Hey racefans, Bryan here—back again with my fantasy NASCAR picks, and this week we’re headed to sunny South Florida for the Straight Talk Wireless 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
If you’re in a league like mine, you already know the rules: 6 total drivers, with 1 main driver locked in for the season (for me, that’s Tyler Reddick) and the remaining 5 split into 2 from the top 12 in standings and 3 from drivers ranked 13th and below.
Why Homestead Matters in Fantasy NASCAR
This week’s race at Homestead is a different beast. The 1.5-mile oval is a high-line heaven that rewards patience, car control, and tire management. If you’ve got a driver who isn’t afraid to rip the top lane for 400 miles, you’re in good shape.
Let’s break down my full lineup with deep dives into why these guys are making the cut this week.
My Main Driver (Locked-In): Tyler Reddick (#45 Toyota – 23XI Racing)
There’s a reason I locked in Reddick as my season-long guy before the green flag even flew at Daytona. This is the type of track where he comes alive. Homestead’s worn surface and forgiving outer wall create a playground for drivers who aren’t afraid to test the limit—and Reddick might be the best in the field at doing just that.
He scored his first Homestead win in 2024, leading 97 laps in a dominant performance, and has consistently run up front here across multiple series. His ability to generate long-run speed by managing tire wear while still ripping the fence is elite. That’s fantasy gold when you factor in stage points, which Reddick often racks up thanks to his qualifying speed and early track position.
This is a “set it and forget it” week if there ever was one.
Let’s get into the rest of my picks.
William Byron (#24 Chevrolet – Hendrick Motorsports)
Byron is the model of consistency right now, sitting at the top of the standings with 207 points. But beyond the hot start, what really sells me on Byron this week is his history at Homestead. This is where he earned his first Cup win back in 2021, and he hasn’t looked back since.
His average finish at Homestead is 7.3, and he’s one of the best in the field at maintaining pace over long green-flag runs. Byron’s also been excellent in stage racing—he knows how to position himself at the end of stages for maximum points. With Chad Knaus calling the strategy behind the scenes at Hendrick, you know they’ll have the car dialed in.
He’s not the flashiest pick of the week, but when you’re trying to win a season-long fantasy pool, consistency is king—and Byron brings it every time the green drops.
Christopher Bell (#20 Toyota – Joe Gibbs Racing)
I wasn’t sold on Bell as a weekly fantasy play earlier in the season—but I am now. With three wins already in 2025, he’s found his rhythm, and more importantly, he’s learned how to close races. What makes him so dangerous at Homestead is his discipline. While others push too hard too early, Bell paces himself, keeps the car clean, and then strikes late.
In his Cup career at Homestead, he’s been quietly efficient. His best finish is inside the top 10, and while that might not jump off the stat sheet, it’s how he gets there that matters—he scores stage points, avoids wrecks, and gains track position when it matters.
With the JGR Toyotas improving on intermediates this year, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Bell battling up front by Stage 2. You need at least one driver with “race-winning upside” in your lineup, and Bell fits that role this week.
My 3 Picks from Outside The Top 12
Kyle Busch (#8 Chevrolet – Richard Childress Racing)
Kyle Busch might be sitting 17th in points, but let’s be real—that’s not reflective of his skill or potential. When it comes to Homestead, this guy is battle-tested. He’s got two career wins here and an average finish of 9.3 over a whopping 19 starts.
Busch knows how to race Homestead the right way. He plays the long game, saves his tires, and doesn’t panic if he falls outside the top 10 early. And when it comes to stage points? Busch is still one of the best in the business at carving through traffic and getting himself in position at the end of each stage.
Yes, RCR has been a bit up and down this year, but Kyle has the kind of talent that can make up for a slightly off setup. If the team gets him close on the balance, he’ll figure out the rest.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (#47 Chevrolet – JTG Daugherty Racing)
This one might raise some eyebrows—but hear me out. Stenhouse isn’t just a Daytona guy anymore. He’s been putting together solid intermediate runs and sits at 16th in points for a reason. Homestead plays to his aggressive, high-line driving style, and that’s what gives him sneaky upside this week.
His best Cup finish here is 10th, and while that doesn’t scream “pick me,” I’m thinking floor and ceiling here. He has the tools to pick up mid-pack stage points if he qualifies well and can survive the early chaos. JTG has brought better equipment to the track this season, and if there’s a week to roll the dice on Stenhouse, this is it.
I don’t expect a win, but a P10-P12 with a few stage points? That’s a solid return for a lower-tier fantasy pick.
Daniel Suárez (#99 Chevrolet – Trackhouse Racing)
The Trackhouse camp has been unpredictable this year, but Suárez is starting to show life again. Sitting 19th in points, he’s firmly in that sweet spot of being eligible for our bottom-three picks—and he’s got just enough upside to justify it.
Suárez has finished top 10 at Homestead in the past and tends to thrive when races go long and green. His strength is in clean, efficient runs. If he can qualify inside the top 15, I expect him to hold his ground and possibly sneak into the top 10 by the end. He’s not a big stage points guy, but in deeper leagues, you want someone who’s unlikely to burn you—and that’s Suárez this week.
Final Thoughts On This Weeks Pics
Homestead-Miami Speedway is one of those tracks that separates the wheelmen from the field fillers. It’s fast, it’s slick, and it’s a place where your tires wear out before your patience does.
This isn’t a superspeedway lottery or a road course chess match—this is a straight-up test of car control, corner commitment, and throttle discipline.
That’s why I built my fantasy lineup this week around drivers who not only have history here, but who know how to manage a race over the course of 400 miles.
Guys like Byron and Bell have the setups, the strategy, and the momentum. They’ve already proven this year that they can qualify up front and stay there. Byron is laser-sharp right now, and Bell is quietly becoming one of the best closers in the series. These two aren’t just smart picks—they’re safe picks with legitimate upside to win.
On the flip side, my 13+ drivers this week aren’t just names I grabbed from the back half of the standings.
Kyle Busch is a calculated bet. He hasn’t had the best season so far, but Homestead is one of his best tracks statistically, and if RCR gets him anywhere close on balance, he’ll muscle it into a top 5 by the end. This is a veteran move—take the guy who’s proven at the venue, even if the current numbers look lukewarm.
Stenhouse and Suárez round out the roster with a little bit of gamble and a lot of potential.
I’m not banking on them to win, but if either one sneaks into the top 10 and grabs a few stage points, that’s a fantasy win in its own right—especially if other players in your league are burning one of their top-tier picks on someone with a rough track record here.
Overall, this lineup is built for balance. I’ve got drivers who can bring me solid stage points, a shot at the win, and consistency across long green-flag runs. There’s risk, sure, but in fantasy, you have to play both sides—secure the foundation, then swing for upside where you can afford it.
If Homestead turns into the long-run tire-wear race we’ve seen in years past, this roster can pile up serious points. And if there’s chaos? Well, Reddick and Busch are usually the last ones standing near the front when the dust settles.
See you after the checkered flag—and let’s hope the wall-riders deliver.
—Bryan
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Cruising the fast lane for over a decade at DrivingOnMarbles.com! 
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