2025 16th Annual FABO NASCAR "Pick 'Em" Game - Are You Ready?

[ocdart]

One more time! The first event is just one month away! It's time to start this thread so I don't forget the 2025 pre-season bonus event.
"The NASCAR Clash at Bowman Gray" is at the Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, NC, and will kick off the 2025 NASCAR season on Sunday, February 2, 2025. This race will run under stadium lights.

I'll post a list of eligible drivers for the 2025 Clash as soon as possible. I will also post Clash qualifying and additional information.

Like last year, game scoring for the NASCAR Clash will work like this:
• Just participate in the Busch Light Clash and pick up -2 bonus points
• Pick three drivers for the main event and list them in the order you think they will finish in the race (first driver named will either win the main event or finish closest to the winner, second driver named will finish behind the first named driver but ahead of the last named driver, last named driver will finish the main event behind your other named drivers). Pick the correct finishing order for your three choices and pick up -5 bonus points


As far as the 2025 NASCAR "Pick 'Em" game.......

We're going with the same rules as the past few years and they again will stay the same all year including bonus points.

1- Pick 2 Drivers each race! (place divided by 2)
ex. 3rd and 9th place =12/2=6----your score for race

2- Bonus pick winning driver. (-5)
ex. your score (6) -5 = 1 score with bonus

3- Bonus pick 2nd place driver. (-3)
ex. your score (6) -3 = 3 score with bonus

4- Picks must be in before the drop of the green flag for each race.
ex. the sticks with green material waving in air, if no pick avg is as if you picked the last place finisher

5- No picks for 3 straight races and you will be sent to pits for the remainder of the season.
ex. out of Competition - lost your team sponsor

6- You may make your picks permanent for the entire season so you don't run the risk of getting the dreaded last-place-pick race result by forgetting to post your weekly picks. Just let me know in your initial pick post that you want your picks to be permanent for the year. Of course, you can always make a change to your permanent picks if one, or both, of your drivers gets sick, injured or loses his ride.

Let me know who is in so I can get your names on my Excel spreadsheet. 2025 is gonna be a great year!!!

Please make your picks by driver name or car number and driver name. Driver name will always take precedence over car number.
If you make your pick by car number only you're going to be locked in to that car number no matter who the driver is; and if you pick a car number not in that weeks race, you'll end up with a last place finish as your score for that car.
..............If you have any questions just ask............


Here's the 2025 Sprint Cup schedule:

02/02 NASCAR Clash at Bowman Gray
02/13 Duel 1 and Duel 2 at Daytona
02/16 Daytona 500
02/23 Atlanta Motor Speedway
03/02 Circuit of the Americas
03/09 Phoenix Raceway
03/16 Las Vegas Motor Speedway
03/23 Homestead-Miami Speedway
03/30 Martinsville Speedway
04/06 Darlington Raceway
04/13 Bristol Motor Speedway
04/27 Talladega Superspeedway
05/04 Texas Motor Speedway
05/11 Kansas Speedway
05/18 NASCAR All-Star Open (North Wilkesboro Speedway)
05/18 NASCAR All-Star Race (North Wilkesboro Speedway
05/25 Charlotte Motor Speedway
06/01 Nashville SuperSpeedway
06/08 Michigan International Speedway
06/15 Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez (Mexico City)
06/22 Pocono Raceway
06/28 Atlanta Motor Speedway
07/06 Chicago Street Race
07/13 Sonoma Raceway
07/20 Dover Motor Speedway
07/27 Indianapolis Motor Speedway
08/03 Iowa Speedway
08/10 Watkins Glen International
08/16 Richmond Raceway
08/23 Daytona International Speedway
08/31 Darlington Raceway
09/07 World Wide Technology Raceway
09/13 Bristol Motor Speedway
09/21 New Hasmpshire Motor Speedway
09/28 Kansas Speedway
10/05 Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course
10/12 Las Vegas Motor Speedway
10/19 Talladega SuperSpeedway
10/26 Martinsville Speedway
11/02 Phoenix Raceway

 

[alsant]

I’m in

 

[ocdart]

The first event is less that a month away so it's time to start making your picks!
"The Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray" stadium on February 2 will kick off the 2025 NASCAR season.

