Charlotte Coca Cola 600 Fantasy NASCAR Front Runner Rankings
Austin Dillon
Charlotte Fantasy Spin – At Charlotte, look for Austin Dillon to finish around 10th. This year at high-speed 1.5-mile tracks, Dillon has results of 11th (Las Vegas) and 13th (Kansas). Going back to 2021 at tracks of this length minus Atlanta this spring, Dillon has a 10.8 average finish and he’s had a result in the top 14 every race. At Charlotte, Dillon has run well, so go ahead and pencil him in for a solid result.
Charlotte Track History – Austin Dillon has been solid at Charlotte. Dillon snuck in a win in 2017, and over the last three races he has a 9.7 average finish and an 8.2 average running position. Last year, Dillon consistently ran in the top ten. In the race, Dillon finished 5th in Stage #1, 10th in Stage #2, 8th in Stage #3 and then finished 6th when the checkered flag waved. Additionally, Dillon had a 7.9 average running position and ranked 5th for Green Flag Speed, Speed Late In A Run and Total Speed Rankings. In 2020, Dillon was solid in both races. In race #2 2020, Dillon finished 7th in Stage #1, 7th in Stage #2, had an 8.2 average running position and finished 8th when the checkered flag waved. In the 2020 Coca Cola 600, Dillon finished 14th but he ran better than his result. In the race he finished 7th in Stage #1, 8th in Stage #2, 8th in Stage #3 had an 8.6 average running position and was running in 9th with two laps to go when the final caution came out.
Kevin Harvick
Charlotte Fantasy Spin – Kevin Harvick has been strong at Charlotte, but this year at high-speed 1.5-mile tracks he hasn’t exactly been great. In 2022 at these venues, Harvick has results of 12th (Las Vegas) and 15th (Kansas), and his combined Total Speed Ranking is the 14th best. In 5 of the last 8 races heading into the weekend, Harvick has had a result between 9th to 15th. On Sunday, I’m going to view Harvick as about a 10th place performer.
Charlotte Track History – Kevin Harvick is a three-time winner at Charlotte who’s been a top ten machine. Since 2013, Harvick only has two results outside the top ten, and both of those were asterisk mark finishes. Over the last four Charlotte races, Harvick has a 9.0 average finish, an 8.9 average running position and in three of those races he’s finished 10th. Last year, Harvick ran in the top ten throughout the race. In the event he finished 4th in Stage #1, 6th in Stage #2, 10th in Stage #3 and then 10th when the checkered flag waved. Additionally, Harvick had a 7th place average running position, the 8th best Total Speed Ranking and the 8th best Green Flag Speed. In 2020 #2, Harvick was strong, but late in the race he had to save gas/wasn’t at his best and over the last long run he dropped back from the lead to 10th. In the race, Harvick led 63 laps, finished 4th in Stage #1 and 5th in Stage #2. In the 2020 Coca Cola 600, Harvick was OK, but by no means was he 5th place good like his result. In the race, Harvick had a 14.1 average running position, the 17th best Total Speed Ranking and was running in 14th when the final caution came out with 2 laps to go. He pitted at that time and benefitted from the “Wildness” of the restart.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
Charlotte Fantasy Spin – Ricky Stenhouse Jr. is a mid-tier driver who you don’t want to overlook at Kansas. Stenhouse has three straight top tens heading into the weekend, and this year, high-speed 1.5-mile tracks have been a strength with him being a top ten contender at both. Just last race at Kansas, Stenhouse came home 8th. At Las Vegas, the other 1.5 high-speed intermediate visited he was poised to walk away with a top ten until he got a speeding penalty during the late caution. Between those combined events, Stenhouse has the 16th best Total Speed Ranking. On Sunday, I think he’s a risky low double-digit to mid-teens driver.
Charlotte Track History – Ricky Stenhouse Jr. has a knack for finishing well at Charlotte. Since 2017, Stenhouse has a 12.0 average finish, a 14.5 average running position and in 6 of the 7 races he’s finished in the top 15. Last year, Stenhouse was respectable. In the race he finished 12th, had a 12.2 average running position and had the 14th best Total Speed Ranking. In 2020 Race #2, Stenhouse was stellar. In the race he started 24th, but finished 4th legitimately. Additionally, Stenhouse had the 6th best Total Speed Ranking and an 11.3 average running position. That strong performance was shocking because he was a dud in the Coca Cola 600. In the 2020 Coca Cola 600, Stenhouse finished 24th and had a 22.9 average running position. In 2019, Stenhouse finished 5th, had a 10.6 average running position and his driver rating ranked as the 9th best. In 2018, Stenhouse finished 10th, had a 14th place average running position and earned the 14th best driver rating. In fall 2017, Stenhouse had a solid performance and finished 13th.
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