The Cup Series, Xfinity Series and the Truck Series will all continue their playoffs at Talladega Superspeedway this weekend. This is the race that the teams have feared the most. The crew chiefs can bring the perfect setup to the track, but that does not matter much when the race comes down to being at the right place at the right time. We are going to need a lot of luck with our picks this week. Hopefully we can get it at Talladega.
TALLADEGA SCHEDULE
Racing on the Superspeedways means there is no practice for any of the three series this weekend. The Truck Series will qualify Friday afternoon and then race Friday night. The Xfinity Series will qualify Saturday morning and then race Saturday afternoon. The Cup Series will qualify Saturday afternoon and race Sunday afternoon.
Here is the schedule for the races at Talladega this weekend…
RACE RECAP AT TALLADEGA
The race at Talladega in April was not very exciting until the final 10 laps. The race turned into a fuel mileage race, just like most of the Superspeedways have become. Michael McDowell won the pole (he has won the pole in four of the five Superspeedway races and started second in the other). McDowell led the most laps but was caught up in a crash and finished 31st. The Team Penske drivers worked well together and dominated most of the race. Austin Cindric led 16 laps, won Stage 1 and finished 2nd in Stage 2. Joey Logano led 22 laps and won Stage 2. There was a big wreck on the final lap and Tyler Reddick was able to make his way through the mess to beat Brad Keselowski to finish line and win the race.
The best drivers in the spring race at Talladega included Austin Cindric, Joey Logano, Michael McDowell, Tyler Reddick, Chase Elliott, William Byron, Todd Gilliland, Alex Bowman and Noah Gragson
Stage 1 Results: 1. Austin Cindric, 2. Chase Elliott, 3. William Byron, 4. Ryan Blaney, 5. Kyle Busch, 6. Harrison Burton, 7. Christopher Bell, 8. Brad Keselowski, 9. Tyler Reddick, 10. Alex Bowman
Stage 2 Results: 1. Joey Logano, 2. Austin Cindric, 3. Kyle Larson, 4. Austin Dillon, 5. Ross Chastain, 6. Tyler Reddick, 7. Chris Buescher, 8. Chase Elliott, 9. Ryan Preece, 10. Ty Gibbs
Click here for highlights of the last race at Talladega: Talladega Spring Race Rewind
FANTASY STATS FOR TALLADEGA
The races at Talladega are not easy to predict. There have been five races at Talladega in the Gen-7 car and we have had five different winners in Victory Lane (Tyler Reddick, Ryan Blaney, Kyle Busch, Chase Elliott and Ross Chastain). I would not be surprised if we had another new winner Sunday.
The best way to find the safest picks for our Fantasy NASCAR lineups this weekend is to look at the stats from the last three races at Talladega and combine it with the stats from the five races on the Superspeedways this year. Those races include the Daytona 500, Coke Zero 400, the two races at Atlanta and the race at Talladega in April. The drivers who have the best driver ranking in these races, should be the best drivers for our lineups Sunday.
Here are the stats from the last three races at Talladega and the Superspeedway track races in 2024, sorted by Driver Ranking…
EARLY WEEK PICKS FOR TALLADEGA
ONE & DONE PICK: MICHAEL MCDOWELL
DRIVER GROUP GAME PICKS: RYAN BLANEY, WILLIAM BYRON, AUSTIN CINDRIC, JOEY LOGANO, ALEX BOWMAN, MICHAEL MCDOWELL, TODD GILLILAND, NOAH GRAGSON
FANTASY LIVE PICKS: RYAN BLANEY, AUSTIN CINDRIC, JOEY LOGANO, WILLIAM BYRON, CHASE ELLIOTT, GARAGE: KYLE BUSCH
* I will update these picks this weekend.
Follow me on X (Twitter) @MrFantasyNASCAR
If you like Fantasy NASCAR, LIKE my Fantasy NASCAR Tips Page on Facebook