NASCAR Cup

Welcome to the NASCAR DFS Pit Stop for the NASCAR Cup Series. Below you will find my rankings for the drivers in this race.

A Group: Drivers I will have the most exposure to and are high priority

B Group: This group is drivers I feel have a high upside and are great filler pieces to pair with the A Group

C Group: The drivers in this tier are a bit risky, but could still be optimal. This group should be used in GPP’s

F Group: These drivers are on my do not play list

(Starting position in parenthesis)

Drivers highlighted in yellow are potential dominators

(All pricing is for DK)

*** NOTES ***

• This is a drafting race, it is only a 1.5-mile track, so there are 182 dominator points available. Even though there are a good amount of dominator points, we can’t really chase those points. There will be multiple leaders based on past results in the three races under this new configuration. In the three previous races here, there has been an average of 15 drivers to lead at least a lap and no driver has led more than 140 laps (Joey Logano – Spring 2023).
• There were a lot of drivers who had poor qualifying efforts this weekend. Ford dominated qualifying and should be the top manufacturer on Sunday night. Even with this, We will want to load up on the Chevy’s and Toyota’s starting at the back.
• Erik Jones has been great at this new Atlanta. In the three previous races, Jones has an average finish of 8.7 and has finished top 15 in each race. Jones also has the second most avg DKFP per race (among drivers who ran all three).
• Ross Chastain is another driver who has excelled at the new Atlanta. Chastain has finished top 5 twice and has a 5.7 avg finish, which is tops among drivers who have competed in all three races.
• Daniel Suarez is not someone I expect to collect any dominator points on Sunday, but he is a threat for a top 10. In the last three races here, Suarez has two top 10s and an avg finish of 13th.
• Bubba Wallace is the safest play on the slate, in my opinion. Wallace starts dead last, so he can’t get you negative points but also he is great at drafting tracks. Wallace has four top 15s and seven top 20s in nine races at drafting tracks. In those nine races, Wallace has an avg finish of 16.4.
• In the three races under the new configuration, Corey Lajoie has been the best in the Cup Series. Lajoie has the best avg DKFP per race (59.4), has a +21.3 place differential avg per race, and has two top 5s.
• BJ McLeod will have the slowest car on the track, but he always manages to be around at the end of these types of races.
• Lastly, remember that you do not need to max out your salary for this race. I have lineups with over $1K left in salary. Build a lineup you like regardless of salary.

Welcome to the NASCAR DFS Pit Stop for the NASCAR Cup Series. Below you will find my rankings for the drivers in this race.

A Group: Drivers I will have the most exposure to and are high priority

B Group: This group is drivers I feel have a high upside and are great filler pieces to pair with the A Group

C Group: The drivers in this tier are a bit risky, but could still be optimal. This group should be used in GPP’s

F Group: These drivers are on my do not play list

(Starting position in parenthesis)

Drivers highlighted in yellow are potential dominators

(All pricing is for DK)

*** NOTES ***

• Sunday will be the first time in NASCAR Cup Series history that they will race on a street course. We see these races all the time in other series like F1, but never before for stock cars.
• With there only being 100 laps hunting for dominator points is not something we should be doing. Of course, we will still want to get some of the 70 dom points there are but don’t make it a priority when building.
• In the short amount of laps we saw from Saturday’s Xfinity race before it got rained out or lightning caused the ppd, or Chicago officials just canceled it, there was almost no way to pass once cars got into the top 10. I expect a similar type of race on Sunday. Cars were able to move toward the front but got stymied once they entered the top 10-12.
• My builds will be focused on 1-3 drivers starting at or near the front and the rest will be starting 15th or worse, mainly. There are a handful of drivers starting near that back that have good cars and will move up fast. Those drivers will be higher-owned, but they could be necessary for us to have good paydays when the race is over.

Welcome to the NASCAR DFS Pit Stop for the NASCAR Cup Series. Below you will find my rankings for the drivers in this race.