Like last year, game scoring for the Cook Out Clash at the Coliseum will work like this:
• Just participate in the Cook Out Clash and pick up -2 bonus points
• Pick three drivers for the main event and list them in the order you think they will finish in the race (first driver named will either win the main event or finish closest to the winner, second driver named will finish behind the first named driver but ahead of the last named driver, last named driver will finish the main event behind your other named drivers). Pick the correct finishing order for your three choices and pick up -5 bonus points.
• New this year: 0 bonus points if one of your selected drivers doesn't make it to the final 200-lap main event

NASCAR finally revealed the format for the 2025 Cook Out Clash:
The 37-driver field will be split into three practice groups for Saturday evening at 6:10 pm, and the fastest times from this session will determine the lineups for the heat races.
The fastest qualifier will start first in the first of four heat races, the second fastest will start first in the second heat race, and so on and so forth. The first heat race will begin at 8:30 pm on Saturday and each one is 25 laps.
The top four in each heat will qualify for the final clash, bringing the total up to 20. Additionally, each driver who finished outside of the top five will automatically be entered in Sunday's last-chance qualifier.
There will be two spots available through the last chance qualifier on Sunday night at 6 pm where two more drivers will advance to the final clash after 75 green-flag laps (bringing the total to 22 drivers).
The 23rd slot for the final clash is reserved for the driver who finished highest in the 2024 Cup Series standings and who failed to qualify through the heats and last-chance race.
Time to post your three drivers!

 

[ocdart]

According to Jayskis.com, following are the confirmed 2025 NASCAR Cup car numbers, drivers, and team:

#1 Ross Chastain Trackhouse Racing Chevy
#2 Austin Cindric Team Penske Ford
#3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevy
#4 Noah Gragson Front Row Motorsports Ford
#5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevy
#6 Brad Keselowski Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
#7 Justin Haley Spire Motorsports Chevy
#8 Kyle Busch Richard Childress Racing Chevy
#9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevy
#10 Ty Dillon Kaulig Racing Chevy
#11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
#12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford
#15 (Kaz Grala?/Tim Brown?) Rick Ware Racing Ford (no charter)
#16 AJ Allmendinger Kaulig Racing Chevy
#17 Chris Buescher Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
#19 Chase Briscoe Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
#20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
#21 Josh Berry Wood Brothers Racing Ford
#22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford
#23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota
#24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevy
#33 (Austin Hill?/Brodie Kostecki?/Will Brown?) Richard Childress Racing Chevy (no charter)
#34 Todd Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford
#35 Riley Herbst 23XI Racing Toyota
#38 Zane Smith Front Row Motorsports Ford
#40 Justin Allgaier JR Motorsports Chevy (no charter)
#41 Cole Custer Haas Factory Team Ford
#42 John Hunter Nemechek Legacy Motor Club Toyota
#43 Erik Jones Legacy Motor Club Toyota
#44 (JJ Yeley) NY Racing Team Chevy (no charter)
#45 Tyler Reddick 23XI Racing Toyota
#47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. HYAK Motorsports Chevy
#48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevy
#50 Burt Meyers Team Amerivet Racing Chevy (no charter)
#51 Cody Ware Rick Ware Racing Ford
#54 Ty Gibbs Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
#56 Martin Truex Jr. TRICON Toyota (no charter)
#60 Ryan Preece Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
#62 Anthony Alfredo Beard Oil Racing Chevy (no charter)
#66 Timmy Hill/Chad Finchum/Josh Bilicki/Garrett Smithley/Chandler Smith Garage 66 Ford (no charter)
#71 Michael McDowell Spire Motorsports Chevy
#77 Carson Hocevar Spire Motorsports Chevy
#78 BJ McLeod Live Fast Motorsports Chevy (no charter)
#84 Jimmie Johnson Legacy Motor Club Toyota (no charter)
#88 Shane van Giesbergen Trackhouse Racing Chevy
#91 Helio Castraneves Trackhouse Racing Chevy (no charter)
#99 Daniel Suarez Trackhouse Racing Chevy

 

[ocdart]

Found online the official 39 entries for the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray:

