Talladega Jack Link’s 500 Fantasy NASCAR Top Tier Elite Picks

Brad Keselowski
Talladega Fantasy Outlook – 6-time Talladega winner, Brad Keselowski is one of the premiere big superspeedway performers in NASCAR and on Sunday, put him on your short list of favorites. This race is circled on his schedule and there’s no question he’ll be going all out for the win and perhaps take a couple of drivers out along the way. At Talladega, Keselowski has finished in the top ten in 4 of the last 6 races and that’s highlighted by a pair of runner-ups in 2024. Going further back over the last ten races, Keselowski has finished in the top 2 40% of the time.
Talladega Track History – Brad Keselowski is one of the best in the business at Talladega. He’s a 6-time winner and in 6 of the last 10 races he’s finished in the top 10. In the races he finished outside the top 10, Keselowski had major problems and finished 23rd or worse so he’s very much so a “Hero or zero.” Last fall, Keselowski finished 10th, had the 3rd best average running position (11.5), earned the 5th best Driver Rating and led 7 laps. Last spring, Keselowski had a short race which came to an early conclusion when he crashed coming to pit road on lap 43, leading to his 36th. In 2024, Keselowski had a pair of 2nd’s. In fall 2024, Keselowski raced his way to the front in closing time, but he just didn’t have the help he needed at the end and finished 2nd. In spring 2024, Keselowski nearly notched his 7th win but on the last lap, Michael McDowell came across the nose of the #6 doing bad blocking and that cost Keselowski the win. In the race, Keselowski was at his best in closing time, led 2 laps and then finished 2nd when the checkered flag waved. In fall 2023, Keselowski won Stage #2, led 5 laps but crashed on lap 162 while he was back in the 20’s after giving Hocevar a push which doomed him to a 32nd. In spring 2023, Keselowski finished 5th.

Joey Logano
Talladega Fantasy Outlook – 3-time Talladega winner, Joey Logano is one of the premiere big superspeedway performers in NASCAR who’ll be tough to beat in the Jack Link’s 500. When it comes to superspeedway racing, I’ve long viewed Logano as the perfect combination of “Smart and aggressive.” That said, things have gone south for Logano at big superspeedways when it comes to the results column and since 2024, Logano has a 22.3 average finish (crediting him with a 5th last spring at Talladega). Over that same stretch, Logano has the best Driver Rating and the best average running position, so he’s not lacked when it comes to performance, he just needs a little bit of luck. Perhaps Logano’s turning the corner and to start the year, he avoided trouble at Daytona for the first time in years and finished 3rd.
Talladega Track History – Joey Logano has been elite at Talladega, but times have been tough and in 11 of the last 12 races, he’s finished 16th or worse. In the Next Gen, Logano has a 27.5 average finish, but his Driver Rating ranks 9th despite all of the trouble. Last fall, Logano was stout but finished 16th. In the race, Logano led the most laps (35), earned the best Driver Rating, had the best average running position but late in the race during the last green flag run, Logano was just stuck running the bottom groove and he slowly faded back in the running order to his 16th. Last spring, Logano looked great and actually avoided trouble for once but in post-race inspection, he was DQ’ed which led to his 39th. In the race, Logano crossed the finish line in 5th, had the best average running position (7th), led the 2nd most laps (24) and earned the 2nd best Driver Rating. In fall 2024, Logano looked great but crashed and finished 33rd. In the race, Logano led 19 laps, was running in 5th with 5 to go but then that very lap he crashed in the “Cindric Big One.” In spring 2024, Logano was strong but finished 19th. In the race, Logano won Stage #2, led the 2nd most laps (22) but was then just a non-factor late.

William Byron
Talladega Fantasy Outlook – 3-time big superspeedway winner, William Byron is an elite superspeedway performer who’ll be a factor at Talladega. Byron’s never won here but he’s finished in the top three in 3 of the last 5 races, and if he wasn’t spun out on the last lap last fall while running in 5th, Byron would currently have 6 straight top tens. When it comes to pure big superspeedway racing prowess, Byron ranks among the premiere performers and since 2024 over the combined races, Byron has 2-wins and the best average finish (11.0).
Talladega Track History – William Byron has been strong at Talladega and if there’s such a thing as a “Safe pick”, he’s it. Since 2023 minus last fall, Byron has a 4.4 average finish, and he’s had a result in the top 7 every race. Last fall, Byron was poised to walk away with a great finish but on the last lap while running in 5th, he was spun and that then doomed him to a 25th. In the race, Byron finished 4th in Stage #2 and consistently ran near the front when the trophy was on the line. Last spring, Byron had a strong showing. In the race, Byron finished 2nd in Stage #1, finished 3rd overall, led 10 laps and earned the 9th best Driver Rating. In fall 2024, Byron dodged the mayhem, finishing 3rd in Stage #1, 4th in Stage #2 and then finished 3rd overall. In spring 2024, Byron had a solid race and finished 7th, after making a mad dash to the front with two to go from 17th. In 2023, Byron had results of 2nd and 7th.  

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