There won’t be fans in the stands. There won’t be any practice sessions or qualifying either. There won’t even be traditional pit stops. Still, Sunday’s The Real Heroes 400 at Darlington Raceway ranks pretty high on my list of races I’ve looked forward to watching.
It has been more than two months since COVID-19 brought the sports world and much of society to a halt. It has been a chaotic time for sure, but I personally feel fortunate. For one, my day-to-day life has been relatively unchanged. My “day” job is at a long-term care facility, so closing wasn’t an option, and my wife homeschools our kids and works crazy hours to avoid childcare issues. I did end up contracting the virus at work, but I had no symptoms and was cleared within a couple of weeks.
I know a lot of people have had their lives impacted to a much greater degree, and I wish everyone the best as we navigate these strange times. Still, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss NASCAR. I’m glad to have racing returning this weekend. I’m glad I can start writing about Fantasy NASCAR again.
It is still going to be a while before NASCAR resembles the sport it was before the pandemic, but for now, let’s appreciate having cars on the track. Let’s enjoy the racing tomorrow at Darlington, and if we can, let’s welcome back the sport by winning some money playing NASCAR DFS at DraftKings.
Must-Own Drivers
Kyle Busch ($11,800)
Busch is slated to start fourth at a Darlington track where has been excellent throughout his career. He has finished 11th or better in 10 straight starts here, finishing seventh or better eight times in that stretch. Last year, Busch led a race-high 118 laps on his way to a third-place finish, and I’m expecting a similar performance from him this weekend.
Kevin Harvick ($11,500)
You will have a hard time finding a dominator candidate with a higher floor. Harvick has cracked the Top 10 in all four races in 2020, and he has never finished outside the Top 10 at Darlington with Stewart-Haas Racing. He has a 4.2 average finish in his six starts here with SHR, leading at least 20 laps and recording at least 20 fastest laps four times. Rolling off sixth, he should be able to pile up dominator points again this weekend.
Cash Plays
Brad Keselowski ($10,400)
He has amassed a strong record at Darlington, leading double-digit laps and finishing in the Top 10 in four of the last five races. He has three Top 5s in that span, including a win in 2018. Drawing the pole for Sunday’s race puts Keselowski in a great spot to grab some early dominator points, and he could end up being the top scorer.
Erik Jones ($9,200)
Darlington is arguably his best track on the schedule. He led 79 laps in a win here last year, and he owns a 4.7 average finish in three starts. Jones is slated to start 20th this weekend, and even if he doesn’t pile up dominator points again this weekend, he should be able to push for 50-plus points on finishing position and place differential points alone.
Kurt Busch ($8,500)
He’s starting 22nd after the qualifying draw, but he has been one of the best in the business at Darlington in recent years. Busch has four finishes of seventh or better in the last five races, including three straight. He also led 94 laps here a year ago. At worst, he should gain double-digit spots and challenge for a Top 10. For a midrange price, he is a must-own in cash lineups.
Tyler Reddick ($7,200)
The qualifying draw didn’t do him any favors, but now that he is starting 29th, Reddick does have a high floor through the place differential category. The rookie has shown Top 15 upside all season, and he was knocking on the door of a Top 5 at Phoenix. He’s a no-brainer for cash lineups at this price.
Chris Buescher ($7,000)
He just quietly piles up solid finishes, posting a 12.5 average finish and gaining an average of 6.5 spots through the first four races. Buescher has also finished 17th or better in all four of his starts at Darlington, notching back-to-back Top 15s. After drawing the 24th starting spot, he’s a safe, affordable option for cash lineups.
GPP Specials
Denny Hamlin ($11,100)
Hamlin hasn’t done a lot since winning the Daytona 500 to open the year, but he’s compiled an excellent record at Darlington. He has a 7.8 average finish in 14 starts here, winning twice and finishing second on three other occasions. Hamlin has also led double-digit laps in four of the last five Darlington races. Starting 10th, he’s worth throwing in a lineup or two in case he has a vintage Darlington performance.
Martin Truex Jr. ($10,800)
Truex had terrible luck through the first four races, but he won at Darlington in 2016 and has led more than 20 laps in three of the last four races. He also has a little place differential upside after landing the 15th starting spot. Truex is always capable of going out and dominating a race, so I want a little exposure.
Chase Elliott ($9,800)
He’s been good, not great, at Darlington at the Cup level, but before the break, Elliott had as much week-to-week speed as any driver in the series. In fact, he currently leads the series in laps led. Keep him in mind as a pivot to guys like Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch.
Alex Bowman ($9,000)
Bowman’s record a Darlington leaves a lot to be desired, but he showed plenty of muscle in the first four races, and he picked up a win at Auto Club. He’s also starting on the front row, so he’s in prime position to grab some dominator points, at least in the early stages. Bowman could end up being a great contrarian play to the high-priced, popular plays.
Christopher Bell ($6,600)
His rookie season is off to an atrocious start, but Bell’s talent is undeniable, and he is with a team that has shown it can contend for Top 10s. Whether his luck has to turn around this weekend remains to be seen, but starting 28th, it is probably worth sticking him in a few GPP lineups and finding out.
John Hunter Nemechek ($5,900)
Nemechek has limited upside, but in seven Cup starts, he has a 22.3 average finish and has never finished worse than 27th. He has cracked the Top 25 in six of those starts, including all four starts in 2020. The qualifying draw has him starting way back in 34th, but even with his suspect equipment, Nemechek is worth a look if you want to free up some cap space.
