Charlotte Coca Cola 600 Fantasy NASCAR Top Tier Elite Picks

Denny Hamlin
Charlotte Fantasy Outlook – Denny Hamlin, the 2022 Coca Cola 600 champion will be a favorite on Sunday. Hamlin’s always fast at this high-speed 1.5-mile track and since 2020 #2 minus last year where he was a top five contender but crashed, his average finish is 3.3. This year at high-speed 1.5’s, Hamlin’s been elite, having the best Track Type Total Speed Ranking and if it wasn’t for late cautions in the last two races on this sub-track type, Hamlin could easily have back-to-back wins (Texas and Kansas). Going back to 2023 at high-speed 1.5’s, Hamlin has the 2nd best Total Speed Ranking.
Charlotte Track History – Denny Hamlin has been elite at Charlotte. Hamlin raced his way to victory lane in 2022 and over his last three incident free races, Hamlin has two results in the top 2 and a 3.3 average finish. Last year, Hamlin was a top five contender but finished an asterisk mark 35th after Chase Elliott when kamikaze on him shortly after a restart. In the race, Hamlin started 4th, led 20 laps, finished 6th in Stage #1 but then on lap 185 while battling Chase Elliott for 6th, the #9 took him out. In 2022, Hamlin had a strong showing and raced his way to victory lane. I wouldn’t make a case he had the best car, but he hung around all night and at the end was in position to take advantage of the situation. In the race, Hamlin started on the pole, led 15 laps, finished 10th in Stage #1, was involved in a “Big One” in Stage #2 while running near 10th, finished 10th in Stage #3 and was running in 4th on lap 391 before mass mayhem late ensued. In the race, Hamlin had a 7.1 average running position, the 7th best Total Speed Ranking and ranked 7th for Speed Late In A Run. In the two races prior to that, Hamlin had results of 7th (2021) and 2nd (2020 #2).

Kyle Larson
Charlotte Fantasy Outlook – Kyle Larson is the premiere performer at high-speed 1.5’s and at Charlotte, the road to victory lane likely goes thru him despite his 1,100 marathon that awaits him. In 2024 at high-speed 1.5’s, Larson’s won 2 of the 3 races and could easily be 3 for 3 at racing his way to victory lane if he didn’t lose a tire while leading at Texas. Also, in 2024 on this track type, Larson has the best Driver Rating by a wide margin, has the best average running position (6.8) and he’s averaged leading 107 laps per race. Going back to 2023 at high-speed 1.5’s, Larson ranks #1 in Total Speed Rankings.
Charlotte Track History – Kyle Larson has been an elite performer at Charlotte. Larson put on a display of domination in 2021 and over his last four incident free races his average finish is 6.7. Last summer, the #5 was fast and Larson was a factor, but he finished an asterisk mark 30th. The #5 team did some extensive tuning up over the course of the race due to no practice but when it was closing time, Larson was near the front. In the race, Larson finished 6th in Stage #3 but then on lap 374 while running in 3rd, the #5 snapped loose and Larson crashed dooming him to his 30th. In terms of Total Speed Rankings, Larson ranked 8th. In 2022, Larson had what he called the worst race of his life, but he likely would’ve reached victory lane if Chase Briscoe didn’t do a failed “Hail Mary” at the end which brought out a caution in which late wildness ensued. In the race, Larson started in the back due to unapproved adjustments, got a pit penalty on lap 33, got another pit penalty around lap 61, spun on lap 166 while running around 10th but then he rebounded after that. In Stage #3 he finished 3rd and then in the final Stage, Larson led 50 laps and was the leader at the 600-mile point, but he was swept up in late carnage in over-time. When the checkered flag waved, Larson finished 9th. In terms of Total Speed Rankings he ranked 13th but take note his speed over the segments were 21st, 20th, 5th and then 2nd. In 2021, Larson won the opening three Stages, led 327 laps, had a 1.3 average running position and was just .5 shy of having a perfect driver rating. Also in the race, Larson had the best Total Speed Ranking, was the Fastest Driver Late In A Run and had the 2nd best Green Flag Speed.

Chase Elliott
Charlotte Fantasy Outlook – At Charlotte, Chase Elliott will be a contender. Elliott won at Texas, just finished 3rd at Kansas and over the combined races held at high-speed 1.5-mile tracks this year, Elliott has a series best 5.3 average finish, the 5th best Driver Rating and his Track Type Total speed Ranking ranks 6th. At Charlotte, Chase Elliott has back-to-back clunker results in the 30’s but in the four prior to that he had 1-win and had a 2.25 average finish.
Charlotte Track History – Chase Elliott has been stout at Charlotte and don’t let his back-to-back misleading results in the 30’s scare you away. Last spring, Chase Elliott looked sporty, but he finished an asterisk mark 34th. In the race, Elliott led 6 laps but then in Stage #2 while battling for 6th, he went into kamikaze mode on Hamlin after the #11 damaged his car after hard racing following a restart. In 2022, I wouldn’t argue with anybody who said Elliott had the best car. In the race, Elliott won Stage #1, led 86 laps but then in Stage #2 on lap 186 while doing a slide job on Suarez for 2nd he got into the wall which damaged the #9 and he didn’t beat the damaged vehicle clock which marked the end of his race leading to his 33rd. In terms of speed stats, Elliott had the best Total Speed Ranking and the best Green Flag Speed. Over the four races prior to that, Elliott had results of 2nd, 1st, 2nd and 4th.

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