| |  | | | | Fantasy picks for the Bank of America 500 at Lowes Motor Speedway
Reid Spencer, Bill Marx and Roger Kuznia of the Sporting News are matching wits in the Pit box in 2008. The rules are different this year.
They can pick a driver only once during the season. But for good measure, each also will pick his favorite to win the race.
Reid’s pick: Regan Smith. In a classic example of poetic justice, Smith gets his breakthrough victory a week after he beat Tony Stewart to the checkered flag at Talladega -- and so what if he passed below the yellow line! After Smith wins Saturday night, Dorothy clicks the heels of her ruby slippers together, and we all follow the yellow brick road back to Kansas.
Who Reid really thinks will win: Carl Edwards. After letting some steam out of the pressure cooker with his buddy Kevin Harvick, Edwards should be ready to go. And, Bill, threatening to buy Lowes' s stock is no threat at all. It's a helluva value at $18.
Roger’s pick: Mike Skinner. Based on teammate Brian Vickers’ past strength at Charlotte, I’m hoping it rubs off on Skinner. Though he’s starting 34th because of the rainout, he should get his Red Bull car to the front.
Who Roger really thinks will win: Jimmie Johnson. His house
Bill’s pick: I know Jimmie Johnson is to Lowe's what Babe Ruth was to Yankee Stadium, but I'm not going to use JJ. And believe me, I am tempted. Instead I will go with David Reutimann, who had five straight top-20 finishes until his engine failed last week at Talladega. Like a manager heading into the postseason, I am positioning my big three -- Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. for the final three races. Another top-20 finish is all I ask -- or need.
Who Bill really thinks will win: Johnson. If Johnson loses Saturday night, I'll buy Lowe's stock on Monday.
Last Week
Bill opened up his lead in the one-and-done competition when Roger’s selection of Dale Earnhardt Jr. (28th) got caught up in the Big One. Bill had Aric Almirola, who finished 13th, and now Bill is 47 points clear of Roger with six races left. Reid’s selection of Mike Wallace finished 30th after he had tire problems. In the real picks, a new leader is born, with Reid overtaking Bill. Reid’s pick of Jimmie Johnson (9th) bested Bill’s pick of Carl Edwards (29th), who was responsible for starting the Big One. Oh, the wackiness of Talladega!
Points standings
One and done: Bill Marx 3,512; Roger Kuznia, 3,465; Reid Spencer, 3,445.
Real picks: Reid, 4,511; Bill, 4,485; Roger, 4,125.
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