OPR Staff and Fan Fantasy Picks for NNS and NSCS at Kentucky Speedway

The Camping World Truck Series race that took place on Thursday night is only the beginning of a spectacular filled weekend as the Nationwide Series and Sprint Cup Series will also be hitting the 1.5-mile rough oval this weekend.

So who should you keep an eye on? Here we go!

NASCAR Nationwide Series at Road America

Managing Editor: Ashley McCubbin
Pick #1: Chase Elliott – Elliott has been very strong so far this year and looked solid during practice today.
Pick #2: Kyle Busch- Busch has a win already this weekend and the trend will continue for Rowdy.
Pick #3: Kevin Harvick. – In each start this year with JRM, Harvick has been quick so expect the same.

NASCAR Journalist Tayler Stiles
Tayler did not file her picks, so we will use her Dover picks – Chase Elliott, Kyle Busch and Kyle Larson which becomes Chase Elliott, Kyle Busch and Kyle Larson
Ashley’s Comments: Larson has a Nationwide win this year so he should be strong once again this weekend.

NASCAR Journalist Kreistina Blinova
Kreistina did not file her picks so we’ll use her Dover picks – Jeffrey Earnhardt, Landon Cassill and Elliott Sadler.
Ashley’s comments: Both Jeffrey and Landon have experience but yet the unfunding of their teams has them falling short. For that reason a solid top-20 run would do good for them both. Sadler should be strong this weekend based on being a solid driver in practice.

Photographer: Ronald Costigan
Picks: Chase Elliott, Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick.

SpeedwayMedia.com Journalist Marshall Gabell
Picks: Brad Keselowski, Kyle Busch and Brendan Gaughan
Ashley’s comments: Coming off his win at Road America, Gaughan is looking to keep the positive mojo going and chances are strong as RCR was strong in practice. Meanwhile, Keselowski will be looking for redemption after tonight’s truck fumble so look for him to fighting hard.

Frontstretch.com Journalist: Justin Tucker
Picks: Kevin Harvick, Chase Elliott, Kyle Busch

The Times Leader Journalist: Kyle Magda
Picks: Ryan Blaney, Brad Keselowski and Paul Menard
Ashley’s Comments: Blaney is a past Nationwide Series race winner at Kentucky and looked strong in practice, while Menard picked up a win earlier this year.

Fan #1: Terry Wagner
Picks: Chase Elliott, Brad Keselowski and Kyle Busch

Fan #2: Christina Cordner
Picks: Brian Scott, Ty Dillon and Ryan Blaney
Ashley’s Comments: In practice, Scott posted some of the quickest times of the session and was considered a ‘threat’ by his competitors. Meanwhile, Dillon scored the victory in last year’s truck race.

Fan #3: Billy Stiles Jr.
Billy did not file his picks, so we will use his Dover picks, which were Kevin Harvick, Chase Elliott, Regan Smith
Ashley’s Comments: Regan Smith hasn’t had the best luck at Kentucky in the past so look for Smith to improve on that this weekend.

Fan #4: Billy Zardo
Billy did not submit his picks so we will use the same as we have all year to date – Ty Dillon, Chase Elliott and Sam Hornish Jr. which becomes Ty Dillon, Chase Elliott and Kyle Busch

Fan #5: Robert Hill
Robert didn’t file his picks so we’ll copy Road America – Ty Dillon, Kenny Habull, Sam Hornish Jr. which becomes Ty Dillon, Matt Kenseth and Kyle Busch
Ashley’s Comments: Kenseth didn’t look strong at first this weekend, though got better as the practice went on.

