COTA Fantasy NASCAR Confidence Ranking Picks/ Post Practice Predictions
On Sunday, race #6 of the 2022 season will ensue and NASCAR will be racing at COTA (Circuit Of The Americas)! COTA is a 20 turn, 3.41 mile road course that is extremely technical. This track is a beast, and it’s also a fairly short race, going by lap count. The race format in terms of Stages is 15/30/68. Last year’s race at COTA was in monsoon conditions, this year, the chance of rain is zero! This race might as well be COTA’s real debut since it will be extremely different.
On Saturday, NASCAR practice was held. I’ll note, nobody ran more than 7 laps, so I wouldn’t hit the panic button about anything. Practice was also held at 10AM, and the green flag time for tomorrow is set for 3:49 PM and at that point, the Texas heat will have set in. The track will likely be a lot slicker under those race conditions. Check out our COTA Practice Notes and Practice Speeds.
Here’s the STARTING LINEUP/ Qualifying Results for COTA.
COTA Full Field Fantasy Rankings
1) Tyler Reddick / Start 4th / Projected Finish Range 1-6 / Dominator Potential – Medium
COTA Fantasy Spin – Tyler Reddick shows up with speed every week, and at COTA, he’ll be tough to beat. Reddick ran well last year in COTA’s debut, and the last time we seen Reddick at a road course in 2021 he finished runner-up (Charlotte Roval). To close out 2021 on this track type, Reddick finished in the top ten in 3 of the last 4 races. Last year at COTA, Reddick was strong. In the race, Reddick started on the pole, finished 3rd in Stage #2, was in 5th on lap 40 and spun, but then rallied back to finish 9th when the checkered flag waved. In practice, Reddick had the best 5 lap average and posted the 5th fastest lap overall.
DraftKings $8,400 / FanDuel $9,000 / DK Betting Odds To Win +3000 (Saturday)
Further Recommended Reading: COTA Projected Finish Ranges, DraftKings COTA Playability Value Chart, FanDuel COTA Playability Value Chart
2) Chase Elliott / Start 12th/ Projected Finish Range 1-6 / Dominator Potential – Medium
COTA Fantasy Spin – Chase Elliott is the undisputed road course king, and at COTA, don’t count him out despite a less than impressive Saturday. Elliott’s the defending COTA champion, and in recent season’s he’s dominated the competition on this track type. At road courses, Elliott’s a 7-time winner and since 2018 minus Sonoma 2019 (engine blew up while running in the top five), Daytona RC 2021 (walking away with the win until the rain caution came out) and last year’s race at the Charlotte Roval (Harvick wrecked him), Elliott has a 2.1 average finish and he’s had a result in the top 6 every race. In 2021 on this track type over his five incident free races (minus Daytona RC and Charlotte Roval), Elliott won twice, had a 2.0 average finish and had a result in the top 4 every race. Over the combined 2021 road course races, Elliott had the best Total Speed Ranking. Last year at COTA, Elliott finished 2nd in Stage #2, was the fastest driver late in a run, led 5 laps and then finished 1st when the checkered flag waved. In practice, Elliott ranked 30th on the speed chart and wasn’t happy with his handling (said it was darty), but I wouldn’t hit the panic button since nobody ran more than 7 laps. Look for Elliott to get better and better throughout the race.
DraftKings $10,500 / FanDuel $14,000 / DK Betting Odds To Win +250
3) Kyle Busch / Start 15th / Projected Finish Range 1-6 / Dominator Potential – Medium
COTA Fantasy Spin – Kyle Busch is one of the best road course racers in NASCAR, and at COTA, look for him to be a contender. Busch had a great debut at COTA last year, and at non-Roval road courses he’s long been one of the premiere performers. Last year at COTA, Busch had a strong showing. In the race, Busch finished 9th in Stage #1, won Stage #2, had a 6.8 average running position, led 12 laps and ranked as the 6th fastest driver late in a run. I’ll note, Busch had to pit for fuel in the closing laps and was in 3rd on lap 50, which was three laps before the race was called in the rain. At non-Roval road course races since 2015 (14 races), Kyle Busch ranks #1 in the series in terms of average finish (5.1), average running position (8.0), best driver rating, most top fives (9) and most top tens (13). Last year on this track type minus Daytona RC and Indy RC, Busch had a 5.2 average finish and his Total Speed Ranking over all the combined races was the 3rd best. In practice, Kyle Busch ranked #1 on the speed charts overall on Saturday. In the Truck series at COTA on Saturday, Busch dominated until late race mayhem ensued.
DraftKings $10,200 / FanDuel $12,500 / DK Betting Odds To Win +1000
