New Hampshire Fantasy NASCAR Top Tier Elite Picks

Christopher Bell
New Hampshire Fantasy Spin – Christopher Bell, the defending New Hampshire champ is a shorter-flat track master who’ll be tough to beat. Bell came up clutch last year at “The Magic Mile” when the trophy was on the line, and there’s no denying his shorter-flat track prowess. This year at shorter-flat tracks over the combined events, Bell has the 5th best Total Speed Ranking and a 7.0 average finish. Going further back on this track type over the last eight races (since Richmond spring 2022), Bell has a series best 6.1 average finish. At New Hampshire, look for Bell to be a top five contender who’ll be a factor to win.
New Hampshire Track History – Christopher Bell has performed at a super-elite level at New Hampshire and currently has back-to-back top 2 finishes. Last year, Bell smoked the field when it was closing time and raced his way to victory lane. In the race, Bell finished 6th in Stage #1, 9th in Stage #2, had a 6.8 average running position and led 42 laps, which I’ll note were the final 42. In terms of speed stats, Bell had the 6th best Total Speed Ranking and ranked as the fastest driver late in a run. In 2021, Bell had a great performance and finished 2nd. In the race, Bell had a 6.6 average running position, had the 6th best Total Speed Ranking and was the 6th Fastest Driver Late In A Run. At the end, Bell fielded the 2nd fastest car in the final segment and was chasing down Aric Almirola for the win. If the race went the advertised distance, he might’ve just been able to pull it off. In 2020, Bell looked good but his race wasn’t incident free. In the race, Bell started 35th, finished 4th in Stage #1, but then in Stage #2 on lap 172 while running in 6th he had a tire go down which brought out a caution. That wasn’t Bell’s last problem. On lap 247 while he was in the high-teens he had another tire go down. No caution came out, and that dropped him two laps down dooming him to a 28th place finish. Just prior to having that final problem, Bell told his team his car was really good. In the Xfinity series at New Hampshire, Bell’s been unbeatable and is 3 for 3 at reaching victory lane.

Denny Hamlin
New Hampshire Fantasy Spin – Denny Hamlin is a shorter-flat track master who’ll be tough to beat at New Hampshire. My long running Denny Hamlin fantasy mantra is, “If its short or flat, pick Hamlin.” That principle definitely applies at New Hampshire where he’s performed at a super-elite level. This year at shorter-flat tracks, Hamlin has been fast and over the combined events, Hamlin’s Speed Ranking is the 3rd best. At Gateway last month, his one incident free race at a shorter-flat track this year, Hamlin finished 2nd and had the 3rd best Total Speed Ranking.
New Hampshire Track History – New Hampshire ranks among Denny Hamlin’s best tracks. Hamlin’s a three-time winner who’s finished in the top six 44.8% of the time, and the top ten 62% of the time. Over the last four races at “The Magic Mile”, Hamlin has two runner-up’s and a 5.0 average finish. Last year, Hamlin had a solid showing and finished 6th. I’ll note, the #11 team had multiple pit stops that were egregiously slow, so he was put back in traffic quite frequently just about every time he advanced over a run. In addition to finishing 6th, Hamlin had a 12.3 average running position, the 10th best Total Speed Ranking and then ranked 5th for speed late in a run. In 2021, Hamlin finished 7th in Stage #1, 4th in Stage #2 and then 10th when the checkered flag waved. I’ll note, Hamlin’s race wasn’t incident free. During the Stage #2 caution (finished 4th), Hamlin had to pit twice for a lugnut problem which dropped him to the back. In terms of speed analytics, Hamlin was the 4th Fastest Driver Late In A Run and his Total Speed Ranking was the 5th best. In the two races prior to that, Hamlin had back-to-back 2nds (led 92 laps and led 113 in the other).

Kyle Larson
New Hampshire Fantasy Spin – At New Hampshire, look for Kyle Larson to be a factor. This year at shorter-flat tracks, nobody has been better than Larson. Larson won at Richmond, finished 4th at Phoenix (really 2nd place good) and was junk at Gateway for much of the race, but still snuck in a 3rd via pit strategy. You can also add in his North Wilkesboro display of domination into the mix if you want. Over the combined points races at shorter-flat tracks this year, Larson has a 3.0 average finish, a 6.6 average running position, the 4th best Total Speed Ranking and he’s averaged leading 99.7 laps per race.
New Hampshire Track History – Kyle Larson has been strong at New Hampshire and since 2017 minus 2019, his average finish is 7.4. Last year, Larson showed speed but wasn’t at his best at the end and finished 14th. In the race, Larson finished 3rd in Stage #1, 5th in Stage #2, had a 7.1 average running position and had the 7th best Total Speed Ranking. Take note, Larson’s speed over the segments were 3rd, 3rd, 6th and then 19th. I’m pretty certain his issue is that he took two tires just like Truex and Harvick did during the final caution which hurt him. In 2021, Larson finished 10th in Stage #1, 7th in Stage #2, had an 8.1 average running position and then finished 7th when the checkered flag waved. Additionally, Larson was the 7th Fastest Driver Late In A Run and had the 8th best Total Speed Ranking.

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