Welcome to our new series looking at Fantasy NASCAR each week! We’ll be doing previews on Wednesdays and fantasy focus specials on each Race Day. As always, if you want to get involved in season-long racing competitions, Fantrax has you covered like no other site available.
For now, let’s jump right in with a look at this weekend’s competition, the Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube!
Penzoil 400 Fantasy Preview
Track Info
Location: Las Vegas Motor Speedway – Las Vegas, Nevada
Track Length: 1.5 miles
Track Type: Tri-Oval, 20-degree bank
Last 10 Winners
- Fall 2021: Denny Hamlin
- Spring 2021: Kyle Larson
- Fall 2020: Kurt Busch
- Spring 2020: Joey Logano
- Fall 2019: Martin Truex, Jr.
- Spring 2019: Joey Logano
- Fall 2018: Brad Keselowski
- Spring: 2018: Kevin Harvick
- 2017: Martin Truex, Jr.
- 2016: Brad Keselowski
Last 10 Wins by Model
Ford: 5
Toyota: 3
Chevrolet: 2
Fantasy NASCAR Raceday Preview
Two official races down in the fantasy NASCAR season and we head to Las Vegas for the first of the intermediate oval tracks. Since this type of track is the most common on the schedule, Sunday’s race should serve as a measurement of where everyone stands and a preview of where they may be going. Fantasy players should pay close attention to who shines and who struggles for future lineup building.
In terms of which model has the advantage, Las Vegas has recently proved itself to be an equalizer. Last year, Kyle Larson cruised his Chevrolet to the finish line for his first of 10 victories en route to his Cup Series title. The year before, Kurt Busch took home the title in the fall race driving his Chevrolet.
Prior to that, however, Vegas saw quite a parity of victors. Going back to 2006 encompassing the past 20 races, Chevrolet took home seven titles; Ford topped them by winning eight; and five times, it was a Toyota doing the burnout in Sin City. (Indeed, Denny Hamlin was the last to win in September of last year.)
Here is an overview of drivers I will be looking to roster in DFS and season-long formats this weekend. I’ll be back Sunday morning with a look at potential value based on positional movement following Saturday’s qualifying races.
Thoughts? Opinions? Wondering how and why you should play NASCAR fantasy? Hit me up on Twitter @thewonkypenguin.
NASCAR Fantasy Drivers: The Contenders
Kyle Larson
It is hard to argue against Larson in any race at this point. In 36 races last year, he finished in the top ten 26 times. In his last five Las Vegas races, he has one win and four top 10 finishes. A year ago at this track, he led 103 laps and he just seems to always look comfortable on 1.5-mile ovals. He also currently sits atop the board as the favorite to win the event. Even with the new car restrictions, it seems the Hendrick Motorsports star hasn’t missed a beat. Fantasy lineups shouldn’t either.
Denny Hamlin
The last driver to win here, Hamlin sports similar stats to Larson when it comes to the desert track. In fact, the Toyota driver boasts a higher rating (108.2 to 106.3) and the highest percentage of laps led (19.21) among the top contenders. Though Hamlin’s career did not start off with shiny stats in Vegas, recent trends suggest he will be a source of points for fantasy managers this weekend.
Joey Logano
Logano can look at the first two guys on the list and smile at their recent success while reminding them he has two titles in his last six races here. His rating is also the highest on the list at 109.2. Logano’s average finish here is 7.50, and he lands in the Top 10 around 65 percent of the time. The odds have him second highest, but he is my personal favorite this weekend. My exposure will be high.
Brad Keselowski
Of The Contenders, Keselowski has the highest average finish at Las Vegas Motor Speedway at 5.67. Of his last six races here, he has finished in the Top 10 five times including coming in second one year ago. The three-time winner of this oval has had two very different races to begin the 2022 season. He finished ninth at Daytona after leading 67 laps but struggled last week in California ending in a disappointing 27th. While he is not favored to win here, he is a solid addition to fantasy lineups with the potential to land himself the checkered flag.
Chase Elliott
Elliott finished second to Denny Hamlin at the most recent race here. He was also running strong last week before Kyle Larson blocked him, causing him to crash and end in 26th place. His average finish in Vegas sounds like a more pedestrian 12.67, but his rating remains very high at 107.1. Another Hendrick Motorsports driver should have plenty of motivation to top his teammate and is poised for a high showing this weekend.
NASCAR Fantasy Drivers: The Accelerators
Kyle Busch
Busch’s average finish at this track is 8.17 and as long as his car keeps running, he is a threat to take home the win. He is typically a solid lineup addition and, depending on his qualifying position, can be a value as well.
Martin Truex, Jr.
Truex, Jr.’s average finish in the last six races is second highest at 7.1. He has five Top 10 finishes in this same span and took home the victory once. The Toyotas will definitely be in play on Sunday and can certainly be daunting if they find themselves grouped together.
Ryan Blaney
Blaney also averages a Top 10 finish in Vegas, carries an impressive 101.7 rating, and has a strong record at tracks of this length. I don’t expect that he will end up doing burnouts at the finish line, but he produces solid results to round out a fantasy lineup.
Kurt Busch
The older Busch brother lands in this category after a very strong showing last week in California and one win in the previous six races. He has turned his hometown oval into a strength in recent years and Sunday could mark an excellent opportunity to put another checkered flag in his trophy case.
Tyler Reddick
NASCAR made a statement last week that they would be investigating the rash of flat tire issues the new car has experienced in the first few weeks of the season. Reddick looks forward to any improvement given that he was absolutely cruising last week until a flat tire took him out of the race with 43 laps to go. He has one Top 10 finish at this track and without a strong history, he could come at a discount to serve as a solid lineup builder on Sunday.
NASCAR Fantasy Drivers: The Brakes
Due to a combination of inexperience, low percentage of Top 10 finishes at this track, and what each driver will cost to roster, I will be putting the brakes on and fading the following five drivers:
William Byron
Christopher Bell
Bubba Wallace
Alex Bowman
Cole Custer
Again, thanks for swinging by our new NASCAR series! My inbox ([email protected]) and Twitter DM @thewonkypenguin are always open for sports talk. And, as always, good luck!