Best Bets, They Said it and Fantasy Picks
By Roy J. Akers- www.skyviewsports.net
Sonoma Road Course Reset
NASCAR moves to a true road course in California wine country and drivers who need a boost in the standings will receive a jolt going into Sunday’s race.
After Sunday’s surprise victory by Austin Cindric of Penske Motorsports, who won when Ryan Blaney ran out of gas after a likely underfill by his pit crew.
Who Needs a Good Sonoma Showing?
Anyone who has not won a race in 2024 and is close to the cutline.
Alex Bowman has had four top ten performances this season. He has led only six laps this season.
Ross Chastain has really struggled since Rick Hendrick called him out last season about wrecking his cars. The Watermelon Man runs well at Sonoma. He has three top-tens in three starts. He is a solid choice to be on your fantasy team.
Ryan Blaney should have won last week in St. Louis in the Illinois 300. Running out of gas is a cardinal sin and Blaney runs fairly well at Sonoma with two top ten’s in three appearances. Fantasy choice. So-so.
Bubba Wallace sits at 13th in the NASCAR standings. He does not do well at Sonoma. Skip him this week.
One driver you should not skip is Chris Buescher. CB has two top fives this season and could/should have won two weeks ago when his teammate Brad Keselowski broke the long winless streak for the No.6. Buescher has two top-fives and a top 20 in three races. If you have the starts, CB is a solid choice.
Chase Briscoe will not get much help if history means anything. He is NOT a road course warrior.
Joey Logano is. He sits on the cutline at 16th this season. He has as many top fives as he does DNF’s. Joey has two top fives at Sonoma and a top 20. If you have the starts, save one for him.
Finally, Tyler Reddick. He is not listed at Sonoma as a top driver, but has won two road races in NASCAR. He is worth a solid look if he has plenty of use options on your NASCAR.com fantasy teams.
Sonoma Fantasy Picks
My picks for this week are Chase Elliott, Chris Buescher, Martin Truex Jr., Kyle Larson, Ross Chastain with Joey Logano in reserve. I would avoid Ty Gibbs (no track record) and William Bryon (performance).
They Said It… NASCAR Quotes from Sonoma
Question to Michael McDowell: HOW MUCH VALUE GOES INTO TODAY’S QUALIFYING GIVEN THERE IS ONLY ONE MORE ROAD COURSE RACE AFTER THIS ONE?
“A ton. These are opportunity weekends for us and we know that, but I think what I’ve learned over the last few years in particular with having faster cars and being in contention more often is just go out there and do your job and don’t overthink it and don’t put too much extra pressure on yourself, and I think we have a car today that will have a shot at the pole.
How does it feel to have the whole waiver thing behind you? What was it like leading up to that announcement?
“Yeah, I mean obviously there’s definitely relief on my end, even though I really wasn’t paying a ton of attention to it.. to the waiver. At least now knowing that I do, personally, get to race for a championship feels good. Yeah, I mean I know there was a lot that went into it on NASCAR’s end; a lot of discussion and just wanting it to be right. I think we all, probably even them, figured we would get the waiver
That is your NASCAR News from Sonoma
Roy J. Akers is a multi-media reporter and covers several sports for www.skyviewsports.net