Nashville Ally 400 Fantasy NASCAR Confidence Rankings / Post Practice Predictions

On Sunday, NASCAR will be returning to Nashville for the Ally 400. Nashville is a 1.33-concrete D-shaped oval which is unique. I view Nashville as somewhere in the middle between Dover and high-speed 1.5-mile tracks (Dover + High-Speed 1.5-Mile Track Total Speed Rankings).

On Saturday, NASCAR practice was held. Teams only had 20 minutes, and always keep in mind teams have different agenda’s (some want to focus on long runs, some just want to feel out their car, maybe some want to qualify near the front etc.). Make sure you check out our Nashville Practice Notes, Nashville 5,10,15,20 and 25 Lap Average Speed Cheat Sheet and Nashville Practice Speeds/ 10 Lap Averages. 

NEW this week, Nashville Practice Group A and B Speed Rankings! Don’t miss it!

Here’s Nashville Qualifying Results/ Starting Lineup.

Nashville Full Field Fantasy Rankings

1) Denny Hamlin
Start 1st / Projected Finish Range 1-6 / Dominator Potential – High
Nashville Outlook – At Nashville, look for polesitter Denny Hamlin to be a top five contender who’ll be a factor to win. Hamlin’s been a standout performer in “Music City” and in 2024 over the Dover + High-Speed 1.5-Mile Track Grouping, Hamlin has the best Total Speed Ranking and minus Texas where he likely would’ve won if there wasn’t a late caution, his average finish is 4.8. One race I’ll highlight from that grouping is Dover, where he led 136 laps and raced his way to victory lane.
Nashville Track Record Breakdown – In the Next Gen at Nashville, Denny Hamlin hasn’t won but he’s arguably been the best and over the combined races, Hamlin has the best Driver Rating, he’s averaged leading the most laps per race (97.5), has the 2nd best Next Gen Speed Ranking and his 4.5 average finish is tied for being the 3rd best. Last year, Hamlin was stout. In the race, Hamlin started 8th, finished 5th in Stage #1, won Stage #2, had a 3.9 average running position, led 81 laps and then finished 3rd overall. In terms of speed stats, Hamlin had the 4th best Total Speed Ranking and ranked 5th for Speed Late In A Run. In 2022, Hamlin finished 2nd in Stage #1, 2nd in Stage #2, led a race high 114 laps, had the 2nd best Total Speed Ranking, ranked 2nd for Speed Late In A Run but then finished 6th when the checkered flag waved. With 10 laps to go Hamlin was running in 3rd, but he then came to pit road during the late caution which dropped him back to 13th with only 4 laps to go. In 2021, Hamlin was about a 6th to 10th place driver, but he went into “hyper mileage driving mode” late and then still needed to pit at the end which led to his asterisk mark 21st.
DraftKings $10,300/ FanDuel $13,500

Further Recommended Reading = Nashville Finish Projections, Nashville Quick Rankings, DraftKings Nashville Scoring Projections, FanDuel Nashville Scoring Projections

2) Kyle Larson
Start 4th/ Projected Finish Range 1-6/ Dominator Potential – Medium-High
Nashville Outlook – Kyle Larson has been a super-elite performer at Nashville and on Sunday, look for him to be a top five contender who’ll be a factor to win. Larson put on a display of domination en route to victory lane at “Music City” in 2021 and over the three combined races, Larson’s 3 for 3 at finishing in the top five, has the 2nd best average finish (3.3), he’s tied for the 2nd best average running position and his Driver Rating ranks as the 2nd best. This year over the Dover + High-Speed 1.5-Mile Track grouping that I look to for correlation, Larson has the 2nd best Total Speed Ranking and his average finish minus Texas where he literally lost a wheel while leading is 1.3. Another attribute you have to love about Larson is the recent form of the #5. Since Dover minus Darlington and Iowa his average finish is 3.6.
Nashville Track Record Breakdown – Kyle Larson has thrived at Nashville and unquestionably ranks among the premiere performers. Last year, Larson had a strong showing and finished 5th. In the race, Larson earned the 7th best Driver Rating and had a 10.3 average running position. In terms of speed stats, Larson ranked 3rd for Speed Late In A Run and had the 7th best Total Speed Ranking. Over the final quarter of the race when it was “closing time”, the #5 was the fastest car on the track. In 2022, Larson finished 4th. That said, Larson had a 9.8 average running position, the 10th best Total Speed Ranking and used pit strategy during a caution with 10 to go which jumped him from 11th to 4th. In 2021, Larson put on a display of domination. In the race, Larson easily raced his way to victory lane, had a 1.4 average running position, earned a near perfect driver rating, led 264 laps and ran 133 fastest laps. In terms of speed stats, Larson ranked #1 for Total Speed Rankings, Green Flag Speed and Speed Late In A Run.
DraftKings $10,500/ FanDuel $14,000

3) Christopher Bell
Start 3rd/ Projected Finish Range 1-6/ Dominator Potential – Medium-High
Nashville Outlook – Christopher Bell is red hot and at Nashville, put him on your short list of favorites. Bell’s run great here but what I really like about him is his recent form. Bell’s fresh off a trip to victory lane and since Charlotte, Bell has 2-wins and a 4.4 average finish. This year over the Dover + High-Speed 1.5-Mile Track grouping, Bell’s had quite a bit of problems but over the last two races he’s finished 1st (Charlotte) and 6th (Kansas). In Group B, Bell ranked 3rd for both 10 and 15-lap average practice speeds.
Nashville Track Record Breakdown – Christopher Bell has been a strong performer at Nashville. He’s 3 for 3 at finishing in the top ten and over the combined races, Bell has an 8.0 average finish, the 7th best Average Running Position (10.7) and the 7th best Driver Rating. In the Next Gen, Bell has the 6th best Total Speed Ranking. Last year, Bell started 22nd, finished 9th in Stage #1, finished 5th in Stage #2, had an 8.3 average running position, had the 7th best Total Speed Ranking and then finished 8th overall. In 2022, Bell ran well and finished 8th. Additionally, Bell had a 9.9 average running position and the 7th Best Total Speed Ranking. In 2021, Bell started back in 25th but raced his way to a 9th.
DraftKings $10,000/ FanDuel $13,000