“It doesn’t matter what your name is!” — The Rock
As we are all well aware, the NASCAR Cup Series is off this weekend, and that got me thinking.
What if we took the opportunity to throw some cash at the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series for the first time ever? I don’t think there is a more perfect track to do this than historic Rockingham Speedway.
There are also some crazy storylines to follow and a rather controversial debut that may factor into my fantasy picks and bets this weekend. So kick back, relax and let me take you through the hottest picks to make in the OAPS that you need to make to be successful.
Fantasy Forecast
Justin Allgaier $12,000
Justin Allgaier is without a question the hottest driver in the whole series right now. He just can’t stop winning and he might be the perfect candidate to win this race, too.
Rockingham, like Martinsville Speedway and Darlington Raceway, favors the veteran drivers. It doesn’t get much more veteran than Allgaier, and he’s a no-brainer for me this time.
Taylor Gray $8,900
I really feel like I’ve watched Taylor Gray grow up in front of my eyes into a contender in the most complex and competitive series NASACR has to offer.
It’s been interesting, but I have some numbers to make this make more sense. For starters, he drove all the way from 15th to finish fifth in this race a year ago. Also, Gray is really good at Martinsville, a hallmark for greatness at this track as well. He also has a much better starting spot for this race.
If anybody in this field can take the fight to Allgaier this weekend, it’s the driver of the No. 54 Toyota.
Corey Day $8,700
Corey Day may win a race soon, coming off six straight top 10 runs to open the season.
While that’s mighty impressive on its own, I’m paying more attention to just how good the No. 17 was in practice. He showed top-10 speed on the long and short run and, of course, he put this car on the pole for this race.
I don’t think he wins this week, but it’s coming soon, folks.
Parker Retzlaff $7,700
I’ve been one of the biggest proponents of Parker Retzlaff for years to this point, and I’ll be darned if he doesn’t continue to grow.
What he’s been able to accomplish in a short amount of time with upstart Viking Motorsports this season has been nothing short of remarkable.
A career-best finish of second at EchoPark Speedway, and only one finish outside the top 15 in his last five starts could be the beginning of a breakout year. He also put up an absolute screamer of a qualifying lap, putting his No. 99 third on the grid.
Retzlaff is completely underrated and looks to be a factor for a top-five finish.
Brennan Poole $6,400
I also love the season Brennan Poole is having.
At this point in the season, the crafty journeyman driver might be on the biggest run of his long career: he only has one finish outside the top five in his last five starts.
That’s a big deal for a driver who’s been accused of not being able to get it done for the majority of his career.
Poole rolls off 24th on the grid, so he’ll need some help in the track position department, but I like his chances. Look for him in the top 20 for sure.
Jeremy Clements $6,300
I certainly did not think I’d pick Jeremy Clements but here we are.
If you couldn’t tell, this lineup is very top-heavy, so I looked for consistency in the bottom of the lineup, and as of late, Clements has been pretty consistent.
What really attracted me to him was the fact that he finished 11th at Phoenix Raceway and starts inside the top 20 at The Rock.
If Clements manages to walk away with a 19th or so, that’s a win for the owners who have him.
Top Bet and Dark Horse of the Week
Justin Allgaier +375 to win
If you don’t pick Allgaier this week, you’re asking to lose money. I honestly believe that the guy running the No. 48 in the NASCAR Cup Series each week might be making him a better NOAPS driver, which is an odd thing to say about an elder statesman of the series. These are also safe and dependable odds, and I have faith it’s a no-brainer.
Cleetus McFarland +25000 to win:
OK, so there’s absolutely no chance that Garrett “Cleetus McFarland” Mitchell wins this week, right? Stranger things have happened, but Richard Childress Racing seems to have invested a lot into preparing the man once just known as a content creator into a serious NOAPS driver. This is simply a fun but very small chance of hitting a bet, and I love that this guy has brought some fun and speculation. Controversy doesn’t hurt either.
Garrett joined Frontstretch as a news writer in 2023, and became a fantasy racing and betting writer in 2024. Hailing from the heart of coal country in southern West Virginia, he's a married father of three and a licensed Physical Therapist Assistant there.
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