#1 Ross Chastain Trackhouse Racing Chevy
#2 Austin Cindric Team Penske Ford
#3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevy
#4 Noah Gragson Front Row Motorsports Ford
#5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevy
#6 Brad Keselowski Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
#7 Justin Haley Spire Motorsports Chevy
#8 Kyle Busch Richard Childress Racing Chevy
#9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevy
#10 Ty Dillon Kaulig Racing Chevy
#11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
#12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford
#15 Tim Brown Rick Ware Racing Ford
#16 AJ Allmendinger Kaulig Racing Chevy
#17 Chris Buescher Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
#19 Chase Briscoe Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
#20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
#21 Josh Berry Wood Brothers Racing Ford
#22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford
#23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota
#24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevy
#34 Todd Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford
#35 Riley Herbst 23XI Racing Toyota
#38 Zane Smith Front Row Motorsports Ford
#41 Cole Custer Haas Factory Team Ford
#42 John Hunter Nemechek Legacy Motor Club Toyota
#43 Erik Jones Legacy Motor Club Toyota
#45 Tyler Reddick 23XI Racing Toyota
#47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. HYAK Motorsports Chevy
#48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevy
#50 Burt Meyers Team Amerivet Racing Chevy
#51 Cody Ware Rick Ware Racing Ford
#54 Ty Gibbs Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
#60 Ryan Preece Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
#66 Garrett Smithley Garage 66 Ford
#71 Michael McDowell Spire Motorsports Chevy
#77 Carson Hocevar Spire Motorsports Chevy
#88 Shane van Giesbergen Trackhouse Racing Chevy
#99 Daniel Suarez Trackhouse Racing Chevy
Again, you must pick three drivers in the correct finishing order to earn the -5 bonus point award.
They do not have to be the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finishers of the main event, you just need to post your picks in the correct finishing order (example: they could be the 8th place, 12th place and 21st place finishers, as long as you list your picks in the correct finishing order).
Post your picks and GOOD LUCK!
Only 23 of the above cars will make it through to race in the 200-lap main event so make your three driver picks carefully.

 

[ocdart]

@Riverdawg, are you playing the 2025 NASCAR "Pick 'Em" game this year? I really need to have a minimum of ten players.
C'mon, post up some picks for the "Clash".

 

[alsant]

OC I’m playing over on FABO , if that’s ok with you?

 

[ocdart]

OC I’m playing over on FABO , if that’s ok with you?

Absolutely not a problem. I've got your FABO picks recorded.

 

[Riverdawg]

Sorry, late to the party ocdart. put me down for #9 Chase Elliott and #23 Bubba Wallace for permanent race picks. #3 Austin Dillon.

 

[ocdart]

Sorry, late to the party ocdart. put me down for #9 Chase Elliott and #23 Bubba Wallace for permanent race picks. #3 Austin Dillon.

@Riverdawg
OK. #9 Chase Elliott and #23 Bubba Wallace as 'locked' race picks.
Is #3 Austin Dillon your 'locked' Pole pick? Or something else?
Please confirm.

 

[Riverdawg]

@Riverdawg
OK. #9 Chase Elliott and #23 Bubba Wallace as 'locked' race picks.
Is #3 Austin Dillon your 'locked' Pole pick? Or something else?
Please confirm.

Yes, setup 3 lock for the pole. Thanks

 

[ocdart]

Chase Briscoe in the #19 Toyota was quickest during qualifying to grab the 2025 Daytona 500 Pole.
No "Pole Pick" bonus point for any of our "Pick 'Em" game players this week.

 

[ocdart]

Corrected - see FABO post #147

Congratulations to 'alsant' (FABO), 'cuda20' (FABO), 'fishmens67' (FABO) and 'Yunick13' (FABO) for correctly picking the Daytona 500 race winner, #24 William Byron, and picking up -5 bonus points each.

Congrats also to 'MeMikieJr' (FABO) for correctly picking the race runner-up, #45 Tyler Reddick, and grabbing -3 bonus points this week.

'fishmens67' had the low net score honors for the week with 3.0 points.

#22 Joey Logano was the race leader at the end of Stage 1, #6 Brad Keselowski was in 2nd.
#12 Ryan Blaney was the race leader at the end of Stage 2, #2 Austin Cindric was in 2nd.

