Talladega Geico 500 Fantasy NASCAR Top Tier Elite Picks

Jimmie Johnson – Since the Generation 6 car rolled out Jimmie Johnson has arguably been the best driver at restrictor plate tracks. It’s important to note that doesn’t always mean he’s finished the best. His apparent strength on this track type is that his car is able to maintain speed better than others while running the low line. Last fall at Talladega Jimmie Johnson likely had the best car but due to some late restart bad decisions he ended up finishing 24th. Also in that event it should be noted he started 2nd, earned the 2nd best driver rating, had a 4th place average running position and led a race high 84 laps. If it wasn’t for Kyle Larson’s late spin and the cautions at the end he was a lock for a good result. In spring 2014 he was a consistent front runner. In that race he earned the 5th best driver rating but finished 23rd. With 14 laps to go he spun and caused a big wreck. At the time of that incident he was running right around 10th. For about the first half of the event he ran roughly 80% percent of the laps inside the top five. In 2013 at Talladega he was good in both races. In fall 2013 Johnson had the best car in the field. He led the most laps, tied Earnhardt Jr. for the best average running position and finished 13th. That result can be chalked up to poor decision making at the end. In the race his car was extremely strong and when it came time to lead a line of cars on the bottom groove nobody was better. In May 2013 at Talladega his car was exceptionally strong. I thought it was the best looking car on the track despite Kenseth dominating much of the race. When he wanted to get around Kenseth he had no problem accomplishing the task. When the checkered flag waved he finished 5th, had a 4th place average running position and earned the 2nd best driver rating. In his career at Talladega he has two victories with his most recent being in 2011. If your fantasy league rewards bonus points for leading laps take note that Johnson has led in the last 10 Talladega races. Recently at Daytona Johnson has been extremely strong. In four of the last five races he’s finished in the top five. This spring at Daytona he started in 2nd, led 39 laps and finished 5th. Last summer at that venue he was caught up in an early wreck and walked away with a 42nd place result. In the three races prior to that he had finishes of 1st, 1st and 5th. (Yahoo A Driver)

Get the ifantasyrace advantage and read all of our full exclusive content. Join Now!

Kevin Harvick – Kevin Harvick is an elite drafting talent and he should perform well in the Talladega Geico 500. In recent races at this venue he’s been a consistent performer. In four of the last five races he’s finished between 7th and 12th. His one result out of that range was when he was collected in a “Big One” in spring 2013. Last fall at Talladega he ran well. He started in 39th but that wasn’t a problem for him. Whenever he wanted to get to the front he had no trouble doing so. At the end of the race he got as high as third but Joey Logano became a “Moving Chicane” which broke his momentum and caused him to fade back to 9th. Also in the event it should be noted he earned the 7th best driver rating and had a 14th place average running position. In spring 2014 at Talladega he had a successful afternoon and performed well. In the race he started 8th, had a 9th place average running position, finished 7th, and led 15 laps. Over the final 70 laps he was a driver who consistently ran in the top five. In the closing laps he was very strong but lost a number of positions late. Of the final 21 laps he led 15 of them. In October 2013 Harvick raced near the back for much of the event until he started marching forward in the last third. In the race he started 33rd, had a 27th place average running position and finished 12th. In May 2013 on lap #43 he was wrecked when Kyle Busch bump drafted Kahne. In fall 2012 he was going to finish in the top five but he was a victim of the “Big One” on the final lap. Because of his running position he still finished a respectable 11th. In his career at Talladega he has 1 win and has finished in the top ten 43% percent of the time. (Yahoo A Driver)

Further Recommended Reading – Front Runner Rankings, Mid Pack Predictions, Talladega Scouting Report, Who will win at Talladega

Brad Keselowski – Brad Keselowski will be a good fantasy NASCAR pick to win at Talladega. He’s a restrictor plate track ace and he’s especially strong at this venue. At Talladega he’s a three-time champion and has finished in the top ten 58% percent of the time. Last fall he had a clutch performance en route to victory lane advancing to the next round of the playoffs. In the event he started 5th, earned the best driver rating, had a 10th place average running position and led 12 laps. In spring 2014 he was also fast but his race wasn’t incident free. On lap 14 he was trying to force his way into the lead passing Danica Patrick but it resulted in him spinning in front of the field. During his spin he didn’t have contact with any other cars but he did cut his radiator water line which resulted in him sitting on pit road several laps while his team replaced the lines. Then on lap 137 while he was several laps down and running in 43rd he got loose towards the front of the pack and wrecked which resulted in the “Big One”. Speed wise in the race his car looked phenomenal. In fall 2013 Keselowski had a long race. On lap 45 he got penalized for speeding on pit road. Shortly after that on lap 62 he went a lap down under green while running by himself. The race had few cautions and as a result he never got his lap back. When the checkered flag waved he finished 29th. In spring 2013 Keselowski finished 15th. In that race he earned the 11th best driver rating and had a 16th place average running position. In the three prior Talladega races he had finishes of 7th, 1st, and 4th. In April 2009 in his first start at this venue he went to victory lane and sent Carl Edwards flying into the catch fence. At Daytona this year his car was very strong but his engine couldn’t go the distance. (Yahoo A Driver)

Make sure you read the full spectrum of our Talladega Geico 500 Fantasy NASCAR Rankings

Top Tier Elite Picks > Front Runners Rankings > Mid Pack Predictions > Yahoo C List Preview