It is throwback weekend for NASCAR at Darlington Raceway. This is one of my favorite races, not only because the Lady in Black puts on a pretty good show, but because I like seeing the old paint schemes. It should be another good race this week. The Goodyear 400 can be seen Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET on FS1.
William Byron was my pick at Kansas. He came into the race with eight consecutive top-10 finishes and I wanted to use him before he cooled off. Byron ran most of the first Stage in the top-two, but then his car got too loose. They worked to tighten the No. 24 car up and Byron was able to rebound for a 9th-place finish. That extends his streak to 9 consecutive top-10 finishes.
My One & Done Pick for Darlington: Erik Jones
Erik Jones looked horrible at Kansas so I do not feel as confident about this pick as I did last week. Jones has been an absolute beast at Darlington. He has 6 starts at the “Track Too Tough to Tame” in the Cup Series. Jones finished 4th, 5th, 8th, 1st, 8th and 5th in those races. That is a 5th-place average finishing position. The switch from Joe Gibbs Racing to Richard Petty Motorsports should slow him down a bit, but Jones was able to finish in the top-5 at Darlington in a Furniture Row car. He should be able to finish in the top-15 on Mother’s Day.
Denny Hamlin will be my pick in games that allow us to use drivers more than once. NASCAR switched the rules for Darlington this year. The Cup Series used the 550 HP aero package last year, but it will use the 750 HP aero package with tapered spacer this week. That is right in Hamlin’s wheelhouse. Not only did he win at Darlington last year, he also finished 2nd, 3rd and 3rd in the three races using the 750 HP aero package this year. He is also averaging 162 laps led in those races. Hamlin’s winless streak should end Sunday.
Good luck this week!
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