RADIO
"Now let me welcome everybody to the Wild Wild West, a state that's untouchable like Elliott Ness" (That's Tupac Lyrics). I started this race preview off with a Tupac lyrics because NASCAR is headed to California, and because I like Tupac (go listen to Tupac). As we enter week three in the 2020 NASCAR season, it's completely normal to think that Kyle Busch will win this race based on the previous two race winners basically normalizing Deja-Vu.
Auto Club Speedway is a 2-mile, low banked superspeedway that's been around since 1996. This track has been compared to Michigan International Speedway due to its low banking, and D-shape. As of late, we have seen Team Penske, and Joe Gibbs Racing steal the show at this track.
This season, NASCAR rolls out to Cali early with the new schedule. Previously this race was held in mid-March, but I don't think there's much that will change due to California being (for the most part) warm most of the time. I also just remembered that Sunday is March 1st, so I guess nothing really changed at all (except for days, those changed).
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DFS Lineup Picks - DraftKings, FanDuel
Be sure to also check out all of our other weekly NASCAR DFS articles and analysis to help you set your optimal DFS lineups on DraftKings and FanDuel.
Martin Truex Jr. #19 (DraftKings $10,400 | FanDuel $12,500 | DK SportsBook +800)
As I stated in the all-new NASCAR DFS Preview Show on YouTube, Truex Jr. will be the superior Junior on the track this weekend. Truex Jr. had some serious place differential in his last race at this track, and racked 57 FPTS on DraftKings. Joe Gibbs Racing as a whole is good at this track, and I think Martin will be the beneficiary of a big fat dub ( dub means a win for all the boomers reading this) on Sunday.
UPDATE: Martin Truex Jr. is most definitely the best play on the board now due to him failing inspection. This play was already good, and now it's basically law to play him starting from the rear of the field on Sunday.
Joey Logano #22 (DraftKings $10,900 | FanDuel $13,500 | DK SportsBook +700)
Joey (Space Man Joesph) Logano is coming off of a sponsored win, (sounds cooler to call it that) and has momentum on his side. Team Penske slays at Auto Club just like JGR, and Joey is the easy pick if you were asked whos up right now on their squad. Aside from the momentum, Logano is also just a downright stud at this track, sealing four straight Top 5 finishes.
UPDATE: Joey is still a solid play after qualifying seventh for Sunday's race. There are definitely better options now, but he should still shine.
Brad Keselowski #2 (DraftKings $10,000 | FanDuel $12,000 | DK SportsBook +900)
It's time to fire up Bradley Keselowski at Auto Club. Kes is just as impressive as Logano at this track boasting 4 Top 5 finishes and one Top 10 since 2015. Keselowski has a great car, and finished both practices inside the Top 10 on Friday with a top speed of 175.588.
UPDATE: Keselowski is starting in P15 on Sunday, and has a Top 5 ranking in Drew Deen's Premium Rankings. On the flip side, Sean Engel's Rankings tell a different story for Kes this week.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr #47 (DraftKings $7,700 | FanDuel $7,200 | DK SportsBook +500o)
Stenhouse Jr. (aka Nacho Fries King) has had an impressive start to the 2020 season, and I'm ready to plug him into my lineups. Stenhouse Jr. has only posted one Top 5 at this track in his career, but with his newfound speed in the JTG Daughtery 47 Chevy, he could easily make a push to double that stat. Stenhouse Jr. is one of my three value plays this week, and a mid-tier qualifying run will seal the deal for me.
UPDATE: I'm not as high on Ricky as I was, but he has a way of surprising me so far this season. He will start P10 on Sunday.
Matt DiBenedetto #21 (DraftKings $7,600 | FanDuel $7,800 | DK SportsBook +4000)
DiBenedetto is on pace to have a record-breaking season since his switch to running the 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford Mustang. Matty D bagged a second-place finish in Vegas, and his confidence is through the roof right now. His history at this track isn't pretty, but he is well on his way to changing that luck this season with his Top 5 practice run on Friday.
UPDATE: Matty D will roll off in P12 on Sunday. While I still will play him in some lineups, there are far better options now when considering price.
Ryan Blaney #12 (DraftKings $9,400 | FanDuel $10,500 | DK SportsBook +1000)
Blaney is taking instruction from Todd Gordon this season, and it's already showing that it's doing him some good. Blaney would have had a solid finish (probably a win) last week at Las Vegas Motorspeedway if it wouldn't have been for a late pit stop, but I'm going to choose to look past that move. Blaney finished the second practice on Friday in second, and should most definitely have a solid day on Sunday.
UPDATE: Blaney earned a Top 5 ranking from Sean Engel this week. After seeing that he will be starting behind Keselowski in P16, It solidified my confidence in this pick.
Austin Dillon #3 (DraftKings $7,400 | FanDuel $7,500 | DK SportsBook +8000)
Dillon might just be my favorite "shoot for the stars" driver this season. He is coming off a Top 5 finish in Las Vegas, and has had a lot of change this off-season that could give him the mental shift he needs to become a true contender. Dillon didn't crack the Top 10 in practice, but he seems to run decent at this track, and if he qualifies between P10 and P20 I'll be a believer in playing him this Sunday.
UPDATE: Dillon is now the best-priced player in his tier with a starting position of 25th. Be prepared for another good run from AD this Sunday.
Alex Bowman #88 (DraftKings $8,800 | FanDuel $10,000 | DK SportsBook +1100)
Someone said Alex Bowman today, and I responded with "You mean Alex WOAHman?". Bowman was hitting that gas beyond the floor in practice on Friday, and swept both runs with a top speed of 179.439. Bowman has carried over the confidence of his first Cup series win last season to 2020, and we should all expect to see him become a true leader for Hendrick Motorsports this season.
UPDATE: Bowman qualified in P#3 for Sunday's race. Look to see him get upfront early, and do some damage leading laps.
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