Hey there race fans, Bryan here—and buckle up because we’re heading back to one of the most unpredictable, high-octane tracks on the Cup Series schedule: Atlanta Motor Speedway. Or, as I like to call it, Daytona’s sneaky twin that drank an energy drink and forgot it’s a mile shorter.
This weekend’s Quaker State 400 is shaping up to be another pack-racing pressure cooker with three-wide chaos, tandem pushes, and one big ol’ wreck waiting to ruin someone’s fantasy hopes. But don’t worry—I’ve built a lineup that can not only survive the draft but score big stage points and maybe even sniff victory lane.
Let’s dive into who’s locked in, who’s hot, and who could shock the field.
Locked-In Driver: Tyler Reddick (#45 – 23XI Racing)
I’ve had Tyler Reddick all year, and honestly? I’m not complaining. He’s been quietly strong at Atlanta’s new superspeedway layout, including a P2 finish here in the spring.
With 3 Top-5s this season and a knack for making bold moves late in races, Reddick is built for restarts and lives for those three-lap shootouts where fantasy points rain from the heavens.
Bonus Tip: He’s consistently top-10 in stage points at drafting tracks, so even if he doesn’t win, he’ll pad the fantasy column before the checkered flag waves.
Top-Tier Fantasy Picks from the Top 12
William Byron (#24 – Hendrick Motorsports)
Let’s be real—William Byron has been cooking all season. He leads the points standings, racks up laps led like he’s playing NASCAR Monopoly, and he always shows up at Atlanta. He won here in 2022, finished Top-10 multiple times since, and is the most polished Hendrick driver on superspeedways.
Bryan’s Tip: Lock him in for stage points. He’ll likely start near the front, stay up front, and earn you fantasy gold before Lap 100 even hits.
Kyle Larson (#5 – Hendrick Motorsports)
Kyle Larson doesn’t have a superspeedway win yet, but it feels like it’s coming. He led laps and finished 3rd here in the spring and has 3 wins already this year, leading the entire field in laps led. At Atlanta, he’s learned when to push and when to ride—and that makes him dangerous in the best way.
Bryan’s Tip: He’s a stage-point machine. Even if chaos erupts late, Larson is almost guaranteed to earn you points early.
Underdog Drafting Specialists: Picks from Outside the Top 12
Austin Cindric (#2 – Team Penske)
If you’re talking superspeedways, don’t sleep on Austin Cindric. He won at Talladega earlier this year and thrives in the draft-heavy, strategy-filled madness of tracks like Atlanta. Penske’s got strong setups for this style of racing, and Cindric’s positioning and patience pay off more often than not.
Bryan’s Tip: Great stage runner and potential Top-5 finisher. He also doesn’t panic when the field stacks up—rare and valuable.
Erik Jones (#43 – Legacy Motor Club)
Mr. Underrated himself. Erik Jones has quietly strung together quality finishes at Atlanta and other drafting tracks. While he’s not flashy, he’s clean, calculated, and usually right there when the wreck smoke clears.
Bryan’s Tip: Low-risk, high-reward pick if your league rewards consistency and survival—which, let’s be honest, is everything at a track like this.
Josh Berry (#21 – Wood Brothers Racing)
Hot take alert: Josh Berry might be the best value play this week. He won Daytona earlier this year and has been quietly excellent at managing draft packs. He’s scrappy, confident, and runs well with teammates when it counts.
Bryan’s Tip: If he avoids getting caught up in the Big One, Berry has a very real shot at a second win—or at least a big stage haul.
Final Lineup: My Fantasy Picks for Drafting Domination at Atlanta
| Role | Driver | Why Pick Them |
|---|---|---|
| Main Driver | Tyler Reddick (#45) | Runner-up here in the spring, solid stage performance all season |
| Top Pick | William Byron (#24) | Atlanta winner in 2022, most consistent top-tier performer in 2025 |
| Momentum Pick | Kyle Larson (#5) | Led laps at Atlanta, strongest Hendrick car in 2025 |
| Underdog Pick | Austin Cindric (#2) | Talladega winner, proven superspeedway savvy |
| Underdog Pick | Erik Jones (#43) | Consistent finisher at Atlanta, underrated closer |
| Underdog Pick | Josh Berry (#21) | Daytona winner, running hot and hungry for more |
Final Wrap-Up: Superspeedway Strategy, Survival, and Scoring Big
Atlanta may be shaped like a mile-and-a-half cookie cutter, but it races like Daytona’s unpredictable cousin—fast, aggressive, and one heartbeat away from a 12-car pileup. Fantasy players need to draft like crew chiefs: think stage points early, survival late, and draft-track instincts all around.
This week’s lineup gives you a well-rounded attack—big guns up front, momentum riders in the middle, and underdogs who know how to ride the storm and pounce when it counts.
Whether it’s Reddick diving low, Byron pulling the field, or Berry slicing his way through a last-lap scramble, I’ve built a roster designed for maximum scoring at full throttle.
So fire up the grill, settle into your seat, and enjoy the mayhem that is the Quaker State 400.
Here’s hoping we all survive Turn 4 with points in the bank and bragging rights by sunset.
– Bryan
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