Atlanta Motor Speedway is the host for this week’s race and it’s the only time all season that a race will be at this track. It’s a 1.5-mile Quad-oval layout with turns banked at 24 degrees each and a racing surface that is one of the oldest and roughest on the schedule.

 

Tires are the number one factor in this race. If you can conserve them, you can do well. If you blow through them, it’ll be a tough day for you trying to pick up many, if any, spots. Every pit stop the teams will have to decide between going for track position and taking just two tires or putting on four new Goodyear's but forfeit some track position along the way. That’s why the Crew Chiefs get paid the big bucks, so to speak.

 

All in all it is a challenging track that puts the race squarely in the driver’s hands as there are a couple of ways to get around the track depending on what you elect for tire wear. The bottom groove is the fastest way around the track but it also has the most wear on the surface whereas the upper groove is a slower way but might make the tires last longer, so it’s really up to the drivers to formulate a successful strategy.

 

Dominator points will be the key to boosting your lineup totals, as is generally the case with intermediate and short tracks, with there being a scheduled race distance of 325 laps on Sunday. On DraftKings that means there are 243.75 points available between laps led and fastest laps and on FanDuel there are 195 points between laps led and laps completed. Those are some good bonus totals to add to your lineup if you pick the right drivers for the race that is.

 

And for those following along with the NASCAR Props Challenge, below are this week's picks...

 

 

Folds of Honor 500 Props Challenge

  1. Last year’s winner led 181 laps at AMS. O/U 150.5 for this year’s winner? Go with the UNDER here. Kevin Harvick’s the only one who could realistically hit that number because he did it last year and over his last five races at Atlanta he has over 900 total laps led. But as dominant as he is at this track he has just one win in his last five, so if somebody else wins they likely won’t have led as many laps.

 

  1. The total number of cars finishing on the lead lap will be O/U 14.5?  Last year only 13 cars finished on the lead lap. 2017 saw 17 drivers finish on the lead lap, and 2016 saw 12. It’s a crapshoot with this race and mostly a guess. We’ll take the OVER on this one.

 

  1. Which driver will have a high finishing position? Clint Bowyer or Kurt Busch? I’m going to pick Clint Bowyer. Both are going to be in my DFS lineups, but Bowyer’s had the fastest car out of all drivers this week and he’s starting third. He could be a strong candidate to lead a lot of laps and win the whole thing.

 

  1. Will Aric Almirola finish in the Top 10? He’s starting first and has a modest history at this track. He only has one Top 10 finish back in 2014, but he’s never qualified on the pole before. He has four Top 15 finishes and I think pole position does him favors. I’ll say YES he finishes in the Top 10, but it is risky with him.

 

  1. Chevy had 5 drivers in the Top 10 at Daytona last week. Over/Under 4.5 this week? To take the over would mean Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson, Kurt Busch, Jimmie Johnson and one of either Alex Bowman, Austin Dillon, William Byron or another driver would have to crack the Top 10. Not sure they’ll get that lucky so I’ll take the Under.

 

  1. Chase Elliott has three Top 10’s in his three starts at AMS. Will the streak continue? It’s his home track, he runs well here, and he could potentially win it. We’ll say Yes.

 

  1. Atlanta has averaged 22 lead changes the last 5 races? O/U 22.5 lead changes? This is another one that’s tough to gauge. If Harvick gets the lead at any point it’s hard to imagine him surrendering it. The same could be said for Bowyer who has had a great car all week. We’ll take the UNDER for this year.

 

  1. Last two winners at AMS started inside the Top 5. Will that trend continue? So for that trend to continue either Denny Hamlin, Clint Bowyer, Aric Almirola, Daniel Suarez, or Ricky Stenhouse Jr. would have to win. If you listened to the podcast you know that Hamlin is a bit of a fade this week, and I don’t know if Stenhouse has it in him to win. The only one I think could win out of this group is Bowyer and maybe Suarez, but with Elliott, Harvick, the Busch Brothers, and Logano outside the Top 5 it’s tough to say. I’ll take a gamble and say YES the trend continues.

 

  1. Will the race winner be a part of the Stewart-Haas Racing Team?  Since we’re going with Yes on the last Prop I’ll say YES for this one as well. With Bowyer and Suarez on SHR they’ve got a solid chance at winning as does Kevin Harvick who dominates at Atlanta every year. Not to mention Almirola’s on the pole and while I don’t think he wins, there’s always the chance. Most of the contestants in the Props challenge might say no to this question and the last. Gotta differentiate a bit to move up the boards. SHR drivers have to be favored today.

 

  1.  Will Kevin Harvick lead the most laps? I’m actually going to say NO and that’s painful to admit. Could he win? Absolutely. But he’s starting 18th and Bowyer’s starting third. Bowyer’s looked great all week and these are the two I’d assume lead the most laps. It seems almost too obvious that Harvick would lead the most laps as he’s dominated so much in the past. I’m gonna get contrarian with this one.

Stacks

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