NASCAR Fantasy Fusion: Federated Auto Parts 400 Salute to First Responders

 

This second NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race will present lots of opportunities for the Playoff drivers, many of whom are stellar here. I don't see much of a chance for a spoiler, but crazier things have happened this year.

 

This Week's Pick Strategy: Think JGR and veteran drivers who can take an ill-handling car and wrestle it into Victory Lane. Richmond Raceway is one of those tracks that challenge crew chiefs especially when you need to dial in the car. The slightest adjustment can be very good... or very bad. Nighttime racing just adds a little something extra to think about and pretty much takes Spring race performance out of the mix. Look for elites drivers who race well here consistently.

Drivers with Most Top 10s (Last 5 Years):

By Race

Kyle Busch- 5
All with 4 - Brad Keselowski, Kevin Harvick, Kyle Larson, and Martin Truex Jr.

All with 3 - Chase Elliott, Denny Hamlin, and Joey Logano,

By Track
Both with 8 - Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch
All with 7 - Brad Keselowski, Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano, and Martin Truex Jr.

Kyle Larson -5

Note: Includes nine races. Spring 2020 was not held.

Source: NASCAR.com

 

Last Year's Race Winner: Brad Keselowski

 

My No-Brainer Pick: Kyle Busch

My Final Four: Kyle Busch, Kurt Busch, Ryan Newman, and Ross Chastain.
 

Points to Ponder:

• Joe Gibbs Racing’s Kyle Busch leads all active drivers in wins at Richmond with six victories (spring 2009, spring 2010, spring 2011, spring 2012, 2018 sweep). 
• Kyle Busch also leads all active drivers in runner-up finishes with seven, and in Top 5s with 18, followed by Kevin Harvick (15) and Denny Hamlin (14). Busch also leads all active drivers in average finishing position at Richmond Raceway with a 6.8.
• Kevin Harvick leads all active drivers in Top 10s at Richmond with 26, followed by Kyle Busch (24), Ryan Newman (20), Denny Hamlin (18), and Kurt Busch (15).
• Joe Gibbs Racing leads the NASCAR Cup Series in victories at Richmond Raceway with 16, followed by Petty Enterprises with 15 wins. 
• Denny Hamlin leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in laps led at Richmond Raceway with 1,911 laps led in 29 starts.

Remember, if you're playing Driver Group Game, make your picks by 7:30 p.m. ET this evening Sept. 11th. Enjoy the race!

Carol D'Agostino has been playing Fantasy NASCAR for 15 years. She launched NASCAR Fantasy Fusion for Skirts & Scuffs in October 2011. Each week, Carol pores through statistics and combs through her personal notebooks to arm fans with analysis and picking strategies that will leave their friends wondering how they got so smart. Carol also does race coverage for Skirts & Scuffs at Richmond Raceway and occasionally at her home track, Dover International Speedway. She is also part of the distinguished NASCAR Expert Picks panel at frcs.pro. formerly called Fantasy Racing Cheat Sheet.

When she isn’t wielding her fantasy-racing superpowers, you’ll find Carol hammering out a news release or creating a marketing strategy at a small niche public relations firm she founded called Purple Cat, or executing downtown revitalization projects for a small town on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.