NASCAR Fantasy Fusion: Richmond

 

SVG did not disappoint last weekend at Watkins Glen. He spanked the field once again, and is breaking all kinds of records including becoming the first NASCAR Cup Series rookie to earn four wins in a season and the first driver to earn four road-course victories in the same season. Impressive indeed.

As we roll into Richmond, the Action Track is bound to be kind to veteran drivers as well as desperadoes needing to earn a win to get into the Playoffs. If you're a veteran driver who also needs a win - even better. Think Kyle Busch and Brad Keselowski. It should be an awesome race under the lights. I am covering race weekend trackside at Richmond so check back back for stories and social media posts.

This Week's Pick Strategy: This week's tire combination is the same one used earlier this season at Bowman Gray, Martinsville, and North Wilkesboro. The right-side tire is identical to the "option" tire from last year's race, while the left-side tire is a new, softer compound than what was used last year.

For that reason, I'll be relying on those tried-and-true tire management masters who also happen to be short-track elites. I'll go heavy on Joe Gibbs Racing drivers and those drivers who are in must-win situations that also race well at Richmond.

 

Active Drivers with Most Top 10s 

2022-2024 (6 Races)

Both with 5 - Denny Hamlin and Christopher Bell
Both with 4 - Kyle Larson and Joey Logano

All with 3 - Chase Elliott, Chris Buescher, Brad Keselowski, Kyle Busch, and Austin Dillon

Active Drivers with Most Top 5s 
Denny Hamlin-5
Kyle Larson- 3

All with 2- Christopher Bell, Joey Logano, Chase Elliott, Chris Buescher, and Ross Chastain

Last Year's Pole Winner: Denny Hamlin

 

Last Year's Race Winner: Austin Dillon

 

The Likely Suspects: My Richmond Raceway elites include Denny Hamlin, Christopher Bell, Joey Logano, Kyle Busch, Chase Elliott, Chris Buescher, and Austin Dillon

 

My 2 Cents:  My no-brainer pick this week is Denny Hamlin. My next picks are Christopher Bell, Joey Logano, Bubba Wallace, Josh Berry, and Brad Keselowski. I'll complete my team with Austin Dillon and Kyle Busch.

My Fabulous 5 (Drivers most likely to finish in the top 5):
Denny Hamlin, Christopher Bell, Chris Buescher, Kyle Busch, and Joey Logano.

NASCAR Fantasy Live Line-up: 

Denny Hamlin, Christopher Bell, Bubba Wallace, Austin Dillon, and Kyle Busch.

        Featured Match-ups: Hamlin over Larson, Bell over Byron, Berry over Buescher, and Logano            over Elliott.

 

Second-Look Driver: This week's second-look driver is Josh Berry. Richmond Raceway is reminiscent of the short tracks where Josh spent many Saturday nights racing. His short-track prowess and tire management acumen make Josh a great sleeper pick. He has earned one Top 5 and one Top 10 at Richmond with an average finish of 9.00, and a driver rating of 88.2, the ninth-best among active drivers. Keep an eye on that No. 21 Wood Brothers car Saturday night.

Points to Ponder:

• Denny Hamlin leads all active NASCAR Cup Series pole winners at Richmond Raceway with four poles (2006, 2008, 2016, 2024).
• The first starting position is the most proficient starting position in the NASCAR Cup Series field, producing more winners than any other starting position at Richmond Raceway with 24 victories (17.65%).
• Joe Gibbs Racing leads the NASCAR Cup Series in victories at Richmond Raceway with 19, followed by Hendrick Motorsports with 12.
• Kyle Busch leads all active drivers in wins at Richmond with six victories (spring 2009, spring 2010, spring 2011, spring 2012, 2018 sweep), leads in runner-up finishes with seven, in Top 5s with 20, and in Top 10s at Richmond with 28.
• Christopher Bell (nine series starts) leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series in average finishing position at Richmond Raceway with a 7.333. 
• Denny Hamlin leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in laps led at Richmond Raceway with 2,367 laps led in 36 starts.

Remember, if you're playing NASCAR Fantasy Live, make your final picks by 7:25 p.m. EST on Saturday, August 16. Don't forget to select your bonus match-ups.

 

Enjoy the race!

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Carol D'Agostino has been playing Fantasy NASCAR for 18 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.