Here are the game standings following the 2025 Daytona 500:
fishmens67 (FABO) -2.0 LP5 L24 9 1 15 -5 1.0
MeMikieJr (FABO) -7.0 P11 11 45 24 2 -3 3.0
alsant (FABO) -2.0 LP20 L24 L5 1 20 -5 5.5
cuda20 (FABO) -2.0 P11 11 24 24 1 -5 7.5
Yunick13 (FABO) -2.0 11 L11 L24 24 1 -5 7.5
memike (FBBO) -7 12 12 (S2-2) 22 (S1-2) 7 35 10.0
44070dart (FABO) -2.0 P22 22 (S1-2) 2 (S2-1) 35 8 16.5
Back in Time (FABO) -2.0 P11 2 (S2-1) 8 8 34 18.0
ocdart (FABO) -2.0 P24 2 (S2-1) 8 8 34 18.0
Unconventional (FABO) -2.0 P12 22 (S1-2) 9 35 15 21.0
Riverdawg (FBBO) 0.0 LP3 L9 L23 15 29 22.0
Sublime one (FABO) -2.0 LP22 L22 (S1-2) L5 35 20 23.5

As a reminder here's a quick explanation of what the above numbers represent:
(your score before the race) (your Pole pick car #) (Pole winner bonus point) (race pick car #) (Stage bonus points) (race pick car #) (Stage bonus points) (race pick finish position) (race pick finish position) (race winner/runner-up bonus points) (your score after the race)
Please let me know if I show either your Pole or Race picks incorrectly or if you have any questions.

Please post your picks for the next race and let me know if you want to "lock" them in for future weeks. I will put an "L" before either your Pole pick or your race picks to show they've been "locked".
As always, you can always make different picks each week. Your "locked" picks will always be there should you forget to post your race picks, your computer malfunctions or the site should go down temporarily.

Don't forget to get your picks for the Ambetter Health 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway posted before the green flag drops at approximately 3:15 PM EST (12:15 PM PST) on Sunday, February 23.

Your Pole Pick for Atlanta will need to be posted before qualifying starts at 11:35AM EST (8:35AM PST) on Saturday, February 22.

 

[ocdart]

Interesting.
NASCAR "Pick 'Em" players made 7 different Pole pick choices this week at Atlanta but only 2 made the final round of qualifying.
Congratulations to '44070dart' (FABO), 'memike' (FABO) and 'unconventional' (FABO) for picking the #12 Ryan Blaney, the quickest qualifier around Atlanta, and earning the -1 bonus point.

 

[ocdart]

JMO...I thought Josh Berry drove a heck of a race in the #21 for the Wood Brothers team. A lot better race than his 25th-place finish due to a late accident.

Nobody picked neither race winner #20 Christopher Bell nor runner-up #77 Carson Hocevar so no race winner or runner-up bonus points awarded this week.

'cuda20' (FABO) had the low net score honors for the week with 1.5 points.

#21 Josh Berry was the race leader at the end of Stage 1, #2 Austin Cindric was in 2nd.
#5 Kyle Larson was the race leader at the end of Stage 2, #23 Bubba Wallace was in 2nd.

Here are the game standings following the 2025 Ambetter Health 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway:
cuda20 (FABO) 5.5 P5 12 5 (S2-2) 4 3 7.0
Yunick13 (FABO) 5.5 P5 12 8 4 7 11.0
fishmens67 (FABO) 1.0 LP5 L24 L5 (S2-2) 27 3 14.0
MeMikieJr (FABO) 3.0 P24 5 (S2-2) 24 3 27 16.0
alsant (FABO) 3.5 LP20 L24 L5 (S2-2) 27 3 16.5
memike (FABO) 10.0 P12 -1 22 12 12 4 17.0
Sublime one (FABO) 23.5 LP22 L22 L5 (S2-2) 12 3 29.0
ocdart (FABO) 18.0 P71 2 (S1-1) 8 28 7 34.5
Riverdawg (FBBO) LP3 L9 L23 (S2-1) 20 9 35.5
Unconventional (FABO) P12 -1 12 9 12 20 36.0
44070dart (FABO) 16.5 P12 -1 L223 17 12 30 36.5
Back in Time (FABO) 18.0 P71 22 24 12 27 37.5

As a reminder here's a quick explanation of what the above numbers represent:
(your score before the race) (your Pole pick car #) (Pole winner bonus point) (race pick car #) (Stage bonus points) (race pick car #) (Stage bonus points) (race pick finish position) (race pick finish position) (race winner/runner-up bonus points) (your score after the race)
Please let me know if I show either your Pole or Race picks incorrectly or if you have any questions.

