KEITH’S WINNING FORMULA: Mastering Barrett-Jackson’s Fantasy Bid

October 24, 2024
Posted by Barrett-Jackson

Keith R. from Ohio has done it again! After dominating the 2023 Fantasy Bid game and driving off in a brand-new Dodge Charger, he returned in 2024 as the undefeated champion ‒ this time claiming a 2024 Dodge Hornet. With close predictions and an unmatched ability to call the final hammer prices, Keith accumulated the most points throughout the year, proving his Fantasy Bid expertise.

Barrett-Jackson’s Fantasy Bid game, presented by Dodge, invites automotive enthusiasts to test their skills by predicting the winning bids on select vehicles crossing the block. The yearlong game features an ultimate champion, awarded to the participant who amasses the most points by consistently making predictions that are close to the final sale prices of specific vehicles at each Barrett-Jackson auction over the course of a year.

Keith’s road to victory in the 2024 Fantasy Bid game was anything but smooth. After the first round during the 2024 Scottsdale Auction, he found himself in a surprising 324th place. But instead of letting the low ranking get him down, Keith kept his focus. “I told myself, I already won the car I wanted last year,” he said, determined to push forward. In a stunning comeback, Keith scored points on 10 out of the 12 Fantasy Bid cars at the Palm Beach Auction and clinched the victory by just 6 points. When those points were combined with his earlier performance, he skyrocketed to fourth place, now just 374 points shy of the lead.

“The 12 cars selected for the third round (at the 2024 Scottsdale Fall Auction) were the toughest cars of the year,” Keith said, adding that once the game closed and cars started rolling across the block, he quickly fell to sixth place.

In the middle of the game, Sammy Hagar drove his 2015 Ferrari LaFerrari onto the auction block. “I am a huge Sammy Hagar fan,” Keith said. “I was in the arena when his car sold and I thought to myself, ‘If I don’t win Fantasy Bid it’s okay because Sammy is here, and this is great.’”

After the sale Keith followed the car out to the post interview tent to see Craig Jackson, chairman and CEO of Barrett-Jackson, catch up with Sammy Hagar and the winning bidder of the LaFerrari. “I was just watching them all talk and taking in the moment,” Keith said, adding he knew he would never get to be so close to Hagar again. Once it was over and Keith was back in the arena, he checked the Fantasy Bid results and learned he had shot back up to second place. “Sammy Hagar was the good luck I needed,” Keith said.

With just three cars left in the game, the pressure was on. No one, including Keith, scored any points on the third-to-last car, keeping the field wide open. But the stakes rose when Keith undervalued the second-to-last car, causing him to slip to third place. Then came the final car of the 2024 Fantasy Bid game. Keith’s bid was just $3,000 above the hammer price ‒ a critical prediction that secured him the overall 2024 victory, completing his dramatic comeback and solidifying his title as champion.

Thorough research has also clearly contributed to Keith’s winning Fantasy Bid strategy. He carefully looks at vehicle values, as well as the descriptions and any articles about the cars on the Barrett-Jackson website. He also attends each auction to examine the vehicles in person and chats with owners and experts whenever possible. He feels this hands-on, detail-driven approach helps him make the bold calls needed to reign as Fantasy Bid champion.

After his second victory, Keith’s now enjoying the fruits of his labor. “The (2024 Dodge) Hornet is a sporty little rocket,” he said about his Grand Prize. “Sport Mode is fantastic, and it comes with the cold weather package, which is perfect for us here in Ohio.” Keith isn’t keeping the Hornet for himself ‒ he’s gifting it to his wife as a thank-you for letting him spend so much time at auctions and playing Fantasy Bid. “She’s been so supportive – this is my way of showing appreciation,” Keith added.

For anyone looking to jump into the next round of the Fantasy Bid game in January 2025, Keith’s advice is simple: just start playing.

The first round of the 2025 Fantasy Bid game will kick off in Scottsdale, January 18-26. Visit Promo.BarrettJacksonFantasyBid.com for more information.