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Fantasy NASCAR Picks for the 2025 Food City 500: My Top Picks, Underdogs & Strategy for Bristol

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Hey there, race fans!
Bryan here—and you know what time it is. We’re rolling into Bristol Motor Speedway this weekend for the Food City 500, and it’s time to lock in those fantasy picks. If Darlington was all about finesse and tire strategy, Bristol is all about chaos, contact, and short-track swagger. This place is loud, fast, and unforgiving… and I absolutely love it.

We’re about a third of the way through the season now, and momentum is really starting to matter. Denny Hamlin is heating up, Kyle Larson is due for redemption, and we’ve got a few under-the-radar drivers who could be sneaky-good plays this week.

Let’s get into it. Here’s who I’m rolling with in my fantasy lineup for Bristol.

Locked & Loaded: My Main Driver – Tyler Reddick

Still riding with my guy Tyler Reddick. He’s been rock solid all year, and while Bristol hasn’t been his best track in the past, I’ve got faith in the No. 45 team. He’s aggressive enough to make moves when the rubber hits the road, and if he can stay out of trouble in those long green-flag runs, I wouldn’t be shocked to see him in the top 5—or better.

Bryan’s Bonus Tip: Reddick tends to shine when tracks get slick and physical. Don’t count him out if the chaos meter spikes on Sunday.

Top 12 Picks: Who I’m Trusting from the Front

Denny Hamlin (#11 – Joe Gibbs Racing)

Back-to-back wins at Martinsville and Darlington? Yeah, I’m not overthinking this one. Denny’s hot, and Bristol has always been one of his playgrounds. He knows how to stay cool in tight traffic and make his moves when it counts.

Fantasy Risk Level: Low
Bryan’s Bonus Tip: Denny’s not just a momentum play—he’s a Bristol ace with multiple wins here. Plug him in and let him cook.

Kyle Larson (#5 – Hendrick Motorsports)

Larson and Bristol go together like horsepower and hot laps. He’s had some rough luck lately (looking at you, Darlington), but this is the track where he could absolutely bounce back. He’s dominated here before—remember when he led 462 of 500 laps? Unreal.

Fantasy Risk Level: Medium (only because of recent bad luck)
Bryan’s Bonus Tip: Larson’s a high-ceiling play. If your league rewards laps led, this is your guy.

Outside the Top 12 Picks: Underdogs with Upside

Ryan Preece (#60 – RFK Racing)

Currently sitting just outside the top 12, Preece has quietly had a solid season. He’s one of those guys who’s built for short tracks—aggressive, scrappy, and not afraid to rub fenders. Bristol’s a place where that style pays off.

Fantasy Risk Level: Medium
Bryan’s Bonus Tip: Preece is the perfect pick to separate your lineup from the pack. Low ownership in most leagues, decent upside.

Chase Briscoe (#19 – Joe Gibbs Racing)

Briscoe’s flown a bit under the radar this season, but I’m keeping my eye on him. He’s hungry and has looked sharper as the season’s gone on. Bristol suits his grit-over-glamour approach.

Fantasy Risk Level: Medium
Bryan’s Bonus Tip: Briscoe is a sleeper for a top-10 finish—especially if the race gets spicy and strategy comes into play.

Kyle Busch (#8 – Richard Childress Racing)

The king of Bristol? That might not be a stretch. Busch has eight wins here and always finds a way to be relevant at Thunder Valley. He hasn’t had the flashiest season, but don’t sleep on his Bristol instincts.

Fantasy Risk Level: Low
Bryan’s Bonus Tip: Even when Busch is off, he’s still a threat at Bristol. Veteran pick with high reward potential.

Final Thoughts: Bring on the Bumpin’

Bristol is pure NASCAR fun—short track, high intensity, elbows out. My fantasy picks this week are a mix of sure bets and strategic swings, and I feel good about the balance. If we hit on these underdogs and my top guys stay clean, we could be looking at a serious points haul.

Stay tuned—I’ll be back after the race with a full wrap-up and breakdown of how our squad performed. In the meantime, good luck in your pool, enjoy the race, and let’s hope no one wrecks our week on lap 3.

Catch you after the checkered flag.

Author Profile

Bryan
Hey there race fans, welcome to Driving on Marbles, where I break down NASCAR with real insight, smart strategy, and race by race analysis. This isn’t just race recaps and highlight talk, it’s trends, track history, driver momentum, and the little details that actually make a difference on race day.

Whether you’re setting your fantasy lineup, looking for betting angles, or just want to understand why things happen on the track, I’ve got you covered. My goal is simple: help fans see the race the way teams and strategists do, one decision, one adjustment, one edge at a time.

If you love NASCAR and want more than surface level coverage, you’re in the right place.

Let’s get you closer to the action.