A Group: Drivers I will have the most exposure to and are high priority

B Group: This group is drivers I feel have a high upside and are great filler pieces to pair with the A Group

C Group: The drivers in this tier are a bit risky, but could still be optimal. This group should be used in GPP’s

F Group: These drivers are on my do not play list

(Starting position in parenthesis)

Drivers highlighted in yellow are potential dominators

(All pricing is for DK)

*** NOTES ***

• This is a 300-lap race which means there are 210 dominator points available on DK. The Cup Series has only raced here twice and the two races couldn’t be more different. In 2021, the first time the series ran here, Kyle Larson led 264 of 300 laps on his way to victory lane. Last year was a completely different animal. Four drivers (Hamlin, Truex, Kyle Busch, and Elliott [winner]) led 292 laps.
• Truex led 82 laps here last season but finished a disappointing 22nd after some late race trouble. In practice on Friday, Truex had the second-best single-lap time and was third-best in 10-lap average.
• Byron was another car that showed some real speed in practice on Friday. In that practice session, Byron had the 5th fastest single-lap and was 4th best in 10-lap average.
• I briefly mentioned McDowell and Lajoie in Discord yesterday as super chalk and even though I don’t like it, I think we have to strongly consider them. Both drivers were in the mid 20’s in 10-lap average and McDowell had the 12th fastest single-lap in practice. At their salaries, if they finish mid-20s or high teens we could be out of the running for a big payday without them. There are a lot of ways to get different with our higher-priced dominators and eating the cheap chalk should work out ok.
• We all know I am not a member of the Ross Chastain fan club, but this weekend his car looks to be dominant. Chastain was 3rd fastest in single-lap speed and was second to only Tyler Reddick in 10-lap average. I think Chastain could lead the bulk of this race and finish top 5.
• I know people are always scared to play Stenhouse but he has been having a solid season AND has run well at Nashville. It has been nine races (Richmond) since Stenhouse has finished outside the top 20 (minus when he was wrecked at Gateway) and he has finishes of 6th and 16th at Nashville.
• I don’t love the Austin Dillon play, but at his salary, a top 20 will suffice. He is also a good pivot off the chalky McDowell and Lajoie if they falter.
• “Game-log” watchers will scoff at the idea of playing Erik Jones this week and I am not a big fan of this play, but there is some upside here. Jones had the 3rd quickest lap in practice which shows me the team has some speed. For Jones and the 43 team, it’s a matter of keeping the car on the track.

Welcome to the NASCAR DFS Pit Stop for the NASCAR Cup Series. Below you will find my rankings for the drivers in this race.

A Group: Drivers I will have the most exposure to and are high priority

B Group: This group is drivers I feel have a high upside and are great filler pieces to pair with the A Group

C Group: The drivers in this tier are a bit risky, but could still be optimal. This group should be used in GPP’s

F Group: These drivers are on my do not play list

(Starting position in parenthesis)

Drivers highlighted in yellow are potential dominators

(All pricing is for DK)

Welcome to the NASCAR DFS Pit Stop for the NASCAR Cup Series. Below you will find my rankings for the drivers in this race.

A Group: Drivers I will have the most exposure to and are high priority

B Group: This group is drivers I feel have a high upside and are great filler pieces to pair with the A Group

C Group: The drivers in this tier are a bit risky, but could still be optimal. This group should be used in GPP’s

F Group: These drivers are on my do not play list

(Starting position in parenthesis)

Drivers highlighted in yellow are potential dominators

(All pricing is for DK)