Please post your picks for the next race and let me know if you want to "lock" them in for future weeks. I will put an "L" before either your Pole pick or your race picks to show they've been "locked".
As always, you can always make different picks each week. Your "locked" picks will always be there should you forget to post your race picks, your computer malfunctions or the site should go down temporarily.

Two 'super-speedway' drafting tracks to open the season and now we're off to a road course. Don't forget to get your picks for the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, posted before the green flag drops at approximately 3:45 PM EST (12:45 PM PST) on Sunday, March 2.

There are two practice sessions scheduled before Cup qualifying. Your Pole Pick for COTA will need to be posted before qualifying starts at 11:30AM EST (8:30AM PST) on Saturday, March 1.

 

[ocdart]

Congratulations to 'Yunick13' (FABO) for picking #45 Tyler Reddick, the quickest qualifier around COTA, and earning the -1 bonus point.

 

[ocdart]

Congratulations to 'memike' (FABO) for hitting the first NASCAR "Pick 'Em" exacta of the 2025 season by picking both the race winner, #20 Christopher Bell, and the race runner-up, #24 William Byron, and earning a total of -8 bonus points!

Congrats also to 'alsant' (FABO) and 'Back in Time' (FABO) for also picking the race runner-up and grabbing -3 bonus points each.

'memike' (FABO) had the low net score honors for the week with -6.5 points.

#23 Bubba Wallace was the race leader at the end of Stage 1, #22 Joey Logano was in 2nd.
#60 Ryan Preece was the race leader at the end of Stage 2, #12 Ryan Blaney was in 2nd.

Here are the game standings following the 2025 EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas:
memike (FABO) 17.0 P24 24 20 2 -3 1 -5 10.5
cuda20 (FABO) 7.0 P9 9 88 4 6 12.0
Yunick13 (FABO) 11.0 P45 -1 1 45 12 3 17.5
alsant (FABO) 16.5 LP20 L24 L5 2 -3 32 30.5
fishmens67 (FABO) 14.0 LP5 9 L5 4 32 32.0
MeMikieJr (FABO) 16.0 P7 9 5 4 32 34.0
44070dart (FABO) 36.5 LP9 8 9 5 4 41.0
Riverdawg (FBBO) 35.5 LP3 L9 L23 (S1-2) 4 20 45.5
Unconventional (FABO) 36.0 P19 9 21 4 26 51.0
Back in Time (FABO) 37.5 P24 87 24 37 2 -3 54.0
Sublime one (FABO) 29.0 LP22 L22 L5 (S1-1) 24 32 56.0
ocdart (FABO) 34.5 P88 87 88 37 6 56.0

As a reminder here's a quick explanation of what the above numbers represent:
(your score before the race) (your Pole pick car #) (Pole winner bonus point) (race pick car #) (Stage bonus points) (race pick car #) (Stage bonus points) (race pick finish position) (race pick finish position) (race winner/runner-up bonus points) (your score after the race)
Please let me know if I show either your Pole or Race picks incorrectly or if you have any questions.

Please post your picks for the next race and let me know if you want to "lock" them in for future weeks. I will put an "L" before either your Pole pick or your race picks to show they've been "locked".
As always, you can always make different picks each week. Your "locked" picks will always be there should you forget to post your race picks, your computer malfunctions or the site should go down temporarily.

Don't forget to get your picks for the Shriners Children's 500 at Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, Arizona, posted before the green flag drops at approximately 3:45 PM EDT (12:45 PM PDT) on Sunday, March 9.

There is one practice session scheduled before Cup qualifying. Your Pole Pick for Phoenix will need to be posted before qualifying starts at 3:10 PM EST (12:10 AM PST) on Saturday, March 8.

 

[ocdart]

Joey Logano was the quickest around Phoenix...until the final qualifier, #24 William Byron, got on the track and beat his time.
Congratulations to Yunick13 (FABO) for picking the quickest qualifier and the -1 bonus point.