Richmond Fantasy NASCAR Top Tier Elite Picks

Martin Truex Jr.
Richmond Fantasy Spin – Martin Truex Jr. is a super-elite performer at Richmond and on Sunday, there’s no question he’ll be a favorite. Over the last nine Richmond races, Truex has 3 wins, a 3.9 average finish, a 5.2 average running position, the best driver rating by a wide margin and he’s averaged leading 86.9 laps per race. This spring, Truex likely would’ve notched his 4th Richmond win if a late caution didn’t come out, so the #19 team will have a little bit of a redemption arc this weekend. This year at shorter-flat tracks, Truex has been strong. Truex just thoroughly dominated the competition at New Hampshire en route to victory lane and over the last three races on this sub-track type, Truex has the best Total Speed Ranking, the best driver rating, the best average running position (6.2) and a 5.7 average finish.
Richmond Track History – Martin Truex Jr. is one of the premiere performers at Richmond and in recent races, nobody’s been better. This spring, the #19 was stout and if a late caution didn’t come out which had Truex at a tire disadvantage, I think he likely would’ve won (He put on scuffs, everyone else had new tires). In the race, Truex finished 4th in Stage #2, led 56 laps, had a 6.7 average running position and had the 4th best Total Speed Ranking. Before the final green flag pit cycle started this spring, Truex was the leader. Last summer, Truex had an off-race by his standards but was still solid. In the race, Truex finished 10th in Stage #1, about 14th in Stage #2, had a 10.1 average running position and then finished 7th. In terms of Total Speed Rankings, Truex ranked 11th, but take note over the final 100 laps he ranked as the 3rd fastest driver on the track. In spring 2022, I think Truex had the best car, but victory lane eluded him because of pit strategy from others. In the race, Truex finished 4th in Stage #1, won Stage #2, led 80 laps, had a race best 3.9 average running position, had the best driver rating and had the 2nd best Total Speed Ranking. In the six Richmond races prior to that, Truex had results of 1st, 5th, 2nd, 1st, 1st and 3rd.

Denny Hamlin
Richmond Fantasy Spin – Denny Hamlin is a super-elite performer at Richmond and on Sunday, there’s no question he’ll be a factor. At his “Home Track”, Hamlin’s a 4-time winner and in 12 of the last 15 races he’s finished in the top 6. At Richmond over the last five races minus this spring where he had one of the best cars but didn’t have an incident free race, Hamlin has a 2.3 average finish. This year at shorter-flat tracks, Hamlin has been elite having the 2nd best Total Speed Ranking and the best average running position (6.3) over the combined events. In his two incident free races, Hamlin has results of 2nd (Gateway) and 7th (New Hampshire). On Sunday, look for Hamlin to finish in the top five and compete for the win.
Richmond Track History – Denny Hamlin has thrived at Richmond, and he’s consistently performed at a super-elite level. This spring, Hamlin arguably had the best car but finished an asterisk mark 20th. In the race, Hamlin was first caught speeding in Stage #1 during the competition caution while running in 10th. That didn’t really hold Hamlin back and he sliced and diced his way up thru the field and won Stage #2. Then in the final Stage, Hamlin had a slow pit stop while leading during a green flag pit cycle which dropped him from 1st to 12th on lap 296, and then during a late caution, Hamlin got his 2nd speeding penalty of the day which was a death blow in the results column. Despite that laundry list of problems, Hamlin led 71 laps, was the 2nd fastest driver late in a run and had the 7th best Total Speed Ranking. Last summer, Hamlin finished 2nd in Stage #1, 3rd in Stage #2, had a 3.8 average running position, led 22 laps and then finished 4th. In terms of speed stats, Hamlin ranked #1 for Total Speed Rankings and Speed Late In A Run. In spring 2022, Hamlin had a great car and raced his way to victory lane. I’ll note, it was a “fresh tire at the end pit strategy victory.” In the race, Hamlin only led 5 laps, had an 8.2 average running position and because of his pit strategy, his speed analytics are completely skewed (14th best Total Speed Ranking). In 2021, Hamlin was the class of the field. He didn’t reach victory lane but he went 2 for 2 at finishing 2nd, leading 197 laps in one race and 207 in the other.

Kevin Harvick
Richmond Fantasy Spin – Kevin Harvick is the defending summer champ at Richmond and on Sunday, put Harvick on your short list of favorites. At “The Action Track”, Harvick’s a four-time winner and in 14 of the last 17 races he’s finished in the top 8. When it comes to racing at shorter-flat tracks, Kevin Harvick is one of the premiere performers and since 2022 on this track type minus Gateway 2022 where he crashed, Harvick has a 5.1 average finish. This year at shorter-flat tracks, Harvick has the 4th best Total Speed Ranking, the 4th best Driver Rating and a 6.0 average finish.
Richmond Track History – At Richmond, Kevin Harvick has been elite and since 2018 minus spring 2021 where he crashed late while running in 6th, Harvick has a series best 4.7 average finish. In the Next Gen specifically at Richmond, Harvick has a series best 2.7 average finish. This spring at Richmond, the #4 was strong. In the race, Harvick finished 4th in Stage #1, 9th in Stage #2, had an 8.3 average running position and then finished 5th when the checkered flag waved. In terms of speed stats, Harvick had the 6th best Total Speed Ranking and ranked 6th for Green Flag Speed. Last year, nobody was better than Harvick in the results column at Richmond and he swept the top 2. Last August, the #4 was at its best when the trophy was on the line, and Harvick raced his way to victory lane. In the race, Harvick finished 4th in Stage #2, led 55 laps, ranked as the 2nd fastest driver late in a run and had the 3rd best Total Speed Ranking. Last spring, Harvick had a great car and finished runner-up. In the race, the #4 was fast and in terms of speed stats, Harvick had the best Total Speed Ranking and ranked 6th for speed late in a run. Over the last 100 laps, the #4 was the fastest car on the track. In fall 2021, Harvick finished 8th and then in the spring, Harvick crashed on lap 382 while running in 6th. In the five Richmond races prior to that, Harvick had results of 7th, 7th, 4th, 2nd and 5th.

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