Texas Duck Commander 500 Fantasy NASCAR Top Tier Elite Picks

Jimmie Johnson – Jimmie Johnson is a good fantasy NASCAR pick at Texas. In 5 of the last 7 races he’s been to victory lane. Currently he’s in a three race win streak in the Lone Star state. Over the last three races in addition to winning every race, he has the best driver rating, a 3.3 average running position and has led 325 laps. Last fall Johnson had a great car but its important to note if there wasn’t a late caution which regrouped the field he was likely about 5th place good. In the event Johnson was on Keseloweski’s heels late and then with 4 laps to go he pulled off the pass for the win. Also in that race Johnson earned the 2nd best driver rating and had a 5th place average running position. Last spring Johnson had a great car and raced his way to victory lane. In the race it should be noted he earned the best driver rating, had a 3rd place average running position and led 128 laps. Nobody really had anything for him speed wise that evening. In fall 2014 Jimmie Johnson had an awesome performance. He started 3rd, had a 2nd place average running position, earned the best driver rating and led 191 laps. In spring 2014 Johnson had a afternoon he would like to forget. In the race he qualified in 16th and on lap 12 Earnhardt Jr. went into the grass and kicked up debris which damaged the front of the 48. Then later in the race on lap 44 Johnson had a cut tire and had to make an unscheduled pit stop which dropped him three laps down. When that race reached its conclusion he finished 25th. In the four Texas races prior to that event Johnson had results of 1st, 1st, 2nd and 6th. This year at high-speed intermediate tracks Johnson has been strong. He’s scored the most points and has won 2 of the 3 races. In all 3 races he’s finished in the top five. (Yahoo A Driver / Draftkings $10,400)

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Kevin Harvick – Kevin Harvick will be a contender at Texas. It’s one of just two intermediate tracks where he’s winless. If it wasn’t for Jimmie Johnson winning the last three races here Harvick would likely be heralded as the best driver in recent races at this venue. Over the last three Texas races Harvick has the 2nd best driver rating, a 2.3 average finish, 4.0 average running position and has led 109 laps. Last fall Harvick had a strong showing. He started 2nd, led 11 laps and finished 3rd. His race wasn’t without adversity which makes his result more remarkable. On lap 36 while he was running in 2nd he had a flat tire that brought out the caution. He rebounded from that problem quickly and on lap 67 he was up to 8th. That wasn’t his last flat tire. He had another flat with 54 laps to go. Also late in the race he had transmission problems with his car jumping out of gear. Last spring he had a great car. He started 2nd, finished 2nd, had a 2nd place average running position, earned the 2nd best driver rating and led 96 laps. Outside of Jimmie Johnson he likely had the next best car. In fall 2014 at Texas Kevin Harvick looked extremely strong. In that event he ran up front all afternoon but was never a serious threat to Jeff Gordon or Jimmie Johnson. He started in 5th, had a 4th place average running position, earned the 2nd best driver rating, finished 2nd and led 2 laps. In spring 2014 at Texas he had a short race. He started in 3rd and on lap 28 while he was running in 2nd his engine blew up. In the 9 Texas races prior to that event he was extremely consistent and finished between 5th and 13th every race but one. This year at intermediate tracks Kevin Harvick has been fast. He’s scored the second most points and has a 5.0 average finish. Atlanta is the most similar track visited and at that venue he had the best car and led 131 laps. (Yahoo A Driver / Draftkings $10,500)

Further Recommended Reading – Front Runner Rankings, Mid Pack Predictions, Fantasy NASCAR Scouting Report – Texas, DraftKings Texas Fall 2015 Points

Kyle Busch – Kyle Busch is a fantasy NASCAR ace at Texas. In five of his last six Texas races he’s finished in the top five. Over his last six races dating back to fall 2012 he has a 4.7 average finish, 7.5 average running position and has led 264 laps. Currently at Texas he has a three race top 4 streak. Last fall Kyle Busch ran well throughout the afternoon and was a consistent front runner. He started 3rd, had a 5th place average running position, earned the 5th best driver rating and finished 4th. Except for dropping a few positions after the midpoint following pit stops about the lowest he ran was 6th. In spring 2015 he missed the race due to injury. In fall 2014 he also finished 4th. That result is misleading and is the product of pit strategy at the end. He ran nowhere near that well. His average running position was 18th. In spring 2014 his car was very quick and he overcame his 29th place starting position to finish 3rd. Also in the race he had an 8th place average running position, earned the 4th best driver rating and led 10 laps. In 2013 at Texas he was extremely good. In spring 2013 he made his 300th start and started on the pole, finished 1st, had a 2nd place average running position, led 171 laps and earned the best driver rating. This year at intermediate tracks Kyle Busch has ranked among the best. At the two 1.5 mile tracks visited this year he’s finished in the top five. (Yahoo A Driver / Draftkings $10,100)

Make sure you read the full spectrum of our 2016 Texas Duck Commander 500 Fantasy NASCAR Rankings

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