NASCAR Pick ‘Em is open to give you an opportunity to win prizes and bragging rights in the NBC Sports Predictor app.
When NASCAR implemented stage racing in 2017, they changed how drivers and teams approached each weekend. With race points on the line and a playoff bonus point for winning stages, drivers have to decide if it is worth racing hard to win the stage, or if they want to employ some other strategy.
The free-to-play NASCAR Pick ‘Em game is simple to play, but with equally matched drivers in each stage, it’s not always easy to determine who will lead their group. Each week, players will pick one of four drivers to finish best in Stage 1, Stage 2, and when the checkers wave.
Participants can compete for weekly cash prizes, with a $10,000 jackpot available for any participants who earn a perfect score. There will also be at least $1,000 awarded each week in guaranteed cash and prizes, even if there is no player with a perfect score.
Click here to head to the Predictor lobby and play
Best Finish, Stage 1
Matchup: Christopher Bell, Alex Bowman, William Byron, Kevin Harvick
Keys: Bell has earned only one stage point at Martinsville and since he also has the least among this foursome in 2021, he can be excluded. In fact, three drivers from this group are still seeking their first stage win of 2021.
Edge: Byron. Hendrick Motorsports has been incredibly strong at Martinsville through the years and all four of their drivers have succeeded there – not matter who they are. Additionally, Byron has four stage wins in 2021 and the most points of this group.
Best Finish, Stage 2
Matchup: Chase Elliott, Denny Hamlin, Kyle Larson, Joey Logano
Keys: The Sports Predictor app assembled the big guns for this grouping. Larson (393), Hamlin (378), Logano (316), and Elliott (274) are the top four points’ earners in stages this year. With 17 stage wins, Larson tops that chart over Hamlin’s 10.
Edge: Hamlin. But it’s Hamlin with the edge at Martinsville. With 82 points and two segment wins over the past three years, he’s head and shoulders above the competition.
Best Finish, Final Stage
Matchup: Ryan Blaney, Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski, Martin Truex Jr.
Keys: For the four drivers fighting at the cutline, the Xfinity 500 will look a lot like a chess match. They will race near one another all afternoon and after Stage 2 is completed, will have a much better idea of what the goal is for the final segment.
Edge: Truex. He hasn’t made a lot of noise during the past month, but Truex is a driver who often seems to come from nowhere when he scores a win.
Top-three, Race Results
With three wins in the last four Martinsville races, Truex is an obvious choice to win. And since Martinsville is a prelude to another short, flat track next week, look for Chase Elliott and Denny Hamlin to get their car prepared for Phoenix Raceway by rounding out the top three.
Segment Points and Wins, 2021
Driver | Segment | Segment | Segments |
393 | 17 | 52 | |
378 | 10 | 55 | |
316 | 5 | 38 | |
274 | 4 | 45 | |
261 | 4 | 43 | |
248 | 7 | 43 | |
227 | 4 | 35 | |
Martin Truex, Jr. | 202 | 5 | 34 |
193 | 2 | 35 | |
173 | 38 | ||
172 | 3 | 31 | |
167 | 3 | 35 | |
114 | 27 | ||
109 | 23 | ||
104 | 26 | ||
63 | 16 | ||
57 | 2 | 14 | |
56 | 2 | 12 | |
54 | 1 | 15 | |
40 | 10 | ||
40 | 7 | ||
35 | 6 | ||
31 | 9 | ||
30 | 7 | ||
30 | 6 | ||
23 | 4 | ||
19 | 3 | ||
19 | 3 | ||
14 | 5 | ||
14 | 3 | ||
10 | 3 | ||
9 | 2 | ||
4 | 2 | ||
3 | 1 | ||
1 | 1 | ||
1 | 1 |