Fan #6: Joni Stiles
Joni did not file her picks, so we will use her Dover picks, which were Ty Dillon, Kevin Harvick, Chase Elliott

Fan #7: Tyler Sontag
Tyler didn’t file his picks so we’ll copy Road America – Chase Elliott, Alex Tagliani and Sam Hornish Jr. which becomes Chase Elliott, Brad Keselowski and Kyle Busch

Fan #8: Jeni Harris
Picks: Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson and Kyle Busch

Nationwide Series Standings:

Ashley McCubbin – 120+117=237
Billy Stiles Jr. – 117+114=231
Ronald Costigan – 120+107=227
Tyler Sontag – 108+117=225
Justin Tucker – 107+117=224
Christina Corner – 115+105=220
Billy Zardo – 118+99=217
Kyle Magda – 116+100=216
Joni Stiles – 116+96=212
Tayler Stiles – 117+92=209
(Points Leader Post Michigan) Marshall Gabell – 122+85=207
Robert Hill – 111+89=200
Terry Wagner – 87+112=199
Jeni Harris – 76+117=193
Kreistina Blinova – 76+92=168

Sprint Cup Series

Managing Editor: Ashley McCubbin
Pick #1 – Kevin Harvick – Harvick has been pure speed this year so look for that to continue.
Pick #2: Jeff Gordon – Gordon has been solid fast this year and a win at Kentucky would complete the puzzle of wins at every track on the circuit.
Pick #3: Jimmie Johnson – Johnson has been strong lately and is on a roll so you know he’ll be good on Saturday night.

NASCAR Journalist Tayler Stiles
Tayler did not file her picks, so we will use her Dover picks – Matt Kenseth, Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson
Ashley’s comments: Kenseth scored a win at Kentucky last year so look for him to use that to get himself in the Chase this year.

NASCAR Journalist Kreistina Blinova
Kreistina did not file her picks so we’re burrowing her Michigan choices – Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Ashley’s Comments: Earnhardt has been strong so far this year and with a past top-five on the 1.5-mile oval, he should be good.

Photographer: Ronald Costigan
Picks: Kyle Busch, Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr,
Ronald’s reasoning: Hendrick Motorsports has been on a great streak of success lately and that should continue this weekend. The speed that they’ve shown and the know-how of the crew chiefs should lead to great finishes this weekend. Busch is a past winner on the 1.5-mile oval and is confident going into this weekend.

SpeedwayMedia.com Journalist: Marshall Gabell
Picks: Brad Keselowski, Matt Kenseth and Brian Vickers
Ashley’s Comments: Keselowski is a previous Kentucky winner, while Vickers hasn’t had the best of luck in the past – but may turn that around this weekend.

Frontstretch.com Journalist: Justin Tucker
Picks: Paul Menard, Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Ashley’s Comments: Menard has led RCR in success this year and that should continue this weekend as he’ll get some extra laps with the NNS race.

The Times Leader Journalist Kyle Magda
Picks: Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano and Jimmie Johnson
Ashley’s Comments: Logano has a past top-five at Kentucky and his speed this year should lead to more success this weekend.

Fan #1: Terry Wagner
Picks: Kasey Kahne, Kyle Busch and Joey Logano
Ashley’s Comments: Kahne is starting to find his stride with back-to-back top-10s while Busch has a top-10 in each previous start at Kentucky, including a win.

Fan #2: Christina Cordner
Picks: Matt Kenseth, Jimmie Johnson and Brian Vickers

Fan #3: Billy Stiles Jr.
Billy did not file his picks so we will be using his Charlotte picks – Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Fan #4: Billy Zardo
Picks: Kyle Busch, Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Fan #5: Robert Hill
Robert did not file his picks so we will use his Sonoma picks – Brad Keselowski, Marcos Ambrose and Kyle Busch
Ashley’s Comments: Marcos hasn’t had the best of luck at Kentucky in the past, however may be able to change that around this weekend.

Fan #6: Joni Stiles
Joni did not file her picks so we will be using her Charlotte picks – Kasey Kahne, Kurt Busch and Martin Truex Jr.
Ashley’s comments: Both Busch and Truex have a pair of top 10s at Kentucky so perhaps success is in the cards.

Fan #7: Tyler Sontag
Tyler did not file his picks so we will use his Sonoma picks – Marcos Ambrose, Kyle Busch and Jeff Gordon

Fan #8: Jeni Harris
Picks: Denny Hamlin, Matt Kenseth and Kyle Larson
Ashley’s Comments: Hamlin has a top-five at Kentucky while Larson will make his Cup Kentucky debut – but no fear, the kid has been good all year.

Current Sprint Cup Standings