Nashville Cracker Barrel 400 Fantasy NASCAR Confidence Rankings / Post Practice Predictions

On Sunday night, NASCAR will be returning to Nashville for the Cracker Barrel 400. Nashville is a 1.33-mile concrete D-shaped oval which is unique. Of the tracks visited this year, I would urge you to look back to the high-speed intermediates (2025 High-Speed Intermediate Track Total Speed Rankings) for correlation.

On Saturday, NASCAR practice was held. Teams only had 20 minutes, and keep in mind teams have different agenda’s. Make sure you check out our Nashville Practice Notes, Nashville Group Speed Rankings, Nashville 10,15,20,25 and 30 Lap Average Speed Cheat Sheet and Nashville Practice Speeds/ 10 Lap Averages. 

Here’s the Nashville Starting Lineup/ Qualifying Results.

Nashville Full Field Fantasy Rankings

1) Denny Hamlin
Start 2nd / Projected Finish Range 1-6 / Dominator Potential – High
Nashville Outlook – Denny Hamlin’s a super-elite performer at Nashville who’ll be tough to beat in the Cracker Barrel 400. Hamlin’s been the premiere performer at Nashville, and he’s been strong at high-speed intermediate tracks this year, being a standout performer over the last two races. In the Next Gen at Nashville, Hamlin has the best Next Gen Speed Ranking, the best Driver Rating, the best average running position (4.0) and has a 7.0 average finish, despite having two asterisk mark results over the three races. Last year, Hamlin won the pole, finished 2nd in Stage #1, finished 4th in Stage #2, was the leader on lap 295 and was the leader thru overtime #3 but then he finally had to come in for gas, which led to his misleading 12th. Additionally, Hamlin led 70 laps, earned the best Driver Rating and had a race best 4.5 average running position. In terms of speed stats, Hamlin was the fastest driver late in a run and had the 2nd best Total Speed Ranking. In 2023, Hamlin finished 5th in Stage #1, won Stage #2, had a 3.9 average running position, had the 4th best Total Speed Ranking, led 81 laps and then finished 3rd. In 2022, Hamlin led a race high 114 laps, had the 2nd best Total Speed Ranking but then finished 6th overall. With 10 laps to go Hamlin was running in 3rd, but he then came to pit road during a late caution which dropped him back to 13th with only 4 laps to go. In practice, Hamlin was fast and had the best 15,20 and 25-lap average. TAKE NOTE, Denny Hamlin is on “Baby Watch” this weekend, so be prepared just in case. 
DraftKings $10,700/ FanDuel $13,500

Further Recommended Reading = Nashville Finish Projections, DraftKings Nashville Scoring Projections, FanDuel Nashville Scoring Projections, Nashville Quick Rankings, Nashville Next Gen Average Finishes, Nashville Next Gen Speed Rankings

2) Ross Chastain
Start 5th / Projected Finish Range 1-6 / Dominator Potential – Medium-High
Nashville Outlook – Fresh off a trip to victory lane at Charlotte, don’t be surprised if Ross Chastain get’s back-to-back W’s. At Nashville, Chastain has been elite. Chastain raced his way to victory lane in 2023 and “Performance Wise”, he’s 4 for 4 at being a top five contender. At Nashville, Chastain’s had rockets and ranks 2nd in terms of Next Gen Speed Rankings. Last year, Chastain had a strong showing but finished an ugly asterisk mark 33rd. In the race, Chastain led 45 laps, was running in 2nd on lap 295 but was then wrecked in overtime #1. In terms of Total Speed Rankings, Chastain ranked 8th but he was at his best late, and ranked 3rd for 4th segment speed. In 2023, Chastain had a rocket and when it was closing time, he hit the afterburners and raced his way to victory lane. In the race, Chastain finished 2nd in Stage #1, finished 3rd in Stage #2, had a 2.7 average running position, led 99 laps and earned the best Driver Rating. In terms of speed stats, Chastain had the fastest car late in a run and ranked 2nd in terms of Total Speed Rankings. In the two races prior to that, Chastain had results of 5th (2022) and 2nd (2021). This year at high-speed intermediates, Chastain has a series best 6.5 average finish. In practice, Chastain was fast and had the best 30-lap average.
DraftKings $10,000/ FanDuel $11,000

3) Tyler Reddick
Start 4th / Projected Finish Range 1-6 / Dominator Potential – Medium
Nashville Outlook – At Nashville, look for the #45 to be a rocket and for Reddick to be a contender. Over the last two races in “Music City”, Reddick’s been a top five contender “Performance Wise”, so you can be confident he’ll be fast. Last summer, Reddick ranked among the best. In the race, Reddick finished 3rd in Stage #1, finished 2nd in Stage #2, earned the 2nd best Driver Rating, led 16 laps and then finished 3rd overall. I’ll note, on lap 295, Reddick was running in 8th. In terms of speed stats, Reddick had the 3rd best Total Speed Ranking and ranked 4th for Speed Late In A Run. In 2023, Reddick was top five good but finished an asterisk mark 30th. In the race, Reddick won Stage #1, led 33 laps, was in 3rd on lap 132 but then shortly after that on lap 139 after just completing his green flag pit stop, Reddick lost a wheel coming back to pit road and then you could basically stick a fork in him after that. In terms of Total Speed Rankings he ranked 13th but take note his Speed Ranking over the first two segments were 1st and 3rd. In practice, Reddick had the best 10-lap average and the 2nd best 15-lap average.
DraftKings $9,800/ FanDuel $11,500