Beyond the Flag recently had another opportunity to interview DraftKings NASCAR analyst Pearce Dietrich to talk about what to expect in this weekend’s GEICO 500 at Talladega.
Questions 1 and 2
Beyond the Flag: As we well know, Kyle Busch hasn’t lost a race since before Easter. If he ends up with an undesirable result somewhere below the top 10 or top 20 this week on a track he doesn’t consider a “real” race track, could you see that actually affecting his momentum heading into the races at the 1.5-mile Kansas and Charlotte tracks, or will it be like he never skipped a beat once we get there?
Pearce: In 2015, Kyle Busch won at Sonoma. The next race was at Daytona. He wrecked in practice. He wrecked in the race. After Daytona, Busch won three races in a row. Plate races are exhibitions for Rowdy. A loss in Denny Hamlin’s short track showdown before the Richmond race means more than a DNF at a plate track.
Beyond the Flag: Two of the top four active drivers in terms of average finishes at Talladega are Ty Dillon and Gray Gaulding. Who do you trust more this weekend as a sleeper to possibly end up in the top 10 or maybe even the top 5?
Pearce: Statistically, Ty Dillon is one of the worst plate racers ever. He’s never earned a top 10 in a Cup Series plate race. He only has 3 top 10s in 14 Xfinity Series plate races. He can finish, and he can earn a top 15, but that’s enough fantasy points. I’ll take the driver that no one wants to play. Gray Gaulding was in the optimal lineup in the last Talladega race.