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Welcome to the NASCAR DFS Pit Stop for the Truck series for the 2021 season! If you’ve been with us before then, you know the drill, but welcome if you are new to WinDaily Sports or my NASCAR content! I break down the field each week and give you my favorite plays for each race in three different price categories.
Make sure to check out my NASCAR DFS Tutorial to make sure you are ready and understand how I break down the races and build lineups (https://windailysports.com/nascar-dfs-pit-stop-2021-introduction-to-nascar-dfs/). You will notice that all pricing is for DraftKings in these articles since they are the only site with contests for all three series (Trucks, Xfinity, Cup) and the site I mainly play on. All plays in the Cup Series article will translate to FanDuel if that is where you play.
It’s playoff time in the Truck Series! This week is the first playoff race for the series and it slightly changes our thought process heading into the race. It is a pretty good bet that one of the ten playoff drivers wins this race. John Hunter Nemechek (+250) is the best bet and also my pick to win this race. It is common practice for non-playoff drivers to allow the playoff drivers a little bit of leeway when racing and won’t race them hard. All ten of the drivers start inside the top 12 for this race and all but 3-4 are in play for me.
As with every week, each tier of drivers is listed in order of preference
NASCAR DFS: Dominators
John Hunter Nemechek ($11,600)
Starting Position: 2nd
Nemechek has been the best driver in the Truck Series this season and is the top contender for the title. It has been three years since Nemechek has driven a truck here at Gateway, but he is no stranger to success at this track. In his five career races at this track, Nemechek has a victory two top 5’s, three top 10’s, and has led 100 laps. It’s a pretty safe bet that Nemechek will have a top 10 again on Friday, which would be his 13th in 16 races this season.
Grant Enfinger ($9,600)
Starting Position: 30th
Enfinger is probably the top place differential play on this slate. Last season no driver started outside the top 20 and finished in the top 10 in DK fantasy points, but this season I think Enfinger will be the one driver who can do that. Enfinger has raced at Gateway four times and has three finishes of 8th or better and has led 88 laps. Considering his upside is a top 10 here, Enfinger is severely underpriced which will make him supremely popular as well.
Sheldon Creed ($11,200)
Starting Position: 4th
Creed has only raced at Gateway two times in his Truck Series career but it seems like a track he really likes. In his two races, Creed has a 7th place finish (2019) and a win last season. Creed has never started this high, but that could only work to his advantage and allow him to lead laps. Last season in his win here he only led 15 laps, but starting towards the front will make it easier for him to get out to the lead and dominate.
Zane Smith ($10,800)
Starting Position: 5th
Smith (+550) has the second-best odds to win this race behind Nemechek and could be someone who surprises. Last season Smith led 45 laps after starting on the pole and finished seventh. Smith did manage to make it into the optimal lineup though with the fourth-highest point total on DraftKings in that race. Smith was one of three drivers who started in the top five to have a top ten DKFP total which is why I am not afraid to load up on drivers starting towards the front on Friday.
Other Options: Ty Majeski ($9,000 – P25), Todd Gilliland ($9,400 – P3) – Gilliland is a nice pivot off the higher owned Enfinger in large field GPP’s, Austin Hill ($10,400 – P1)
NASCAR DFS: Mid Tier
Derek Griffith ($7,800)
Starting Position: 11th
Griffith is making his first career start in any NASCAR level above ARCA but he couldn’t ask for a better truck. This week Griffith takes control of the boss’s #51 KBM Toyota and should be a threat for a top 10. Griffith will probably be a low-owned driver because of his starting position and lack of races.
Derek Kraus ($7,000)
Starting Position: 16th
Kraus is a driver who allows us to use three dominators if that is how you choose to go. Last season in his only career race here Kraus finished 13th after starting 10th. Kraus spent all but one lap last year inside the top 15 at Gateway and earned 28 DKFP, which would be 4x value making him optimal for sure if he can do the same on Friday.
Josh Berry ($8,000)
Starting Position: 14th
Berry will be very busy this weekend as he will be pulling TRIPLE duty, but since this is his first race he should be feeling just fine and not fatigued yet. This is Berry’s 7th Truck Series race this season during which has accumulated four top 20 finishes and three finishes off 10th or 11th. Berry is a top 10 truck in my opinion on Friday and is a solid pivot off the popular three dominator builds.
Other Options: Chase Purdy ($7,300 – P28), Johnny Sauter ($8,400 – P20) Carson Hocevar ($7,500 – P6)
NASCAR DFS: Value Tier Rankings
- Jordan Anderson ($6,000) – P33
- Jack Wood ($6,500) – P21
- Corey Roper ($5,800) – P37
- Tanner Gray ($6,900) – P16
- Dawson Cram ($5,400) – P38
- Jake Griffin ($5,900) – P29
- Ryan Truex ($6,300) – P18
- Tyler Hill ($5,600) – P27
- Tate Fogleman ($5,000) – P24
- Spencer Boyd ($4,900) – P32
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