Pocono Great American Getaway 400 Fantasy NASCAR Top Tier Elite Picks

Denny Hamlin
Pocono Fantasy Outlook – Denny Hamlin is a super-elite performer at Pocono and the road to victory lane likely goes thru him. Hamlin’s the winningest Pocono driver in NASCAR history (7-wins), and if you give him 2022 back where he crossed the finish line first but got post-race DQ’ed, then he has 8-wins. In the Next Gen at Pocono (crediting him with the 2022 win), Hamlin’s finished in the top 2 every race, has 2-wins, a 1.5 average finish, the best Next Gen Speed Ranking and the best Driver Rating. Last year at big flat tracks, Hamlin had a series best 2.5 average finish between the combined races. On Sunday, look for Hamlin to be a top five contender who’ll be a factor to win.
Pocono Track History – Denny Hamlin has dominated the competition at Pocono in the Next Gen era, having “Crossed” the finish line first twice, having a 1.5 average finish (not counting his DQ) and has the best Next Gen Speed Ranking. Last year, Hamlin was impressive but came up short of victory lane. In the race, Hamlin started on the pole, won Stage #1, finished 6th in Stage #2, had a race best 4.4 average running position, earned the 2nd best Driver Rating, led 32 laps but then finished 2nd overall. In terms of speed stats, Hamlin had the best Total Speed Ranking and ranked as the Fastest Driver Late In A Run. In 2024, Hamlin had a race best 5.0 average running position, earned the 2nd best Driver Rating, led 31 laps and then finished 2nd overall. In terms of speed stats, Hamlin had the best Total Speed Ranking and ranked 3rd for Speed Late In A Run. In 2023, Hamlin had a hot rod and raced his way to victory lane. In the race, Hamlin started 8th, finished 3rd in Stage #1, finished 4th in Stage #2, had the 3rd best average running position (8.3), earned the 3rd best Driver Rating and of course finished 1st. In terms of Total Speed Rankings, Hamlin ranked 3rd. In 2022, Hamlin crossed the finish line first but NASCAR DQ’ed him in post-race inspection which led to his 35th. In the race, Hamlin had a 6.1 average running position, led 21 laps and had the 3rd best Total Speed Ranking.

Tyler Reddick
Pocono Fantasy Outlook – Look for Tyler Reddick to field a fast #45 and be a factor at Pocono. Reddick’s been a standout performer and in the Next Gen, Reddick ranks 5th for Driver Rating, 6th for Next Gen Speed Rankings and has a 3.3 average finish minus last year. On Sunday, look for Reddick to be a top five contender who’ll be a factor to win.
Pocono Track History – Tyler Reddick is one of the premiere performers at Pocono and in the Next Gen minus last year, Reddick has a pair of runner-ups, he’s had a result in the top 6 every race and has a 3.3 average finish. Last year, Reddick finished 32nd but I would avoid takeaways for that race. 23XI had brake rotor issues across the board and his misleading result can be traced to that. In the race, Reddick started 8th, finished 3rd in Stage #1 but then in Stage #2 after Herbst and Wallace both had brake rotor issues in short order, the #45 went into conservation mode and then eventually went to the garage, to do preventive maintenance to avoid a similar fate. In terms of Total Speed Rankings, Reddick ranked 16th but take note his speed over the segments were 3rd, 28th, 27th and then 5th. In 2024, Reddick finished 3rd in Stage #1, 10th in Stage #2, had the 9th best Total Speed Ranking, earned the 10th best Driver Rating and then finished 6th overall. In 2023, the #45 was stout. In the race, Reddick started 7th, finished 4th in Stage #1, finished 6th in Stage #2, earned the 5th best Driver Rating and then finished 2nd when the checkered flag waved. In terms of speed analytics, Reddick ranked 2nd for Speed Late In A Run and ranked 4th for Total Speed Rankings. In 2022, Reddick finished runner-up. Of course, take note both Hamlin and Kyle Busch who finished ahead of him got DQ’ed. En route to 2nd, Reddick had the 7th best Green Flag Speed and the 8th best Total Speed Ranking.

Ryan Blaney
Pocono Fantasy Outlook – 2-time Pocono winner, Ryan Blaney will be tough to beat at the “Tricky Triangle.” Blaney always shows up with speed here and over the last six Pocono races you could argue he’s been top 6 good, despite what you see in the results column. Horsepower is king with the long straightaways, and the #12 team doesn’t lack in the HP department. At Pocono over the last two races, Blaney has a 2.0 average finish, the 2nd best Driver Rating and a 4.5 average Speed Ranking. Last year at big flat tracks between the combined races, Blaney had a 5.0 average finish. On Sunday, look for Blaney to be a top five contender who’ll be a factor to win.
Pocono Track History – At Pocono, Ryan Blaney won his first race here back in 2017 and for his career minus misleading results his average finish is 7.4. Over the last two, Blaney’s been phenomenal and currently has back-to-back top 3’s with a 2.0 average finish. Last year, Blaney was strong. In the race, Blaney started in the rear of the field, finished 19th in Stage #1, was caught speeding during a caution in Stage #2, rebounded to finish 8th in Stage #2 and then raced his way to a 3rd place finish when the checkered flag waved. Additionally, Blaney ranked 4th for Speed Late In A Run, earned the 6th best Driver Rating and had the best 7th Total Speed Ranking. To further look into his speed by segment rankings, Blaney ranked 18th, 16th, 6th and then 4th. In 2024, Blaney took the competition to the woodshed in closing time and took home the trophy. In addition to finishing 1st, Blaney led 44 laps, earned the best Driver Rating and had the 2nd best Average Running Position. In terms of speed stats, Blaney had the fastest car late in a run and ranked 2nd in terms of Total Speed Rankings. Over the last quarter of the race, Blaney dropped the hammer and had the fastest car on the track. In 2023, the #12 was fast but Blaney finished an asterisk mark 30th. In the race, Blaney started 14th, finished 8th in Stage #2, led 2 laps, was in 2nd on lap 101 but then Blaney had drive train issues and rapidly dropped back which doomed his afternoon. The #12 looked quite strong and in segment #2 prior to his issue he ranked as the 2nd fastest car on the track. In 2022, Blaney had a hot rod but his afternoon nosedived in the last Stage. In the race, Blaney finished 4th in Stage #1, finished 2nd in Stage #2, led 7 laps but then in the last Stage, Blaney had multiple problems which led to his asterisk mark 33rd. On lap 107 while running in 5th, Blaney had a flat tire which dropped him a lap down. Then later on lap 136 while he was way back in 30th, Blaney crashed. In 2021 during the doubles, Blaney had results of 5th and 6th.

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