*** Notes ***

• This week is much different than last week when it comes to laps and dominator points. After 400 laps and 600 miles last week, we have a “normal” 240-lap race with 168 dominator points available. This week I will be building lineups with 2 dominators.
• Not only did Kyle Busch has a fast car in Saturday’s P&Q, but he was also dominant here last year. Busch led a race-high 66 laps, was a plus10 PD finishing second, and scored 89.2 DKFP which was nearly 24 points higher than any other driver.
• One of the few drivers faster than Kyle Busch in practice on Saturday was Joey Logano. Not only was Logano faster in practice this week, he was the only driver who finished ahead of Kyle last season at this track.
• McDowell led 34 laps here last season but finished a disappointing 18th. This weekend, McDowell seems to have a fast car once again. In practice, the 34 car was top 5, but when in qualifying trim the car didn’t show much speed. Luckily, his speed in practice is a more realistic impression of what his car should do on Sunday.
• If you don’t know, Corey Lajoie is in the #9 car for Hendrick filling in for the suspended Chase Elliott. Lajoie is priced too cheap for the equipment he is in this week. There is still work to do with this car and for him to become comfortable with his new team for the week, but I think by race end we could have a top 10 car here.
• Chase Briscoe was on the pole here in 2022, but had issues all race and even after reading 27 laps he finished 24th. Briscoe showed a lot of speed in Saturday’s practice and similar to McDowell, could be a top 10 car at days end.

Welcome to the NASCAR DFS Pit Stop for the NASCAR Cup Series. Below you will find my rankings for the drivers in this race.

A Group: Drivers I will have the most exposure to and are high priority

B Group: This group is drivers I feel have a high upside and are great filler pieces to pair with the A Group

C Group: The drivers in this tier are a bit risky, but could still be optimal. This group should be used in GPP’s

F Group: These drivers are on my do not play list

(Starting position in parenthesis)

Drivers highlighted in yellow are potential dominators

(All pricing is for DK)

*** Notes ***

• This 600-mile race (400 laps) is the longest race of the season and a test of endurance for these drivers. Because of the length, we need to treat it like a short track when it comes to dominator points. There are 280 DK dominator points available in this race. In 2021, Kyle Larson led 327 laps for an incredible 81.75 LAPS LED points. If you didn’t roster him you were not making money that night.
• Speaking of Kyle Larson, in his last four 600’s, he has 3 top 10s, one win, and averages 94.5 laps led per race. It’s hard to think he won’t be near the front competing for the win on lap 400 on Sunday.
• William Byron is on fire again right now. In his last ten starts this season, Byron has the most top 5s (5), top 10s (6), and top 15s (7).
• Martin Truex Jr. has one win in the last five 600’s as well as two top 5s and three top 10s.
• Tyler Reddick has been figuring out of late with six top 10s in his last 10 races and the best avg finish (10th) among drivers competing in all 10. Reddick also has performed well in this race in his career. In three Coca-Cola 600’s, Reddick has never finished outside the top 10 and averages 45.6 DKFP per race.
• I know he is not in the car he used to be, but it’s hard to doubt Jimmie Johnson at this race. In the early 2000s, Jimmie was unbeatable here, winning 4 of 5 and finishing top 3 in seven straight Charlotte races.
• Once again I need to preface this by saying he is not in the same equipment, but it’s hard to discount Kyle Busch in this race. In the last five Coke 600s, Kyle Busch has one win and five top 5s. Busch also has an average finish of 2.8, 98.6 avg laps led per race, and is averaging 96.4 DKFP per race in that stretch.
• It’s hard to discount anyone in this race, outside of Yeley and McLeod because I don’t think their cars can run 600 miles. The 21 drivers listed above are the ones I prefer, but you could also run Christopher Bell and Chase Elliotte in any race. I also have some interest, very slight interest, in Harrison Burton as well.

Welcome to the NASCAR DFS Pit Stop for the NASCAR Cup Series. Below you will find my rankings for the drivers in this race.

