Well a big three did NOT win at Bristol but the person who did win was not any of my selections.

The rules I have implemented for myself are:
1.I will not pick a driver more than 10 times this season.
2.Due to #1 these are “Power Rankings” (in quotations) I’m looking for value here.

My general format for my power rankings:
•Top 2 picks will generally be the favorites, the ones who should be top 5 or top 10 finishes.
• #3 and #4 will be your riskier picks, could be top 5 or bottom 15.
• Pick #5 is the dark horse.

Race Information

Race: Bojangles Southern 500
Laps: 367
Date: September 2nd
Venue: Darlington Raceway
2017 Winner: Denny Hamline (3:46:34)
Broadcast: NBSCN (Dale Earnhardt Jr., Steve Letarte, Jeff Burton)
Most Wins: David Perason (10)

Course:

Darlington Raceway. “The Lady in Black” is a 1.4 mile egg shaped (due to the track running adjacent to a minnow pond that the owner refused to relocate) asphalt track that opened in 1950 by Harold Brasington. The turns are between 23 and 25 degrees and the straights are between 2-3 degrees. It hosts the Bojangles Southern race.

Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images

Power Rankings

Favorites

1) Kyle Busch (4^th selection this year). I’ve been saving starts from Busch and Harvick for the playoffs but Busch has been one of the best drivers at Darlington over the last 4 years averaging a 7^th place finish over every race during that time. He was 2^nd here last year. It’s been 4 races since he won, he’s due to be back in victory lane.

2) Denny Hamlin (6^th selection this year). Alongside Kyle, Denny has probably been the other top driver here also with an average 7^thplace finish over the last four years. He won here last year, finished 4^th in 2016 and 3^rd in 2015. He’s been just past 10^th place in a few of the recent races, I think he rebounds back inside the top 10 this weekend.

High Risk/High Reward

3) Erik Jones (4^th selection this year). He was 5^th here last year as a rookie. He’s finished in the top 5 in three of his last four races.

4) Ryan Newman (6^th selection this year). He has averaged a 10^th place finish over the last four years at Darlington. Four of his last five races have been inside the top 15 racers.

Dark Horse

5) Chris Buescher (2^nd selection this year). He’s now had 3 consecutive races 20^th or better. He finished inside the top 20 each of the last two years at Darlington.

2018 Stats

Favorites: avg finish 10.7 (28th percentile)
High Risk/Reward: avg finish 17th place (45th percentile)
Dark Horse: avg finish 19th place (51st percentile)