Phoenix Fantasy NASCAR Top Tier Elite Picks

Joey Logano
Phoenix Fantasy Outlook – At Phoenix, Joey Logano will without a doubt be a factor. Logano raced his way to victory lane last fall, he’s been a dominator in the desert in recent races, and in 2022 at shorter-flat tracks he was arguably the premiere performer having won twice, having the best Total Speed Ranking and having a 4.0 average finish minus misleading results at Richmond #1 and New Hampshire. On Sunday, look for Logano to be a top five contender who’ll be a factor to win. Back in January, Joey Logano took part in the Phoenix test. Take note, a new rules package is debuting this weekend and there will be an extended practice session on Friday. 
Phoenix Track History – Joey Logano is an elite-performer at Phoenix. He’s a three-time winner and since 2019, Logano has a series best 5.6 average finish, a series best 5.7 average running position, he’s averaged leading the most laps per race (76.5) and his driver rating is the best by a healthy margin. Last fall en route to the title, Logano was stout and with his “wingman” Ryan Blaney, he had the field covered. In the race, Logano won the pole, won Stage #1, finished 2nd in Stage #2, had a 1.9 average running position, led 187 laps and earned the best driver rating by a wide margin. In terms of Total Speed Rankings, Logano was tied for being the fastest. Last spring, Logano had a solid showing. In the race he finished 9th in Stage #1, 10th in Stage #2, had an 8.5 average running position and then finished 8th when the checkered flag waved. In terms of Total Speed Rankings, Logano ranked 8th. In fall 2021, Logano raced like he was in “Early Vacation Mode” and finished 11th. In the three races prior to that, Logano had results of 2nd, 3rd and 1st.

Kyle Larson
Phoenix Fantasy Outlook – At Phoenix, don’t look for Larson to be a disappointment in the desert. Larson’s a recent winner (fall 2021) and in 7 of the last 8 Phoenix races he’s finished in the top 9. He would be a perfect 8 for 8, but his engine had an early demise last spring. In 2022 at shorter-flat tracks minus Phoenix #1, Larson had a 10.8 average finish and an 8.8 average running position. In terms of Total Speed Rankings over the combined events, Larson ranked 6th. At Phoenix, look for Larson to finish in the top ten and compete for a top five.
Phoenix Track History – Kyle Larson has been elite at Phoenix and since fall 2018 minus last spring, Larson has a 4.9 average finish and he’s had a result in the top 9 every race. Last fall, Larson had a solid showing. In the race he started 4th, finished 4th in Stage #1, 8th in Stage #2, had a 6.3 average running position and then finished 9th when the checkered flag waved. In terms of Total Speed Rankings, Larson ranked 7th and his speed over the segments were 2nd, 9th, 9th and then 9th. Last spring, Larson was a top five contender but finished an asterisk mark 34th. In the race, Larson finished 7th in Stage #1, 5th in Stage #2, but on lap 236 his engine started going south. Just 20 laps prior to his problem he was running in 5th. In fall 2021 en route to capturing the title, Larson finished 5th in Stage #1, won Stage #2, led a race high 107 laps and had the 3rd best Total Speed Ranking. I’ll note, if there wasn’t a late caution which propelled him from 4th to the lead, there’s no chance he was going to win. In spring 2021, Larson started in the back, got caught speeding during the competition caution (lap 30, left pit road in 9th) but then he rallied to finish 9th in Stage #1. Then in Stage #2, Larson climbed up to 2nd, but was then caught speeding during green flag pit stops around lap 144. Then in the final Stage, Larson climbed as high as 4th. When the checkered flag waved, he finished 7th. In terms of speed analytics, Larson was the fastest driver late in a run and had the 4th best Total Speed Ranking. In his four races prior to that, Larson had results of 4th, 4th, 6th and 3rd.

Kevin Harvick
Phoenix Fantasy Outlook – At Phoenix, Kevin Harvick is the best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be. He’s a 9-time winner in the desert and he now has 19-straight top tens, which is an all-time NASCAR record for any track on the circuit. Last year at shorter-flat tracks, Harvick was one of the best and for the season minus Gateway where he crashed, Harvick had a 3.8 average finish and a 6.6 average running position. In terms of Total Speed Rankings over the combined events, Harvick ranked #2. Harvick hasn’t been as dominant as he once was here, but there’s no question he’s primed to be a top five contender.
Phoenix Track History – Kevin Harvick is a legend at Phoenix. He’s a 9-time winner and the last time he failed to finish in the top ten was spring 2013, so he’s literally vying for a perfect decade in the desert. Over the last five races at Phoenix, Harvick is 5 for 5 at finishing between 5th to 8th, has a 6.4 average finish, a 7.1 average running position and his driver rating is the 4th best. Last fall, Harvick had a strong showing and ran well throughout the race. In the event he finished 8th in Stage #1, 5th in Stage #2, had a 6.3 average running position and then finished 5th when the checkered flag waved. In terms of speed stats, Harvick ranked 5th for Total Speed Rankings and 8th for speed late in a run. Last spring, Harvick was strong. In the race he started 16th, finished 8th in Stage #1, 3rd in Stage #2, had a 5.5 average running position and then finished 6th when the checkered flag waved. I’ll note, with 10 laps to go he was running in 3rd, but late mayhem dropped him back a few positions. In terms of speed analytics, Harvick was tied for the 4th best Total Speed Ranking and ranked 7th for speed late in a run. In the three Phoenix races prior to that, Harvick had results of 8th, 6th and 7th.

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