Fantasy Fastlane: New Hampshire vibes for Christopher Bell

All eyes will be on New Hampshire Motor Speedway this weekend, with just seven races remaining before the playoffs begin. In recent years, New Hampshire has seen the same cast of characters contend for the wins and dominate races, but it has been known for a surprise winner or two (I see you, Aric Almirola). Though limited, Christopher Bell’s stats at the track should be the focal point of your lineup this weekend.

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MUST START:

Christopher Bell | View stats

Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 20 Toyota

Odds: 5-1

Just how strong is Bell in New Hampshire? In eight national touring starts at the one-mile layout, the Oklahoma native has seven top-two finishes. He’s undefeated in the Xfinity Series at the track, leading 430 of 600 laps completed. An outlier would be in 2020, when he finished 28th after spinning out. Had the 2021 race gone the full distance, it’s probable he would be entering this weekend with consecutive wins.

MUST START:

Martin Truex Jr. | View stats

Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 19 Toyota

Odds: 7-1

Somehow, someway, Truex is still searching for his first win at New Hampshire. He’s been dominant at the track in recent years, including 172 laps led last season, but an untimed pit strategy dropped him to fourth in the finishing order. The No. 19 car is stellar on flat tracks, and he’s led 112-plus laps in five of the past nine races.

MUST START:

Kevin Harvick | View stats

Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 4 Ford

Odds: 10-1

Over the last nine starts at New Hampshire, Harvick has lived up to his “closer” moniker. The No. 4 team has won three of the last eight New Hampshire races, and Harvick has seven top-five efforts in the last nine events in Loudon. The No. 4 car was strong at Gateway last month, the track that most resembles New Hampshire on the circuit.

MUST START:

Kyle Busch | View stats

Richard Childress Racing, No. 8 Chevrolet

Odds: 10-1

Quietly, Busch has seven consecutive top-10 finishes in the 2023 season and has moved up to third in the regular season standings. While most of his damage at New Hampshire has been done driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, Busch also won at the track for Hendrick Motorsports. He also dominated at Gateway in June and has 11 top-five efforts in 31 starts at the “Magic Mile.”

SLEEPER PICK:

Aric Almirola | View stats

Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 10 Ford

Odds: 20-1

Almirola believes his No. 10 team can win at four of the final seven races, and he should enter New Hampshire with confidence. He’s always performed well there, which is highlighted by his unlikely win two years ago. Almirola has led laps in four of the past five New Hampshire races, three of which resulted in top-10 finishes.

SLEEPER PICK:

Ryan Preece | View stats

Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 41 Ford

Odds: 50-1

This is an opportune race for Stewart-Haas Racing this weekend. All of its drivers have had success at New Hampshire, including Preece, who won in a modified in 2021. Earlier this season, the No. 41 team put additional emphasis on Martinsville and wound up with its best performance of the season. Not saying Preece will be that strong on Monday, but his expectations are immoderate.

SLEEPER PICK:

Bubba Wallace | View stats

23XI Racing, No. 23 Toyota

Odds: 25-1

When thinking of tracks you would expect Wallace to perform exceedingly well at, New Hampshire probably doesn’t rank too high on that list. But the No. 23 car finished third last season at Loudon. After getting knocked below the playoff cutline at Atlanta, Wallace needs a rebound this weekend, as he has five straight finishes of 15th or worse.

STAY AWAY FROM:

William Byron | View stats

Hendrick Motorsports, No. 24 Chevrolet

Odds: 8-1

You knew Byron was destined to have a breakout season soon, and 2023 has certainly been just that. In the opening 19 races, he already has as many wins as he did in the first five seasons of his career combined. Not sure how that will carry over to New Hampshire, a place he’s run mediocre at in the past. He’s yet to place inside the top 10 in five starts, but he has four finishes between 11th and 14th.

STAY AWAY FROM:
Chase Elliott | View stats

Hendrick Motorsports, No. 9 Chevrolet

Odds: 11-1

Hendrick Motorsports has struggled at New Hampshire for the last decade, with no wins at the track since 2012 (Kasey Kahne). That seems like a lifetime ago for some HMS fans. In nine starts, Elliott has been moderate in the Granite State, with a trio of top 10s. One of those, however, does include a runner-up result last season.

STAY AWAY FROM:

Alex Bowman | View stats

Hendrick Motorsports, No. 48 Chevrolet

Odds: 25-1

Uh-oh, with these predictions I’m going to either look like a genius or a complete fool for sweeping Hendrick drivers in the stay away from category this weekend. Bowman’s highlight reel at New Hampshire is stamped with his car catching fire in 2015 for Tommy Baldwin Racing and the track worker slipping in oil. Aside from that, Bowman has a best finish of ninth in 11 starts.

FEATURED MATCHUP:

William Byron vs. Chase Elliott

If you couldn’t tell from above, I’m not too fond of playing either driver individually this weekend. If you have to take a pick between the two, maybe surprisingly, I’ll go with Elliott this weekend. Atlanta was the first race that he lost points to the playoff cutline since returning from injury. The No. 9 team could go for a solid bounce-back weekend, posting just nine stage points – all at Nashville – over his last seven starts.

FEATURED MATCHUP:

Kyle Busch vs. Denny Hamlin

This one could flip either way this weekend, as both drivers have three trophies from the track. Both drivers also ran inside the top five for the duration of the Gateway race. Based on recent consistency, KFB is the choice. Let’s revisit this one this weekend.

FEATURED MATCHUP: 

Ross Chastain vs. Joey Logano

Logano could be featured heavily in lineups this weekend, and he’s my pick of the two entering the weekend. New Hampshire has been a Team Penske track in recent years, where even if they don’t win, they are competitive. Logano has nine top 10s in the last 12 New Hampshire races; six of which have been top fives. Meanwhile, Chastain has consecutive top 10s at the one-miler entering this weekend.

FEATURED MATCHUP: 

Martin Truex Jr. vs. Tyler Reddick

Aside from the two wild card races at Atlanta and the Chicago Street Course, Truex has been hitting on all cylinders lately. Expecting another top-five run from him this weekend at a track that owes him one. On the flip side, the No. 45 team continuously beats itself, despite being plenty fast. Reddick has five straight finishes of 27th or worse.

MY LINEUP: Christopher Bell, Martin Truex Jr., Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski

GARAGE: Joey Logano