The most popular game in fantasy racing may be the Yahoo Fantasy Auto Racing game. It is the game I have been playing the longest and the one I enjoy predicting the most.
Last week my picks we OK, but not great. It could have been a lot worse. I am not going to stress over the results of a restrictor-plate race. This week the race is more predictable and I am expecting better results.
Here are my picks for Atlanta…
GROUP A
Kevin Harvick (9): The No. 4 car should score many bonus points for leading laps and I expect him to win the race. The fastest way around Atlanta is at the bottom of the track. There is only one driver who can run his left-side tires below the yellow line. That driver is Harvick. There is a reason why he has led the most laps in the last two races at Atlanta. He should be a great pick for Sunday.
Group A Rankings: 1) Kevin Harvick, 2) Brad Keselowski, 3) Kyle Busch, 4) Joey Logano, 5) Jimmie Johnson, 6) Martin Truex Jr., 7) Matt Kenseth, 8) Dale Earnhardt Jr., 9) Denny Hamlin
GROUP B
Kurt Busch (9): The No. 42 team will have some momentum after winning the Daytona 500. This is statically the best track for Busch. He has the second-most wins at this track (3) behind Jimmie Johnson’s five wins. He looked decent in practice and should finish in the top 10 Sunday.
Chase Elliott (9): I have been telling people during the offseason that Elliott would win his first race at his home track at Atlanta. After watching him in practice and in qualifying, I think my prediction may be right on. Everyone knows that Hendrick Motorsports runs well at this track, but most will be looking at Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. as the favorites from the organization. Do not be surprised to see Elliott steal the show this week.
Group B Rankings: 1) Chase Elliott, 2) Kurt Busch, 3) Ryan Newman, 4) Kyle Larson, 5) Jamie McMurray, 6) Kasey Kahne, 7) Austin Dillon, 8) Clint Bowyer, 9) AJ Allmendinger, 10) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., 11) Ryan Blaney, 12) Aric Almirola, 13) Paul Menard, 14) Trevor Bayne, 15) Danica Patrick, 16) Chris Buescher
GROUP C
Ty Dillon (9): Dillon has competed in two Cup Series races at this track and Erik Jones and Daniel Suarez have never competed in the premier series at this track. For this reason I will give Dillon a shot this week and save Jones and Suarez for tracks they have more experience at.
Group C Rankings: 1) Ty Dillon, 2) Daniel Suarez, 3) Erik Jones, 4) Michael McDowell, 5) Landon Cassill, 6) David Ragan… do not even think about the rest.
Good luck this week!
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