Atlanta Folds Of Honor QuikTrip 500 Fantasy NASCAR Top Tier Elite Picks

Joey Logano – Joey Logano will be a good fantasy NASCAR pick in the Atlanta Folds Of Honor QuikTrip 500. Last year at intermediate tracks he was a fantasy ace. In the two events when the 2016 rules package was used Logano had a 3.0 average finish, 4.0 average running position and earned the 3rd best driver rating. Since joining Penske Racing Logano has run well at Atlanta. Last year he had a great race. He started on the pole, earned the 2nd best driver rating, had a 4th place average running position, finished 4th and led 84 laps. In 2014 Logano also had one of the best cars. In the event he started in 14th, finished 14th, had a 6th place average running position and earned the 7th best driver rating. It’s important to note his 14th place finish is misleading because he had a car that was capable of finishing in the top 3 (Yahoo Race Chart). A key moment for him in the race which could’ve potentially won it for him was a mistake on pit road during green flag pit stops that were interrupted by a caution. He completed his pit stop and would’ve cycled into the lead except his crew failed to fill up his car with gas which meant he had to come in again during the next yellow which dropped him to 7th. Before that round of pit stops started he was running in 2nd. Then late in the race during the first Green-White-Checker restart he was running in 6th but got caught up in Kevin Harvick’s wreck which damaged his car and led to his mediocre result. In 2013 Joey Logano unquestionably had one of the fastest cars. In that event he earned the best driver rating, led the second most laps and finished 2nd. (Yahoo A Driver) (DraftKings – $10,400)

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Kevin Harvick – Kevin Harvick will be a favorite to win at Atlanta. Over the last four Atlanta races he’s arguably been the best performer. Over the last four Atlanta races Harvick has the best driver rating by a healthy margin, the best average running position (4.5), an 8.8 average finish and has led 412 laps. Last year at Atlanta he had a phenomenal car. He started in the rear of the field because of an engine change but that wasn’t a problem for him. He finished 2nd, had a 4th place average running position and led 116 laps. For much of the race he had the best car but when Jimmie Johnson got the #48 tuned to his liking Harvick really had nothing for him. In 2014 he was the driver to beat but his race wasn’t incident free. He started on the pole, earned the best driver rating, had a 2nd place average running position and led 195 laps. If it wasn’t for slow pit stops and bad restarts in the outside lane he could’ve led the entire event because his car was that strong. Unfortunately his race wasn’t incident free. During the first “Green-White-Checker” while he was running in 4th behind Paul Menard the #27 car had trouble getting up to speed on two tires and it led to Kevin Harvick getting bottled up and wrecking (finished 19th). In 2013 he ran well. He started in 30th, had an 8th place average running position and finished 9th. Also in that race he earned the 5th best driver rating. In 2012 Kevin Harvick arguably had the best car. He started in 24th and drove up to the lead on lap #135. In the race he led 101 laps, earned the 2nd best driver rating and had a 4th place average running position. He had a good chance to win but with about 100 laps to go he lost the lead off pit road and never appeared to be as strong. When the checkered flag waved he finished 5th. The only downside I see in picking Harvick is that the new rules package might be a performance “hiccup” for the 4 team. Last year when the 2016 rules package was utilized Harvick finished 5th (Darlington) and 8th (Kentucky). (Yahoo A Driver) (DraftKings – $10,500)

Further Recommended Reading – Atlanta Front Runner Rankings, Atlanta Mid Pack Predictions, Scouting Report Atlanta

Carl Edwards – Carl Edwards will be one of the drivers to beat at Atlanta. It’s a great track for him and is the site of his first Sprint Cup win. In his career at Atlanta Edwards has 3 wins, has finished in the top five 50% percent of the time and in the top ten 61% percent of the time. Carl Edwards loves this track and the high-tire wear / low grip level plays to his strength. I’ll also note that I think the new rules package will play to his favor. Last year in the races with this rules package he finished 4th at Kentucky and won at Darlington. In 2015 at Atlanta Carl Edwards had top five potential but finished 12th. That result is misleading and is largely the product of him making an unexpected pit stop under green for a flat tire with 53 laps to go. Prior to that issue he was running inside the top five but it dropped him off the lead lap back to 20th. Also in that race it should be noted Edwards started 5th, earned the 5th best driver rating and had a 7th place average running position. In 2014 he was competitive in the #99 car. He started 11th, had a 9th place average running position, earned the 8th best driver rating and finished 5th. It should be noted that if it wasn’t for the Green-White-Checker restarts he likely would’ve finished around 11th. In 2013 Edwards performed well for much of the event. He started in 2nd, led 68 laps and through the first 210 laps I would estimate his average running position was around 3rd. Then around lap 210 he started struggling significantly and did a free fall through the field. When the checkered flag waved he finished 18th. In 2012 Edwards had top ten potential but with 71 laps to go he had motor problems and as a result he finished 36th. His next two most recent Atlanta finishes were 2nd and 5th. (Yahoo B Driver) (DraftKings – $9,600)

Make sure you read the full spectrum of our 2016 Atlanta Folds Of Honor QuikTrip 500 Fantasy NASCAR Rankings

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