A Group: Drivers I will have the most exposure to and are high priority

B Group: This group is drivers I feel have a high upside and are great filler pieces to pair with the A Group

C Group: The drivers in this tier are a bit risky, but could still be optimal. This group should be used in GPP’s

F Group: These drivers are on my do not play list

(Starting position in parenthesis)

Drivers highlighted in yellow are potential dominators

(All pricing is for DK)

*** Notes ***

• Darlington is a 293-lap race which means we have 205.1 DK dominator points. In recent history (since 2020 – 7 races) only one driver has led 100+ in 5 of 7 races and only one time (Martin Truex Jr.) led over 200.
• Historically, Truex is a solid play at Darlington even though he had two poor races last season. Truex didn’t look fast in practice but the team made an adjustment and it showed in qualifying as he won the pole. Since 2020 (7 races), Truex averages 76.7 laps led and has four top 10s including a win.
• Chase Elliott is hit or miss at Darlington but he had the fastest lap in Saturday’s practice and should be one of the top PD plays on the slate.
• Lajoie has not finished lower than 30th this season so he should be a good place differential play. At Darlington since joining Spire, Lajoie has only finished lower than 24th once in four races.
• Darlington is one of Erik Jones’ best tracks. The last time the series was here, Jones went to victory lane. Jones had a bad stretch before that win, but his car looked fast on Saturday in practice and could be a top 10 car at the end of the day.
• Bubba Wallace, along with most of the other Toyota’s, was fast in Saturday’s practice. Wallace then went out and put down a great qualifying lap. To top it off, Wallace will be one of the lowest-owned drivers in the race. This is a risky play, but I am one of the few people who believe in Bubba and will be playing him on Sunday when no one else will.

Welcome to the NASCAR DFS Pit Stop for the NASCAR Cup Series. Below you will find my rankings for the drivers in this race.

A Group: Drivers I will have the most exposure to and are high priority

B Group: This group is drivers I feel have a high upside and are great filler pieces to pair with the A Group

C Group: The drivers in this tier are a bit risky, but could still be optimal. This group should be used in GPP’s

F Group: These drivers are on my do not play list

(Starting position in parenthesis)

Drivers highlighted in yellow are potential dominators

(All pricing is for DK)

*** Notes ***

• As with any race, we will want to earn dominator points, but with only 267 laps (186.9 DKFP) we don’t need to focus on them. I will have at least one in each lineup.
• Since we want at least one dominator, why not Kyle Larson? In the last four races here, Larson has the most avg fastest laps, most avg laps led, and the most avg DKFP per race (he is second to Hamlin on FD).
• Denny Hamlin has been outstanding at Kansas. Hamlin has three wins (tied for most all-time) and in the last four races here he has the best avg finish (5.8) and has three top 5’s.
• Bell, along with the rest of the Toyota camp, was exceptionally fast in practice and I would not be surprised to see 4-5 finish in the top 10 on Sunday.
• Let’s keep the trend going and talk about another fast Toyota. MTJ was one of the slower Toyotas in practice, but he put down some fast laps in qualifying. Over the past two seasons, Truex is 4 for 4 in finishing in the top 10 at Kansas and has the second-best avg finish (6).
• When we have a lot of high-priced plays we need some solid value with upside. Some weeks it is difficult to find that, but not this week. With drivers like Gilliland, Lajoie, and Cindric having fast cars and good PD upside we are not lacking for value on Sunday.
• Logano is too cheap on DK for his upside here. He had a fast car in practice and qualified well. All three of the Penske cars looked fast in practice and should have good points days on Sunday.
• If Tyler Reddick wins this race on Sunday, it will be the first time in NASCAR history that a car has won three straight races at one track with three different drivers behind the wheel (The 45 car won with Kurt Busch and Bubba Wallace behind the wheel last year).
• He didn’t make the rankings because I prefer the drivers listed above, but Justin Haley (30) – $5.5K is in play. Neither of the Kaulig cars was fast in practice, but Haley has some good PD upside starting P30.

Welcome to the NASCAR DFS Pit Stop for the NASCAR Cup Series. Below you will find my rankings for the drivers in this race.

