the top-10 Sunday.
RYAN PREECE (9): Preece is a short track ace. He didn’t set the track on fire last year at Bristol (Preece finished 21st and 20th in 2025), but this pick is more about his 2026 speed. Preece won on the short track at Bowman Gray Stadium, finished 13th at Phoenix, finished 13th at Darlington and 12th last week at Martinsville. Preece can finish up front when the No. 60 car has speed. The RFK Racing cars have the short tracks figured out, so I will take a chance with Preece Sunday.
GROUP C DRIVERS
CARSON HOCEVAR (9): Hocevar is a lock in Group C. His aggressive driving style works well at Bristol. Hocevar finished 7th and 11th in his two races at Bristol last year. The most similar track to Bristol so far this year is Darlington. Hocevar started 16th and finished 4th at “The Lady in Black.” Hocevar is clearly the best pick for Group C this weekend.
DANIEL SUAREZ (8): The results for Suarez at Bristol sucked when he was at Trackhouse Racing. Can he turn it around in his No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevy? I think he can. Justin Haley drove this car at Bristol last year. He finished 13th in both races. Suarez is a better driver than Haley, so he should be able to repeat his performances or improve upon them. Suarez sucked at Darlington in his career and he just finished 7th three weeks ago. I will play two drivers from Spire Motorsports in Group C.
* Be sure to check back Saturday night for my starting lineup.
SPEEDWAY COLLECTIVE PICKS
GROUP A DRIVERS: I will play the same two drivers in the Speedway Collective Group A that I played in the top group in the Driver Group Game. Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell have the best stats at Bristol and they have both had a lot of speed in 2026. They should be the top plays from this group, unless Denny Hamlin decides to ruin the party. (I need to save Hamlin for other tracks)
GROUP B DRIVERS: The Group B picks will be the same as the Driver Group Game too. Ty Gibbs has a great chance to win his first race in the Cup Series Sunday and Brad Keselowski has a good chance to finish in the top-five as long as RFK Racing brings the speed they had at Darlington to the track in Bristol.
GROUP C DRIVERS: Carson Hocevar was a lock in Group C of the Driver Group Game and he is a lock in Group C of the Speedway Collective game too. I can already hear the “Hurricane Warnings” for the race Sunday…. Ryan Preece is just too good on the short tracks to fade. I want to use my allocations with the No. 60 car at tracks like Bristol.
GROUP D DRIVERS: Daniel Suarez is the best play in Group D based on what Justin Haley did in this car at Bristol last year and what Suarez did at Darlington three weeks ago… Zane Smith finished 3rd in the last race at Bristol. I am not sure if he can do it again, but I at least need the No. 38 car in my lineup.
* Be sure to check back Saturday night for my starting lineup.
FANTRAX PICKS
* Each league in Fantrax is different. Some leagues have bench drivers and award qualifying points and others do not. The two leagues that I am playing in do not have bench drivers. Also, most leagues (including mine), do not require your lineup to be set until minutes before the race starts. My picks will change after practice and qualifying for most races. If you need bench drivers, you can use my picks from the Driver Group Game.
* Be sure to check back Saturday night for my starting lineup.
Good Luck Sunday!
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