This weekend is one of the most iconic races on the schedule. It’s finally time for throwback weekend at Darlington. While we have this weekend and the season finale at Indianapolis next week until the playoff’s start. Which leaves the question out there who should I start this weekend for my fantasy live lineup for a trip back in time. I know you guys where lost without me last race weekend, unfortunately for you guys I was at Bristol and unable to get my fantasy lineup advice out to all of you awesome race fans.
Starting Lineup
- Kevin Harvick
- Brad Keselowski
- Chase Elliott
- Kyle Busch
- Kurt Busch
- Denny Hamlin (Garage)
Darlington Driver Facts
Happy Harvick had a rough outing at Bristol two weeks ago. When a locker in the rear end caused the SHR driver to get another DNF on the year. I think Harvick has had some difficulty this year for unknown reasons. While he has won a few races he hasn’t really showed the dominance he did last year. A trip back to the past this weekend at Darlington could be the thing he needs. In the last two races in Darlington Harvick has finished fourth and ninth respectively and was able to lead twenty two laps. Harvick won’t be hard to miss in the bright orange car this weekend so keep an eye on him and put him in your lineup or at least garage.
Brad Keselowski the driver of the “deuce” arguable has some of the best throwback schemes as of recent years. Along with that he also has a win here last year. Shows me the former champion knows how to work his way around the track that is notorious for being “Too Tough to Tame.” His average finish in the past two races is around eigth. He has been able lead twenty two laps in the last two trips. With one of the best if not the arguably best throwback scheme that will be on the track this weekend throwing it back to Rusty Wallace watch for the Mustang driver to drive to the front.
Chase Elliott, the son of the infamous “Million Dollar Bill from Dawsonville.” While he hasn’t made it to victory lane in the cup series at Darlington. He does have some experience on how to get there winning there once in the Xfinity series. With that he also has the same average finish as Keselowski in the last two races here. Which isn’t bad but to go with that this year along he has averaged around thirty one points per race this year.
The Candy Man had a little bit of a rough weekend at Bristol, with what appear to be a dominant performance in the Xfinity race Friday only to have a engine fail. Then in the cup series he contended and led a good bit of laps before just falling off late. I look for Kyle Busch to be a force this weekend as I really do every weekend. Kyle in the last two races here holds the highest average finish among st active driver with around a fourth place average finish. To go along with that Kyle has one win here in fourteen career starts. Also to show you he is normally pretty good here in those fourteen career starts Kyle has only three finishes worse than eleventh.
The other Busch brother Kurt. Who has had a memorable finish I’d say here in his career is looking for that second win of the season. The reason why he’s in the lineup this weekend I mean besides him really being one of the most consistent drivers in the series is this. Kurt is second really to only his brother in finishing average. Also in his career he has never won The Southern 500. Id say that could motivate even the best of them. Kurt has averaged around thirty fantasy points per race this year so he is bound to keep your point consumption high if his race is clean and consistent.
My garage pick Denny Hamlin, what a show him and fellow Toyota driver Matty D put on at Bristol a few weeks back. Denny has greatly improved this season winning multiple times and some how always seeming to be in the top ten barring any penalties or bad luck. Denny in his last two races here is much like Brad K with a win, and a tenth place respectfully. To go with his win he had brought in around thirty five points per race this year. Denny is getting hot at the right time watch out for the DW throwback to be up front all night.
Honorable Mentions
Quite possibly the forgotten driver of the Gibbs team is Erik Jones. While he only has the won win at Daytona on his resume Erik has been oh so close so many times before at many other tracks. Darlington is another track that he very well could win based off his past two performances. In two previous races he has an average finish of around sixth. Another driver who overall has a few wins this season and a solid season statistically is last years champion Joey Logano. Joey in his last two races in South Carolina has a second place finish. All three of these drivers could easily break into victory lane this weekend even the one driver with some of the worst luck this year Kyle Larson. Kyle was able to win the all star race but sadly hasn’t done much since he’s long over due for a win this year.
Conclusion
This weekend is one of the “crown jewels” for a NASCAR driver to win. It ranks up there with the Daytona 500, and Coca Cola 600. This is a race that when you look at past winners you see the likes of Earnhardt, Elliott, Waltrip, and Gordon. All of which are NASCAR Hall of Fame members. The trophy for this win instantly put’s you in a different category as a driver. Look for plenty of drivers this weekend to fight and claw for that upgrade to there respected careers.
As for the list of drivers above you have five previous winners in the lineup. I mean if that doesn’t show you who normally competes here then I don’t know what does or will. This weekends race if anything like Bristol’s will be one to talk about, and I for one look forward to watching it unfold this Sunday.
