NASCAR DFS Pit Stop: Xfinity Series COTA 5/22/21

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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 if you are new the WinDaily Sports or to my NASCAR content, welcome! 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.

This week all three of the top NASCAR Series head to Circuit of The Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas! This is the first time ANY of these Series will run here so there is no data for us to go back to, we just need to rely on past road course history for the drivers in these races

NASCAR DFS: COTA Breakdown

COTA is a fairly new track, less than 10 years old, and has hosted many of the world’s top series from Formula 1 to IndyCar and even motorcycle races. NASCAR is choosing to run the full 3.426-mile course which means there are not a lot of laps being run. In fact, the three series are running 42, 44, and 68 laps respectively, so dominator points will be at a premium in all three races. Typically, we look more at place differential and finishing position for points when we have races like this with very few laps.

NASCAR is also running same-day qualifying for the races this weekend. Because of this, I will not have starting positions listed in any of my articles this weekend so you need to check in with the NASCAR Discord channel, especially on Saturday, for updates regarding starting positions and any changes I need to make to my player pools.

Like with the Truck Series race before it on Saturday, we will have qualifying on Saturday morning Xfinity is scheduled to go off around 11:05 am EDT. We have five Cup Series regulars dropping down to run this race on Saturday. Two of the biggest names are Kyle Busch ($10,800) and Kevin Harvick ($9,900). I believe both Kyle and Kevin are running this race to pick up laps on this track so they have a head start heading into the Cup Series race on Sunday. There is a difference between the two though, Busch has a car that can win this race, while I am not sure Harvicks BJMM #5 can.

The other drivers dropping down to run this race are Cole Custer ($8,900), Tyler Reddick ($8,500), & Austin Dillon ($7,600). Like with Busch and Harvick I think these three are also just trying to have seat time on this track to get a jump start on their Cup race on Sunday.

NASCAR DFS: Dominators

Austin Cindric ($10,700)

No matter where Cindric qualifies he will be my favorite driver in the field on Saturday, even with the Cup ringers. Cindric was the fastest car in practice on Friday, barely beating out Daniel Hemric ($9,500). Cindric is a master of the road course and should be the favorite to win this race. In fourteen road course races, Cindric has 4 wins, 10 top 5’s, 11 top 10’s, and an average finish of 6.6. I have no problem paying this price for Cindric and I will have plenty of exposure to him.

AJ Allmendinger ($10,400)

Another dominant driver on road courses is Allmendinger. If anyone in this field can take down Cindric it will probably be Dinger. In just his Xfinity career, Allmendinger has four wins, nine top 5’s, and an average finish of 9.6 in 12 road course races. Allmendinger is a lock for a top 5 as well on Saturday and should end up in the bulk of my lineups as well.

Noah Gragson ($9,700)

Gragson is becoming one of the better road course racers in the Xfinity Series but is still looking for his first RC win. In nine road course races in the Xfinity Series, Gragson has eight top 10’s and six top 5’s. Gragson also has a 7.2 average finish on these types of tracks.

Other Options: Kyle Busch ($10,800), Justin Allgaier ($10,100), Daniel Hemric ($9,500), Kevin Harvick ($9,900)

NASCAR DFS: Mid Tier

Cole Custer ($8,900)

Custer is in the #17 that has been primarily been driven this season by JJ Yeley. This car has had some good finishes, considering it is a single-car team. I think Custer can easily pull a top 20 with this car, and with attrition, he could see a top 10. Custer has nine top 10’s and a top 5 in 11 races. Custer was 15th in practice on Friday.

Miguel Paludo ($8,200)

Paludo will be in the JRM #8 that has been piloted by Josh Berry of late. This is one of the top cars in the series and Paludo drove it to a 7th place finish at the Daytona RC earlier this season. Paludo had top 20 speed in practice but should really push for another top 10 on Saturday.

Alex Labbe ($7,800)

Labbe had one of the fastest cars in practice on Friday when he ran the 7th best lap. In 11 road course races, Labbe has four top 10 finishes and a top 5 while averaging a 14.1 average finish. Labbe’s 14.1 road course average is 6 positions better than his overall career average. If he can stay clean, I really think Labbe has top 10 potential on Saturday.

Other Options: Austin Dillon ($7,600), Brandon Jones ($8,700), Tyler Reddick ($8,500), Andy Lally ($8,300)

NASCAR DFS: Value Tier Rankings

Please remember that these are pre-qualifying rankings and that I will update them in discord ONLY after qualifying

1. Myatt Snider ($6,700) — WAY too cheap for top 15 upside
2. Spencer Pumpelly ($6,400)
3. Stephen Leicht ($4,800)
4. Bori Said ($6,500)
5. Preston Pardus ($6,300)
6. Tommy Joe Martins ($5,400)
7. Kris Wright ($4,500)
8. Brett Moffitt ($5,700)
9. Brandon Brown ($6,200)
10. Ryan Ellis ($5,800)

Make sure to check in discord throughout the day on Saturday as I may update the value plays. If I find out more info on sponsors and potential start and park drivers.

Make sure you head to the Win Daily Sports Discord for up-to-date info and help directly from our pros! Head over to Twitter and give the @WinDailySports account and me (@MVecchio81) a follow for all things Fantasy Sports! You can find more FREE NASCAR content over at WinDailySports.com!