I know that these articles are usually pretty quick reads, but this one is going to be super quick because I’m on my honeymoon and I’m not trying to miss the beach for too long. Sorry, about the lack of articles, Twitter, or TikTok content, but some things are worth taking a step back and enjoying.

Texas was actually a decently entertaining race; only because it had a lot of drama around the playoff field that made it entertaining, but if that’s what it takes then so be it. Kansas is another track that has the potential to be a snooze fest, but with the playoffs being so competitive, I think there will be enough storylines to keep everyone entertained. 

I’m still undecided on if we will see complete domination out of one driver, and if we do it will more than likely be Larson, but I think Elliott is a better bet than his teammate for once, and is my driver to watch, but not my favorite. I’m actually going to lean towards Joe Gibbs Racing having a great day.

Favorite: Martin Truex Jr.

After getting himself into trouble at Texas, MTJ is in a must-win situation heading to two tracks he is very capable of winning. With two wins at Kansas and a current top 10 streak of four races in a row, I think the #19 has as good a shot of anyone of stealing this win away from Hendrick.

Kyle Busch won this race earlier in the year, and JGR was good all the way around that day, so I have no doubt they will bring the same juice this weekend. With Larson already locked into the champ 4, his team could indirectly take a breather and allow another team to dominate the day. MTJ seems like the most likely candidate even among JGR drivers.

Dark Horse: Christopher Bell

Despite being eliminated, Bell has looked as strong as he has all year. He’s gotten a top 10 at Kansas last season in lesser equipment and was on pace for another one earlier this year before he ran into issues. I think he will be a part of this JGR speed I was referencing.

This season has not gone the way he anticipated with what many are calling a fluke win at the Daytona Road Course, but Bell will bounce back. This might be the last opportunity he has to get a solid result and momentum heading into 2022, and I think he and his team will respond.

Fantasy:

High-End Picks:

1. Martin Truex Jr.: $10,400
2. Denny Hamlin: $11,000
3. Chase Elliott: $10,000
4. Kyle Larson: $11,700
5. Ryan Blaney: $9,300

Mid-Tier Picks:

1. Joey Logano: $8,700
2. Christopher Bell: $8,000
3. Kevin Harvick: $8,900
4. Tyler Reddick: $8,400
5. Bubba Wallace: $7,400

Low-End Picks:

1. Matt DiBenedetto: $6,800
2. Erik Jones: $6,100
3. Daniel Suarez: $6,400
4. Chase Briscoe: $6,600
5. Cole Custer: $6,000