A Group: Drivers I will have the most exposure to and are high priority

B Group: This group is drivers I feel have a high upside and are great filler pieces to pair with the A Group

C Group: The drivers in this tier are a bit risky, but could still be optimal. This group should be used in GPP’s

F Group: These drivers are on my do not play list

(Starting position in parenthesis)

Drivers highlighted in yellow are potential dominators

(All pricing is for DK)

*** Notes ***

• Dover is all about tire wear and it will come down to which driver takes care of their tires the best at the end of the day.
• This is a 400-lap (scheduled – rain may change that) race so getting a share of the 280 dominator points will be key. I will be rostering two dominators (minimum) in each lineup.
• Kyle Larson dominated Dover last season but didn’t win. In two races at Dover, Larson had the most avg fastest laps, most avg laps led, and the best avg DKFP per race.
• Ryan Preece is having the best season of his career right now and this price is just way too cheap for the upside here. He carries some decent proj. ownership, but that’s fine by me because we can get different elsewhere.
• Austin Dillon may not have the same upside as Preece, but he is right behind him in my opinion. Dillon has been good at Dover and will be in the mix for a top 15, but will likely end his day in the high teens. That would be more than enough to hit value at his price and PD upside.
• McDowell is another great play in the $6K range today. After a dismal Talladega performance, McDowell will start near the back so presents some good upside for his price.
• Hendrick dominated this track last season and it’s hard to think they won’t do the same this weekend.
• The RCR cars were two of the fastest cars in the Xfinity race yesterday and I think that translates over to the Cup Series race on Sunday.
• Keselowski is highlighted as a potential dominator, but he is probably the least likely to do so. Kes is good here and RFK has had some fast cars recently and he will be low-owned. If he does lead some laps, Keselowski will hit value.

Welcome to the NASCAR DFS Pit Stop for the NASCAR Cup Series. Below you will find my rankings for the drivers in this race.

A Group: Drivers I will have the most exposure to and are high priority

B Group: This group is drivers I feel have a high upside and are great filler pieces to pair with the A Group

C Group: The drivers in this tier are a bit risky, but could still be optimal. This group should be used in GPP’s

F Group: These drivers are on my do not play list

(Starting position in parenthesis)

Drivers highlighted in yellow are potential dominators

(All pricing is for DK)

*** Notes ***

• It’s our third superspeedway race of the season and like with most we want to play the place differential game. Superspeedways are not a track type we chase dominator points, so you won’t see anyone highlighted in yellow this week.
• Chase Elliott had a good week in his first race since breaking his leg in a skiing accident six weeks ago. This week Elliott starts P29 and offers incredible PD, even if it’s at high ownership.
• Brad Keselowski is one of the All-Time greats to ever do it at Talladega. If Keselowski wins on Sunday he will tie Dale Earnhardt Sr. with 7 career wins on this track. Keselowski will be a top-10 car if he can avoid the potential carnage late in the race.
• Erik Jones and Talladega go together like chocolate and peanut butter. In his last four races here, Jones has three top 10’s, an avg finish of 12th, an avg running position of 12.1, and the third most DKFP per race (43.4)
• As odd as this may sound, nobody has been better at Talladega since 2021 without a win than Michael McDowell. In the four races since 2021, McDowell has the best avg finish (7.8), tied for the most top 5’s (2), best avg place differential (16), and most avg DKFP per race (55).
• Remember all those things that McDowell was tops in right above this, well Austin Dillon is second in almost all of them. Dillon is an excellent superspeedway racer and should be a contender for the win on Sunday.
• Riley Herbst is another above-average superspeedway driver and is the #15 Rick Ware Racing car. It is my belief that this car is RWR in name only and it was prepared by Stewart-Haas Racing. Herbst could be one of the top PD plays in this race when all is said and done on Sunday.
• I don’t love Kyle Busch at this track type, but he was set to win at Daytona until one of the late race wrecks took him out. Busch is also way too cheap for his potential place differential upside.