Las Vegas Fantasy NASCAR Top Tier Elite Picks

Kyle Larson
Las Vegas Fantasy Spin – Kyle Larson is a super-elite performer at Las Vegas who’ll be tough to beat. Larson had the race all but won this spring before a late caution came out, and Las Vegas has long been a stellar venue for him. Since 2017 minus last fall where he was torpedoed by Wallace while battling for 5th, Larson has 1-win and a 5.1 average finish. This year at high-speed intermediates, Larson has been a standout performer. Larson has the 2nd best Total Speed Ranking and minus asterisk mark results at Texas and Charlotte his average finish is 2.7. At Texas the most recent high-speed 1.5-mile visited, Larson had the race all but won until late cautions broke out.
Las Vegas Track History – Kyle Larson has thrived at Las Vegas. Larson’s a recent winner (spring 2021) and since 2017 minus last fall, Larson has a 5.1 average finish. In 6 of his 11 races over that stretch, Larson’s come home with a top 3 finish. This spring, Larson had the race all but won until the late caution came out with 4 laps to go which cost him certain victory. In the race, Larson finished 2nd in the two opening Stages, led 63 laps, had a 2.2 average running position and ranked 2nd for Total Speed Rankings and Green Flag Speed. Last fall, Larson was fast but finished an asterisk mark 35th. In the race, Larson finished 5th in Stage #1 but then early in Stage #2 while battling for 5th he had his run-in with Wallace which led to him getting torpedoed which destroyed the #5. In terms of Total Speed Rankings, Larson ranked 5th. Last spring, Larson had a strong showing and finished runner-up. In the race, Larson finished 6th in Stage #1, 3rd in Stage #2 and led 27 laps. I’ll note, Larson’s runner-up didn’t come easy. During the lap 30 competition caution while he was in 5th he pitted twice because of a vibration, and then in the last Stage while he was running around 5th, he got a speeding penalty (caution came out shortly after that which really saved him). With 4 to go, Larson battled back up to 9th, and then during the caution which brought out overtime, Larson used pit strategy which got him the lead off of pit road. In terms of Total Speed Rankings, Larson ranked 5th. In 2021, Larson finished 10th in the fall (led 95 laps) and raced his way to victory lane in the spring (led 103 laps).

Denny Hamlin
Las Vegas Fantasy Spin – Denny Hamlin has been the premiere performer at high-speed 1.5-mile tracks in 2023 and at Las Vegas, look for the road to victory lane to likely go thru him. This year at high-speed 1.5’s, Hamlin has the best Total Speed Ranking, 1-win and minus misleading results at Las Vegas #1 and Charlotte his average finish for the season is 2.7. In the Playoffs at these venues, Hamlin has the best Total Speed Ranking and “Performance Wise” he likely would’ve won Kansas if a late caution didn’t come out (2nd) and at Texas he finished 5th (likely 3rd best car).
Las Vegas Track History – In the Next Gen at Las Vegas, Denny Hamlin has been one of the best. If you’re just looking at the results column though, you wouldn’t know it since he’s had a misleading finish in 2 of the 3. I’ll note, in 4 of the last 6 he’s finished in the top 5 and over that stretch minus spring 2022 his average finish is 4.8. This spring, Hamlin finished 5th in Stage #1, 8th in Stage #2, had a 6.2 average running position but then finished an asterisk mark 11th. The late caution hurt Hamlin and with 4 laps prior to it coming out in which he slid back, Hamlin was running in 3rd. In terms of speed stats, Hamlin ranked 5th for Green Flag Speed, 5th for Speed Late In A Run and then 6th for Total Speed Rankings. Last fall, Hamlin started way back in 31st but that wasn’t a problem. In the race, Hamlin finished about mid-teens in Stage #1, 5th in Stage #2 and then 5th when the checkered flag waved. Over the final two segments of the race, Hamlin ranked 5th in terms of speed. In spring 2022 by his own words, Hamlin had the best car but finished an asterisk mark 32nd after having drive train problems in the final Stage. In the race, Hamlin finished 4th in Stage #1, 9th in Stage #2, led 31 laps and had the best Total Speed Ranking. I’ll note, Hamlin radioed his team that he felt like his power steering was broken around lap 72 (6th), had a slow pit stop around lap 135 while running in 2nd and was running around 6th shortly before his demise in the final Stage. Over the three races prior to that, Hamlin had results of 1st, 4th and 3rd.

William Byron
Las Vegas Fantasy Spin – At Las Vegas, look for the spring winner, William Byron to be tough to beat. Byron’s fresh off a win at Texas and for the season at high-speed 1.5’s minus Kansas #2, Byron has 2-wins, a 1.8 average finish, he’s had a result in the top 3 every race and he’s averaged leading 70.8 laps per race. For the season across all five high-speed 1.5’s visited, Byron ranks 3rd in terms of Total speed Rankings. On Sunday, look for Byron to be a top five contender who’ll be a factor to win.
Las Vegas Track History – At Las Vegas, William Byron has been fast, but he has quite a few misleading results in recent races on his resume. This spring at Las Vegas, Byron had a stellar showing. In the race, Byron won Stage #1, won Stage #2, had a 1.7 average running position, led 176 laps, earned the best driver rating and of course raced his way to victory lane. I’ll note, Byron did need the assist of the late caution to reach victory lane because with 4 to go he was running in 2nd. In terms of speed stats, Byron ranked #1 for Total Speed Rankings, Green Flag Speed and Speed Late In A Run. Last fall, Byron looked great but finished 13th. In the race, Byron finished 10th in Stage #1, 6th in Stage #2 and had a 7.7 average running position. With 32 to go he was running in 5th, but then during a caution shortly after that he got shuffled back in the field and then even pitted when most of the other front runners didn’t which did him in. In terms of Total Speed Rankings, Byron ranked 10th. In spring 2022, Byron had one of the best cars. In the race, Byron started 14th, finished 2nd in Stage #1, 4th in Stage #2, had a 6.5 average running position, led 8 laps, had the 3rd best driver rating and then finished 5th.

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