OPR Staff and Fan Fantasy Picks for NCWTS, NNS and NSCS at Atlanta and CTMP

After beating and banging on the short tracks, the stars of the Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series are set to tackle Atlanta Motor Speedway, while the Camping World Truck Series drivers go left and right.

Nationwide Series

Ashley McCubbin picked Kevin Harvick, Chase Elliott and Kyle Busch. Harvick has been fast in each Nationwide Series start this year, while Elliott won earlier this year at Texas Motor Speedway. Meanwhile, Busch is always one to watch when it comes to Nationwide.

Tayler Stiles did not file her picks so we will use her last week picks, which were Kevin Harvick, Regan Smith and Chase Elliott. Smith has been solid this year so far to date, currently sitting second in points.

Kreistina Blinova did not file picks, so we will use her last week picks, which were Jeffrey Earnhardt, Landon Cassill and Elliott Sadler. Sadler has been a consistent front runner each week, while both Cassill and Earnhardt have been getting stronger, posting some solid top 15 performances.

Ronald Costigan picked Kevin Harvick, Chase Elliott and Kyle Busch.

Marshall Gabell did not file his picks, so we will use his last week picks, which were Brian Scott, Kevin Harvick and Dylan Kwasniewski. Scott is a strong front runner who has been close to getting his first career win as of late, while Kwasniewski continues to improve with each passing week.

Justin Tucker picked Kevin Harvick, Chase Elliott and Kyle Busch.

Kyle Magda picked Chase Elliott, Matt Kenseth and Kyle Larson. Larson and Kenseth have both shown speed in their Nationwide Series starts on intermediate tracks this year, and have Cup experience to help them along the way.

Terry Wagner picked Chase Elliott, Joey Logano and Kyle Busch. The 22 currently leads the owner’s standings and Logano has been a top-five contender in each of his stints this season.

Christina Cordner picked Brian Scott, Chase Elliott and Elliott Sadler.

Billy Stiles Jr. did not file his picks so we will use his last week picks Chase Elliott, Regan Smith and Kyle Busch.

Billy Zardo did not file his picks so we will use his last week picks Ty Dillon, Chase Elliott and Kyle Busch. Dillon has been solid this year, posting top 10 finishes on a weekly basis.

Robert Hill did not file his picks so we will use his last week picks Paul Menard, Kyle Busch and Chris Buescher, which becomes Brian Scott, Kyle Busch and Chris Buescher. Buescher is hoping to have a good run after surviving Bristol and picking up his first career win a couple weeks ago.

Joni Stiles did not file her picks so we will use her last week picks Ty Dillon, Austin Theriault and Chase Elliott which becomes Kevin Harvick, Regan Smith and Chase Elliott.

Tyler Sontag did not file his picks so we will use his last week picks Chase Elliott, Brad Keselowski and Kyle Busch which becomes Chase Elliott, Joey Logano and Kyle Busch.

Jeni Harris picked Trevor Bayne, Chase Elliott and Elliott Sadler. Bayne has been solid this year on the intermediate tracks, showing more speed with each passing week.

Nationwide Series Standings

(Points Leader Post Road America) Ashley McCubbin – 1032+123=155
Ronald Costigan – 1013+123=1136
Justin Tucker – 1013+123=1136
Tyler Sontag – 1003+113=1116
Kyle Magda – 1008+101=1109
Terry Wagner – 968+133=1101
Tayler Stiles – 957+118=1075
Christina Cordner – 952+122=1074
Marshall Gabell – 982+89=1071
Billy Stiles Jr. – 943+125=1068
Billy Zardo – 933+126=1059
Joni Stiles – 935+118=1053
Jeni Harris – 940+93=1033
Robert Hill – 811+107=918
Kreistina Blinova – 677+70=747

Camping World Truck Series

Ashley McCubbin picked Alex Tagliani and Matt Crafton. Tagliani is a road course ace and should excel despite this being his first truck start, while Crafton was solid last year at CTMP with a top-10 finish and is the master of consistency.

Tayler Stiles did not file her picks so she has Ryan Blaney and Matt Crafton. Ryan was strong last year at CTMP, posting a solid finish despite contact near the end of the race.

Kreistina Blinova did not file her picks so she has Ron Hornaday and John Hunter Nemechek which becomes Ben Kennedy and John Hunter Nemechek. Nemechek has been top-15 in each truck start to date, while Kennedy keeps improving with each week that he puts behind the wheel.

Ronald Costigan picked Alex Tagliani and Darrell Wallace Jr. After shaking off a poor start to the 2014 season, Darrell Wallace Jr. has been on a roll in posting solid finishes on a weekly basis and finished top-five last year at CTMP.

