The Cup Series will compete at Richmond Raceway this week. This track is similar in size and shape as Phoenix Raceway and NASCAR will once again use the new short track aero package. The drivers who ran up front at Phoenix should be good picks at Richmond. The Toyota Owners 400 can be seen Sunday at 3:30 pm ET on FS1.
I took a chance with Jordan Taylor in the road course race at COTA. You almost had to do it to save and start with your other drivers. Taylor was running 10th in one of the final restarts. Taylor was moved out of the way by Joey Logano and fell back through the field. Taylor finished 24th. I was hoping for a lot more from the No. 9 car. The other two picks performed well when Michael McDowell finished 12th and Tyler Reddick won the race.
ONE & DONE CONTESTS
This pick is for games where you can only use a driver once throughout the season.
JOSH BERRY will be my pick in games where you can only use a driver once. Hendrick Motorsports has the new short track aero package figured out. Berry started 17th and finished 10th at Phoenix. His No. 9 car should have speed again this week. I took a chance with the No. 9 car last week and I will do it again Sunday before Chase Elliott returns to the seat.
ONE & DONE (REGULAR SEASON/PLAYOFF GAMES)
This pick is for games where you are allowed to use a driver once in the regular season (the first 26 races) and then you can use them again in the playoffs, if your team advances in the playoffs. We only need 26 drivers in these games so we can be a bit more aggressive with our picks. Here are my picks for games that reset at the end of the regular season…
ALEX BOWMAN will be my pick in games where you can only use a driver once in the regular season. This pick is more about the car than the driver. Hendrick Motorsports has a clear advantage with the new aero package. Bowman proved he can run well at Richmond when he has a fast car. Bowman won the race at Richmond two years ago. He has also finished five of his six races in the top-10 this year (his seventh-place average finishing position is the best in the Cup Series). Practice and qualifying were rained out so Bowman will start on the pole Sunday. I am not sure we will get another chance with the No. 48 car from the pole, with the No. 1 pit stall, so I will take a chance with Bowman at Richmond.
ONE & DONE (USE A DRIVER MORE THAN ONCE)
I play in a game where I can use a driver three times throughout the season. I know some of you have told me you can use your drivers twice. We will only need 18 drivers in these games, so we do not need to dig too deep with our picks. Here is my pick in games where you can use a driver more than once….
KEVIN HARVICK will be my pick in games where you can use a driver more than once. Harvick finished second in this race last year and then he came back to Richmond in August and won the race. Harvick also had a great chance to win the race at Phoenix this year in the new aero package. Harvick started 15th, led 36 laps, scored 11 Stage Points, and finished fifth. He is the only driver who could make passes at the bottom of the track at Richmond last year. His “Harvicking” style of races makes the No. 4 car a serious threat to go to Victory Lane Sunday. This is a good race to use Happy Harvick.
Good luck Sunday!
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