Richmond Fantasy NASCAR Front Runner Rankings
Chris Buescher
Richmond Fantasy Spin – I don’t think Chris Buescher qualifies as a dark horse at Richmond after his 3rd place showing last summer, but make sure he’s on your radar! I don’t think lightning strikes twice, but I would view him as a low double-digit to mid-teens driver who might just sneak in a top ten. At Phoenix a few weeks ago, Buescher finished 15th and had the 13th best Total Speed Ranking.
Richmond Track History – Last year at Richmond, Chris Buescher set new all-time best Richmond results in both races. Last summer, the #17 was a hot rod and Buescher looked great. In the race, Buescher started 18th, finished 7th in Stage #2, had a 9.2 average running position and then finished 3rd when the checkered flag waved. In terms of speed stats, Buescher had the 5th best Total Speed Ranking and ranked 7th for speed late in a run. In spring 2022, Buescher had a solid mid-teen performance. In the race, Buescher finished 15th, had a 14.7 average running position and his Total Speed Ranking was the 13th best. In his three races prior to that which I wouldn’t read too much into, Buescher had results of 24th, 25th and 24th.
Aric Almirola
Richmond Fantasy Spin – Aric Almirola is always a dark horse fantasy pick whenever the series visits a shorter-flat track, and that will be no different at “The Action Track.” Racing on this sub-track type is a key strength of the #10 team, and since 2021 minus New Hampshire 2022 and Phoenix #1 2023, Almirola has a 10.4 average finish and a 12.0 average running position. At Phoenix a few weeks ago, Almirola looked at least mid-teens good until his afternoon went south (lost a wheel while running in 16th on lap 139. Started 31st).
Richmond Track History – Aric Almirola is a solid mid-tier performer at Richmond. In 4 of the last 5 races at “The Action Track” he’s finished between 6th to 14th. Over the last five races, Almirola has an 11.4 average finish and a 12.0 average running position. Last summer, Almirola started 32nd, finished 6th in Stage #2 and then finished 8th when the checkered flag waved. In terms of speed stats, Almirola ranked as the 4th fastest driver late in a run and had the 8th best Total Speed Ranking. Last spring in the Next Gen’s Richmond debut, Almirola simply didn’t run well and finished 21st. In the three Richmond races prior to that, Almirola had a 9.3 average finish with results of 14th, 6th and 8th.
Bubba Wallace
Richmond Fantasy Spin – Bubba Wallace has a really bad track record at Richmond, but don’t overlook him. Wallace looked respectable last summer en route to a 13th at Richmond, and a few weeks ago at Phoenix he finished 14th, had the 16th best Total Speed Ranking and a 16.6 average running position. On Sunday, I’m going to view him as a low double-digit to mid-teens driver.
Richmond Track History – Richmond has been a pretty brutal track to Bubba Wallace, but last summer he looked respectable and fantasy racing is largely about, “What have you done lately.” Last summer, Wallace finished 13th, had a 15.6 average running position and had the 15th best Total Speed Ranking. In spring 2022 before the #23 team started to run well, Wallace finished 26th, had a 24.4 average running position and had the 24th best Total Speed Ranking. I’ll note, Wallace did have to make an unexpected pit stop on lap 326 for a loose wheel during a round of green flag pit stops, but he was only running around the low 20’s before that so I can’t say it impacted him too much. In 2021 #2, Wallace was a mid to high-teens driver, but he walked away with an asterisk mark 32nd. On lap 250 while he was running around 17th, Wallace had a tire go down and got into the wall hard. In the two races prior to that, Wallace had back-to-back 26th’s.
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