Martinsville Fantasy NASCAR Top Tier Elite Picks

Denny Hamlin
Martinsville Fantasy Spin – Denny Hamlin is one of the premiere performers at Martinsville and on Sunday, there’s no question he’ll be a factor. Hamlin’s a 5-time winner and in 51% of his starts he’s finished in the top 5. Currently in the Next Gen, Hamlin has back-to-back top fives. On Sunday, look for Hamlin to go all out for the win since that’s what it will probably take to propel him into the “Final Four.”
Martinsville Track History – Denny Hamlin is a super-elite performer at Martinsville. Hamlin’s had quite a few recent misleading results, but outside of “Night Races”, you could argue he’s been the best “Performance Wise.” Since fall 2018 minus the two-night races and fall 2021 where he was spun late while leading, Hamlin has a 5.0 average finish and a 4.9 average running position. This spring, Hamlin had a hot rod and finished 4th, which isn’t “Fools Gold” like some of the other top finishers. In the race, Hamlin finished 8th in Stage #1, 3rd in Stage #2, had a 5.6 average running position, led 36 laps and was the race leader on lap 282, which is a great reference point before “Wildness” started to ensue over the last 100 laps. Additionally in the race, Hamlin had the best Total Speed Ranking, was the Fastest Driver Late In A Run and ranked 2nd for Green Flag Speed. Last fall, Hamlin had a stellar showing, but pit stops took him out of contention in the final Stage. In the race, Hamlin won Stage #1, won Stage #2, led 203 laps, had a 3.9 average running position and then finished 5th. In terms of speed analytics, Hamlin had the best Total Speed Ranking and ranked as the Fastest Driver Late In A Run. In spring 2022, the #11 was junk in the Next Gen’s Martinsville debut and Hamlin finished 28th. In the race, Hamlin got lapped in Stage #1, had a 25.2 average running position and his Total Speed Ranking was the 24th best. In fall 2021, Hamlin started in the rear of the field and nearly raced his way to victory lane until he got spun out at the end while leading which led to his 24th. Also in the race, Hamlin led 103 laps and finished 5th in Stage #2. In terms of speed analytics, Hamlin had the 6th best Total Speed Ranking but take note over the last three segments he had speed rankings of 5th, 3rd and 1st. In spring 2021, Hamlin led 276 laps but was outraced right at the end and finished 3rd.

Brad Keselowski
Martinsville Fantasy Spin – At Martinsville, put Brad Keselowski high on your radar. Keselowski’s a 2-time winner and in 12 of the last 17 races, he’s finished in the top five. In fall Martinsville races, Keselowski’s been “Mr. October” with 7-straight top fives and a 3.1 average finish going back to fall 2016 (I don’t count his DQ from last fall). Keselowski has flirted with victory lane on numerous occasions in 2023 and on Sunday, I think there’s a great chance he might just find it.
Martinsville Track History – Martinsville ranks among Brad Keselowski’s best tracks. He’s a two-time winner and since 2016 (15 races), Keselowski has 11 top fives and only three results outside the top ten. This spring, Keselowski finished 24th, but I wouldn’t read into that result and “Performance Wise” I think he was a top five contender. In the race, Keselowski finished 5th in Stage #2, led 7 laps and was running in 5th on lap 282 before he was burned by a caution on lap 301 which dropped him back to about 20th. With that issue with a quarter of the race remaining, many of his stats are highly skewed but he looked good prior to his problem and then struggled back in traffic like most. Last fall, Keselowski had a great race and finished 4th, despite his afternoon not being incident free. I’ll NOTE, IN THE RESULTS COLUMN YOU’LL SEE AN UGLY DQ 36th, but I’m viewing him as the 4th place finisher. In the race, Keselowski finished 6th in Stage #1, 7th in Stage #2 but then right at the start of the final Stage while battling for 8th, Chastain spun him. Keselowski battled back and was legitimately up to 7th before the late caution came out. Additionally, Keselowski had a 7.4 average running position, the 7th best Total Speed Ranking and ranked 7th for speed late in a run. Last spring, Keselowski finished just outside the top ten in Stage #1, but then he got penalized which dropped him to the back. After that, he simply never bounced back. In the race, Keselowski finished 17th, had a 17.3 average running position and had the 17th best Total Speed Ranking. In the five fall Martinsville races prior to that, Keselowski had results of 3rd, 4th, 3rd, 5th, 4th and 2nd.

Joey Logano
Martinsville Fantasy Spin – Joey Logano is always a force to be reckoned with at Martinsville and on Sunday, look for him to be a factor. Logano’s a former winner (2018), he’s finished runner-up in 2 of the last 3 races and currently he has a series best 8 straight Martinsville top tens. Logano has nothing to lose, so look for him to dial up the intensity this weekend. On Sunday, look for Logano to be a top five contender.
Martinsville Track History – Joey Logano has been a fantasy ace at Martinsville, and in recent races, he ranks among the best. Logano’s finished runner-up in 2 of the last 3, and over the last eight races, Logano has a series best 5.3 average finish, the 2nd best average running position (8.4) and the 4th best driver rating. In the Next Gen specifically at “The Paper Clip”, Logano has a series best 3.7 average finish. This spring, Logano finished runner-up, but he looked really bad for most of the race until he got track position at the end. In the race, Logano started in the rear of the field (water leak), had a 21st place average running position and had the 23rd best Total Speed Ranking. I would say his average running position is pretty reflective of his performance until he got positioned near the front. Last fall, the #22 team was looking ahead to the Phoenix finale, but Logano still finished 6th. Additionally, Logano had a 9.8 average running position and the 9th best Total Speed Ranking. In spring 2022, Logano had a great race, and got better as the race progressed. In the event he started 14th, finished 8th in Stage #1, 3rd in Stage #2 and then 2nd when the checkered flag waved. Additionally, Logano had a 4.8 average running position, the 2nd best Total Speed Ranking and ranked 2nd for speed late in a run. In fall 2021, Logano was a little off from his normal self and just finished 10th. In the four races prior to that, Logano had results of 6th, 3rd, 4th and 8th.

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