Nashville Cracker Barrel 400 Fantasy NASCAR Front Runner Rankings

Josh Berry
Nashville Fantasy Outlook – Josh Berry has been fast at intermediates in 2025 with the 10th best high-speed intermediate track Total Speed Rankings, so don’t overlook him despite his only Nashville Cup result being a lack luster 26th (Really a mid-teens performer). Heading into the weekend, I would view Berry as a teens driver who might just prove to have top ten upside.
Nashville Track History – Last year at Nashville, Berry started 2nd, finished just outside the top ten in Stage #1, finished about 29th in Stage #2, was running in 15th on lap 295 but then finished 26th overall. During restart #2, Berry was involved in a crash. Additionally, Berry had a 16.0 average running position and ranked 20th for Total Speed Rankings.

AJ Allmendinger
Nashville Fantasy Outlook – AJ Allmendinger has competed in all three Nashville Next Gen races and over the combined races, Allmendinger has a 13.3 average finish (9th best) and the 14th best Driver Rating. Allmendinger also currently has back-to-back top 11’s here, so that’s encouraging. Heading into the weekend, I would conservatively view him as a teens performer who has upside.
Nashville Track History – In the Next Gen at Nashville, Allmendinger has been solid, having a 13.3 average finish and the 13th best Next Gen Speed Ranking. In last year’s long race, Allmendinger escaped with an 11th. I’ll note, that’s not a misleading result. Allmendinger was in 11th on lap 295 before all the overtimes kicked into gear and over the last two segments of the race he had speed rankings of 12th and 13th. In 2023, Allmendinger had a great performance and ran well throughout. In the race, Allmendinger started 19th, finished 10th in Stage #1, finished 8th in Stage #2, had a 12.3 average running position and then finished 10th overall. In 2022, Allmendinger wasn’t nearly as good and finished 19th.

Bubba Wallace
Nashville Fantasy Outlook – At Nashville, look for Bubba Wallace to potentially be a top ten contender. Wallace has run well here and in the Next Gen, Wallace has an 11.3 average finish, the 12th best Next Gen Speed Ranking and the 13th best Driver Rating. Wallace has also shown potential at intermediate tracks this year, so he’ll have some upside.
Nashville Track History – Bubba Wallace has been solid at Nashville in the Next Gen. Last year, Wallace had a solid showing and was even better than his result. In the race, Wallace finished 7th, had a 13.8 average running position and earned the 11th best Driver Rating. In terms of speed metrics, Wallace ranked 12th for Speed Late In A Run and had the 13th best Total Speed Ranking. On lap 295 which is my favorite late race reference point before late wildness, Wallace was running in 6th. In 2023, Wallace  finished 15th but I’ll note that result underrates him. In the race, Wallace finished 6th in Stage #2 but then during that caution he had a slow pit stop that dropped him back to 16th. Wallace just wasn’t able to bounce back for whatever reason. Additionally, Wallace had a 14.7 average running position and then ranked 20th in terms of Total Speed Rankings. In 2022, Wallace ran well even though his race wasn’t incident free. In the race, Wallace started 30th, finished 7th in Stage #1 but then in Stage #2 around lap 120, Wallace who just left pit road in 7th came in for a second stop (loose wheel), and then during his second stop he lost a lap since he didn’t beat the pace car. That put Wallace behind, but he battled back for a 12th when the checkered flag waved. In terms of speed stats, Wallace ranked 10th for Green Flag Speed and then 11th for both Total Speed Rankings and Speed Late In A Run.

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