After a bizarre All-Star Race, NASCAR heads east to Charlotte for the Coca-Cola 600 Sunday.
Location
Charlotte Motor Speedway – Charlotte, NC
Track Length
1.5 miles
Track Type
Quad Oval
Last 10 Track Winners:
- Fall 2021: Kyle Larson
- Spring 2020: Brad Keselowski
- Spring 2019: Martin Truex Jr.
- Spring 2018: Kyle Busch
- Fall 2017: Martin Truex Jr.
- Spring 2017: Austin Dillon
- Fall 2016: Jimmie Johnson
- Spring 2016: Martin Truex Jr.
- Fall 2015: Joey Logano
- Spring 2015: Carl Edwards
Last 10 Track Winners by Model
- Toyota: 5
- Chevrolet: 3
- Ford: 2
Coca-Cola 600: Race Day Preview
Since Sunday night, I’ve been wondering how Ryan Blaney felt for those excruciating few minutes wherein he experienced:
- Joy at thinking he won $1 million
- Worry about being disqualified for not being able to get the mesh netting back on his window
- Anger/concern about having to race three more laps
- Actually winning the $1 million.
As far as the entirety of human emotion goes, that checks a high number of boxes.
Playing NASCAR DFS for the All-Star Race was a promising endeavor that did not end well for many people, thanks to the continuing tire issues. It turned into a race strictly about survival and not so much about strategy, though that makes sense given the tiny rule changes and little traps NASCAR set up for the exhibition. It will be nice to return to a regular track with regular rules for the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday.
Charlotte Motor Speedway continues our trip to intermediate tracks that drive fast and require a strategy to maintain track position while dealing with whatever new-and-improved tire issues arise. There are familiar faces on the Contenders list, while we focus on some under-the-radar options in the Accelerators this week.
I’ll be back Sunday morning to see whose value changed following Saturday’s qualifying races. Thoughts? Wondering how and why you should play NASCAR fantasy? Hit me up on Twitter at @thewonkypenguin.
Fantasy Drivers: The Contenders
Chase Elliott (#9 Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports)
Elliott has finished in the Top 5 all four times in the past four races with one win and a driver rating of 119.4. He continues to sit atop the Cup Standings, and if I’m going to pay up for one driver at the Coca-Cola 600, it’s him.
Ryan Blaney (#12 Ford, Team Penske)
The Million Dollar Man is still searching for his first Cup win. The good news is that Blaney loves racing in Charlotte (driver rating of 101.2) and has a high finish of 3 and a low finish of 13 here. While I remain aware of the hot hand fallacy, Blaney has driven well enough to have a win, and I think he will have a great showing on Sunday.
Kyle Busch (#18 Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing)
The Would’ve Been Million Dollar Man probably could have cruised to a victory in the All-Star Race had everything remained the same and all cars been able to finish. He’s become more consistent on restarts, and he has three Top 5 finishes in his last four races. He carries a driver rating of 103.4 at Charlotte and indeed looked like the best car in Texas last weekend.
William Byron (#24 Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports)
In his last five, Byron has had a run of disappointing finishes – 11, 16, 13, 22, 15. Charlotte is in his Top Five best tracks, though, with a 103.1 driver rating, and he has performed well at 1.5-mile tracks in his career. He has been one of the most consistent drivers of the year, and he and Ross Chastain remain the only drivers with two victories. Look for him to get back on pace on Sunday.
Fantasy Drivers: The Accelerators
Alex Bowman (#48 Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports)
I know – picking the guy currently No. 8 in the Cup Standings isn’t exactly the under-the-radar option I promised you above. However, if we remove his poor showing at Darlington, his last five finishes are 6 – 9 – 5 – 9 – 6. Bowman is quiet but effective and, more importantly, affordable, and with a 104.4 driver rating, I’m looking to roster him everywhere.
Tyler Reddick (#8 Chevrolet, Richard Childress Racing)
Reddick has a 91.6 rating in Charlotte, and he was supposed to be in the pole position for the All-Star Open until a violation sent him to the back of the field. Even then, he quickly climbed his way up before finishing 12th and missing the All-Star Race. When Reddick manages to finish a race, he typically provides Top 10-level points. He could be a solid play on Sunday.
Austin Dillon (#3 Chevrolet, Richard Childress Racing)
Dillon has been somewhat unlucky at Charlotte in the past. He has a respectable 90.3 driver rating here and has consistently performed well at intermediate tracks. If you’re looking for a driver currently being undervalued and underappreciated, Dillon might be your guy at the Coca-Cola 600.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr (#47 Chevrolet, JTG Daugherty Racing)
Now we’re digging in. Stenhouse is unpredictable and somewhat frightening to have in your lineups. You can’t be sure if he will make it to lap 50 or if he will end up surprising you with a huge scoreline. The No. 47 car had a three-race streak of Top 10 finishes and made its way into the All-Star Race. With a driver rating of 86 here, if you’re going to take a chance on him, the Coca-Cola 600 might be a great time.
Fantasy Drivers: The Brakes
Kyle Larson (#5 Chevrolet – Hendrick Motorsports)
“Why are you putting the brakes on a Top Ten driver?”
Since 2019, Larson has had one win and one DNF at Charlotte Motor Speedway. In his one win, he led 327 of 400 laps, and the other found him in 33rd place when all was said and done.
This all-or-nothing result represents how Larson has been racing in 2022. He also remains in the penthouse of salaries for DFS. I can understand a smattering of exposure to him for GPP lineups, but I don’t consider him a value at this point.