Charlotte Coca Cola 600 Fantasy NASCAR Top Tier Elite Picks

Tyler Reddick
Charlotte Fantasy Outlook – In the Charlotte Coca Cola 600, look for Tyler Reddick to be a top five contender who’ll be a factor to win. Reddick’s an elite performer at high-speed 1.5’s and he’s thrived at Charlotte. In the Next Gen at Charlotte, Reddick ranks 2nd for Speed, 4th for Driver Rating and has a 5th place average finish minus last year where he was top five good but got a speeding penalty. This year at high-speed 1.5’s, Reddick won at Kansas, is tied for the 3rd best Average Finish (6.0) and ranks 4th for Speed.
Charlotte Track History – Tyler Reddick has been a Next Gen standout at Charlotte and “Performance Wise”, he’s been a top five contender every race. Last year, Reddick finished 26th but that’s an asterisk mark result. In the race, Reddick finished 2nd in Stage #1, finished 3rd in Stage #2, finished 4th in Stage #3 but then in the last Stage during green flag pit stops while running in 5th, Reddick was caught speeding on pit road. Later, he slammed into the wall too but that was ultimately a non-factor in terms of the results column. In terms of Total Speed Rankings, Reddick ranked 6th with his speed over the segments being 2nd, 3rd, 3rd and then 28th. In 2024, Reddick started in the back and had to serve a pass thru penalty at the start, but he still raced his way to a 4th. In the race, Reddick had the 9th best Total Speed Ranking but take note he ranked as the 3rd fastest in the final segment. In 2023, Reddick finished 2nd in Stage #3, had a 5.2 average running position, earned the 3rd best Driver Rating and then finished 5th overall. In terms of speed stats, Reddick ranked 3rd for Total Speed Rankings and then 4th for Speed Late In A Run. In 2022, Reddick finished 6th. Additionally, Reddick had the 3rd best Total Speed Ranking and an 8.2 average running position.

Denny Hamlin
Charlotte Fantasy Outlook – Denny Hamlin, the 2022 Charlotte Coca Cola 600 champion will be a factor. Hamlin’s always fast at Charlotte and since 2020 #2 minus 2023 and last year (top five contender in both races), his average finish is 3.8. This year at high-speed 1.5’s, nobody has been better than Hamlin. He’s 3 for 3 at having the best Total Speed Ranking, has the best average finish (2.3) and the best Driver Rating. On Sunday, look for Hamlin to be a top five contender who’ll be a factor to win.
Charlotte Track History – Denny Hamlin has been elite at Charlotte. Hamlin raced his way to victory lane in 2022 and over his last four incident free races, Hamlin has a 3.8 average finish, and he’s had a result in the top 7 every race. In the Next Gen, Hamlin ranks 2nd for Speed, 3rd for Driver Rating and has a pair of top 5’s over his two incident free races. Last year, Hamlin was top 2 good but finished a misleading 16th. In the race, Hamlin finished 2nd in Stage #2 and #3, had a 5th place average running position, earned the 3rd best Driver Rating and led 53 laps. During the last Stage while running in 2nd, the #11 team had trouble fueling up the #11 and that led to an unexpected pit stop on lap 371 which doomed him to his 16th. In terms of speed stats, Hamlin ranked 2nd for Total Speed Rankings and Speed Late In A Run. In 2024, Hamlin had a hot rod and finished 5th. Additionally, Hamlin earned the 4th best Driver Rating and had a 7.8 average running position. In terms of speed stats, Hamlin had the fastest car late in a run and had the 6th best Total Speed Ranking. In 2023, Hamlin was a top five contender but finished an asterisk mark 35th after Chase Elliott went kamikaze on him. 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 he was in position to take advantage of the situation. In the race, Hamlin started on the pole, led 15 laps, had a 7.1 average running position and the 7th best Total Speed Ranking. In the two races prior to that, Hamlin had results of 7th (2021) and 2nd (2020 #2).

Kyle Larson
Charlotte Fantasy Outlook – Kyle Larson won’t be doing double duty this Memorial Day weekend and I fully expect him to be a contender with his 100% focus, after how 2025 and 2024 went. Larson’s a former Charlotte winner (2021) and at high-speed 1.5’s this year, he’s been elite and minus Texas he has a 4.5 average finish and a 4.0 average Speed Ranking. The Coca Cola 600 is a long race where drivers need to be versatile, and I expect the #5 to be fast and be a factor.
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 year, Larson didn’t have an incident free race, but he looked good until his evening went south, leading to his 37th. In the race, Larson won the pole, led 34 laps but then on lap 42 while leading, he spun out and got into the wall which brought out the caution. That wasn’t a knockout blow but that also wasn’t his last problem. On lap 245 while running in 17th, Larson was damaged in a multi-car accident which marked the end of his race. In 2024, Larson completely missed the race. In 2023, Larson was a factor but finished an asterisk mark 30th. The #5 team did some extensive tuning up over the course of the race, 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 Briscoe didn’t do a failed “Hail Mary” at the end which brought out a caution in which late wildness ensued. 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 finished 1st, led 327 laps, had a 1.3 average running position and had the best Total Speed Ranking.

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