Marshal Gabell did not file his picks so he has Kyle Larson and Erik Jones which becomes Ben Kennedy and Erik Jones. This marks Jones’ first NCWTS road course start, but the young star seems to be good at adapting to situations so look for him to be up front this weekend.

Justin Tucker picked Alex Tagliani and Darrell Wallace Jr.

Kyle Magda picked Alex Tagliani and Darrell Wallace Jr.

Terry Wagner picked Johnny Sauter and Matt Crafton. Sauter currently leads the points standings, and is looking for redemption after last year’s fuel line issues.

Christina Cordner picked Alex Tagliani and Ryan Blaney.

Billy Stiles Jr. did not file his picks so he will have Ben Kennedy and Ron Hornaday which becomes Ben Kennedy and Cameron Hayley. Hayley will be making his series debut this weekend after having a solid season so far in the K&N Pro Series East that sees him sitting second in points.

Robert Hill did not file his picks so he will have Ryan Blaney and Kyle Larson which becomes Ryan Blaney and Ben Kennedy.

Joni Stiles did not file her picks so she will have Erik Jones and Johnny Sauter.

Tyler Sontag did not file his picks so he will have Erik Jones and Matt Crafton.

Jeni Harris picked John Hunter Nemechek and Darrell Wallace Jr.

Truck Standings

Terry Wagner – 510+88=598
Kreistina Blinova – 500+79=579
(Points Leader Post Michigan) Ashley McCubbin – 515+61=576
Joni Stiles – 509+60=569
Tayler Stiles – 494+71=565
Christina Cordner – 491+73=564
Tyler Sontag – 497+61=558
Ronald Costigan – 487+63=550
Billy Stiles Jr. – 481+64=545
Robert Hill – 481+54=535
Marshall Gabell – 490+44=534
Jeni Harris – 455+73=528
Kyle Magda – 480+39=519
Justin Tucker – 454+39=493

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series

Ashley McCubbin picked Kevin Harvick, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson. Harvick and Gordon are both past winners and have been strong all year, while Johnson is bound to keep the success rolling at a track that he knows how to win at.

Tayler Stiles did not file her picks so we will go last week’s Kyle Busch, Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson. Busch may have self-exploded last week, but look for him to bounce back as he has found success at Atlanta before.

Kreistina Blinova did not file her picks so we will go last week’s Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Earnhardt Jr. is a past winner at Atlanta and given how consistant and strong the 88 team is, things look up for this weekend.

Ronald Costigan picked Kevin Harvick, Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Marshall Gabell did not file his picks so we will go last week’s Jamie McMurray, Kyle Busch and Matt Kenseth. JGR continues to get their program turned around with each week and as they do, Kenseth should be strong. For McMurray, this weekend marks the first win or bust in the next two weeks as he needs a win to get into the Chase.

Justin Tucker picked Kevin Harvick, Joey Logano and Jimmie Johnson. Coming off of his win at Bristol, Logano looks to keep the momentum rolling that has been with him all year thus far.

Kyle Magda picked Jeff Gordon, Joey Logano and Kyle Larson. Following strong runs on intermediate tracks to date, it looks as though this could be the weekend that Larson finds victory lane for the first time.

Terry Wagner picked Brad Keselowski, Kevin Harvick and Joey Logano. Keselowski has shown speed on the intermediate tracks to date this season, picking up the win earlier this year at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Christina Cordner picked Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Carl Edwards. Edwards is trying to end the year on a good note in his final go around with RFR, and as a past winner at Atlanta, perhaps it’s time to repeat past success.

Billy Stiles Jr. did not file his picks so we will go with last week’s Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Billy Zardo did not file his picks so we will go with last week’s Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski and Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Robert Hill did not file his picks so we will go with last week’s Jamie McMurray, Jeff Gordon and Paul Menard. Menard posted a top-five finish only two weeks ago at Michigan. Does RCR have what they need to crack through the winning window?

Joni Stiles did not file her picks so we will use with last week’s Kasey Kahne, Kurt Busch and Martin Truex Jr. Kahne has been strong on intermediate tracks through his whole career – they are considered his wheel-house. Badly needing a win, it could happen this weekend. Busch has shown speed all year, while Truex hopes the pieces begin to fall together with his team.

Tyler Sontag did not file his picks so we will use last week’s Marcos Ambrose, Kyle Busch and Jeff Gordon. Ambrose isn’t known as the strongest intermediate driver, but desperation for Chase may change the waves.

Jeni Harris picked Matt Kenseth, Kurt Busch and Kyle Larson.

Sprint Cup Series Standings