Fantasy NASCAR Picks for the 2025 Food City 500 at Bristol: Who’s Hot, Who’s Not, and Who Might Surprise

William Byron (#24)

Byron’s sitting at the top of the standings and honestly? It’s well-earned. He’s been consistent all season long. But when it comes to Bristol… he hasn’t quite cracked the code yet. Not a lot of laps led here, so he might not be your heavy-hitter this week—but he’s still a safe bet if you’re playing the long game.

Denny Hamlin (#11)

This guy is on another level right now. Back-to-back wins at Martinsville and Darlington, and oh yeah—he won this race last year. He also took the checkered in the 2023 night race, so clearly, Bristol and Denny are vibing lately. Absolute must-have in your lineup.

Christopher Bell (#20)

Three wins already this season and always steady. Bell’s not flashy, but he just keeps showing up with top finishes. He’s low-key really good here too. You want points? Bell brings points. Safe and solid play for sure.

Chase Elliott (#9)

Chase is slowly but surely getting his groove back. He’s been stacking up top 10s and looks way more comfortable behind the wheel this season. While he hasn’t won at Bristol yet, he runs clean and always finds a way to sneak into contention. Nice add if you’re looking for steady.

Tyler Reddick (#45)

Reddick’s one of those guys you want to watch when the grip level’s low and the pressure’s high. He’s had a solid start to the year with a few top 5s, and while Bristol hasn’t been his breakout track just yet, he’s due. He’s the kind of pick that could make you look really smart this week.

Kyle Larson (#5)

Let’s be honest—Larson at Bristol is just scary. He led 462 laps here in the 2024 night race. That’s not a typo. Plus, he’s running the triple (Trucks, Xfinity, and Cup) this weekend. If anyone’s gonna sweep the show, it’s this guy. Lock him in.

Ryan Blaney (#12)

Blaney’s a bit of a quiet storm right now. He’s been consistent this season but hasn’t made a ton of noise yet. Bristol has been hit-or-miss for him, but if the Penske cars show speed in qualifying, he could hang tough all day. Not a flashy pick, but a smart one.

Bubba Wallace (#23)

Bubba’s been putting in work this season. A couple of solid top 5s, and his confidence is clearly growing. Bristol’s been tricky for him in the past, but if he unloads fast and stays clean? He could very well surprise with a top-10 run.

Joey Logano (#22)

Whew—Joey’s season has been rough. But here’s the thing: he’s good at Bristol. Like, really good. If you believe in bounce-backs and veteran grit, this might be the week to roll the dice. Risky? Yep. Rewarding? Possibly.

Alex Bowman (#48)

If you love consistency, Bowman’s your guy. He’s been racking up top 10s without a lot of drama. While he’s not usually a lap-leader at Bristol, he’s the kind of guy who could sneak into a strong finish while others wreck out. Solid glue pick for any lineup.

Chris Buescher (#17)

Buescher has been sneaky good. Five top-10s and not a ton of buzz, which makes him a perfect under-the-radar play. RFK has had speed at short tracks, so don’t sleep on him.

Ross Chastain (#1)

Chastain is a total wild card. He could finish P3 or end up in the wall—sometimes both in the same race. He’s got talent, but at Bristol, you need patience. If he races smart (big if), the upside is there.

Ryan Preece (#60)

Preece hasn’t had a standout season, but he’s always been strong on short tracks. Bristol might give him the best chance yet to shine. If you’re digging deep into the value bin for fantasy or DFS, he’s worth a look.

Chase Briscoe (#19)

It’s been a grind for Briscoe this year, no doubt. That said, he’s a dirt racer at heart, and Bristol’s rough surface sometimes plays into that. You’re not picking him to win, but he could land you some sneaky points.

Kyle Busch (#8)

Let’s wrap with Rowdy. He’s been a little quiet this season, but this is Bristol, and this is Kyle freakin’ Busch—a six-time winner here. It’s not the craziest thing in the world to think this is where he flips the script.