RADIO
As a child, I remember riding with my mom and listening to a lot of crazy music in her car. Two songs that stood out to me the most were "Like The Deserts Miss The Rain" by Sade, and "Ocean Front Property" by George Strait (Two completely different worlds of music). You're probably wondering if you're still reading an article about NASCAR DFS by now, and great news for you, you are reading a NASCAR DFS article.
The reason I had to mention those songs is because NASCAR is headed to the desert for the FanShield 500 at Phoenix Raceway. This 1.5 Mile track is the home of the NASCAR Cup Championship race this season, and is one of the older tracks in the sport. If you watched this week's NASCAR DFS Preview Show on RotoBaller's YouTube channel, you learned a little more interesting facts about this track (I didn't say the interesting facts because I want you to click that link).
There are a few drivers that have been more than successful at this track recently, and the new restart zone implemented last season was a game-changer for others. A new package is also showing face this week that cuts the rear spoiler from 8 inches to 2.75 inches. Be sure to check the Data Center, and Lineup Optimizer in our premium tools after reading who I think can give you the edge you crave.
Holiday Special! Save 50% on any Premium Pass using discount code THANKS. Win more with our DFS, Betting and Season-Long Pass, get expert tools and advice from proven winners! GAIN ACCESS
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.
Kevin Harvick #4 (DraftKings $11,300 | FanDuel $12,500 | DK SportsBook +500)
Harvick is an absolute stud when running Phoenix. This guy is so good that he's placed inside the Top 10 consistently since 2013, so it's a no brainer that he is my favorite to pull off the win this week. Harvick finished the first practice at Phoenix Raceway in P8 with a top speed of 132.939, and the second in P13.
Update: Harvick qualified second for Sunday's race. There's nothing more to say about this other than he's a must-play!
Kyle Busch #18 (DraftKings $12,000 | FanDuel $14,000 | DK SportsBook +400)
Joe Gibbs Racing pulled some sorcery this week by swapping Erik Jones's Sports Clips paint scheme with Busch's Interstate Batteries paint scheme. Not that this matters, but I thought it was a weird move (Sports Clips must be looking for that W early this season). Sports Clips Busch is is another big-time player at this track, and with a P2 finish in the second practice on Friday, he will be on the hunt come Sunday.
Update: Busch qualified 10th, and I'm over the moon about it. Pair him with Harvick in your lineups to go to the moon this weekend.
Clint Bowyer #14 (DraftKings $7,900 | FanDuel $8,400 | DK SportsBook +5000)
Bowyer has been on a roll outside of the track so far this season, and he is a solid value play this week. Bowyer is a guy (*Cris Collins Voice*) who tends to find himself qualifying towards the middle of the pack when running this track, and he is pretty good at coming through with positive place differential. He ran a best speed of 133.235 with a P2 finish in the first practice on Friday.
Update: Bowyer panned out just as I expected with a middle of the pack qualifying position in P18. We should see him on the move pretty early on Sunday.
Chase Elliott #9 (DraftKings $9,600 | FanDuel $11,000 | DK SportsBook +45o)
Elliott looked really good in both practices at Phoenix on Friday. On this week's NASCAR DFS Preview Show, I talked about Elliott not having the best finishes at this track as of late, but with the package change, I feel that he can take advantage this Sunday. Elliott ran both practices inside the Top 2, and no doubt has the fastest car on the track.
Update: Elliott landed the pole position for Sunday's race, and I won't be playing him as heavy as I would have originally. Check out the Premium rankings to see some other good plays in his price range.
Denny Hamlin #11 (DraftKings $10,200 | FanDuel $13,000 | DK SportsBook +700)
Dennis Hamlin is in hot water with Chip Ganassi, and may have you thinking he will put you into hot water by playing him this week on DraftKings and FanDuel. Hamlin is a trickster, and although I dont think he's purposely running slow, he can easily pull a rabbit out of his helmet, and wind up in the front pack before you know it. If Hamlin is towards the rear in qualifying, pull the trigger on him this Sunday.
Update: Denny qualified third right behind Harvick and Elliott, and we are in for a wild battle early on. Denny most definitely has what it takes to go war with the other two front runners, and rack up some laps led points.
Ryan Blaney #12 (DraftKings $9,900 | FanDuel $11,000 | DK SportsBook +1100)
Blaney was the slowest Team Penske car in practice on Friday at Phoenix, but that may not be a bad thing. We have seen Ryan step up so far this season, and if there was a track we know he can continue the trend at, it's the desert. Blaney has finished at this track in P3 back to back, so we know he knows how to whip it around those short straightaways.
Update: Blaney will be starting in P5 ahead of his teammates, and I can see him getting lost in the shuffle early in the race. He should still be a decent play, but if you are faint of heart you may not want to check your lineups during the race.
Erik Jones #20 (DraftKings $8,500 | FanDuel $9,200 | DK SportsBook +2800)
Interstate Battery Jones was looking shockingly good in that green racing machine on Friday at practice. Jones bagged two Top 10 finishes in P9, which shows some consistency with his driving. That along with the momentum he is carrying over from last week's finish is enough for me to give him the go-ahead this weekend.
Update: I'm Jones'in for the first time this season after finding out that Jones qualified 11th for Sunday's race. I expect ups and downs, but ultimately a Top 10 finish for Erik.
Ty Dillon #13 (DraftKings $6,200 | FanDuel $5,500 | DK SportsBook +25000)
Just when I thought Bowyer was going to be my value play this week, Dillon comes up from behind, and turns into a sneaky sleeper. Dillon has done well with place differential at this track, but his P5 finish in the second practice on Friday moved the needle for me. Dillon's best speed was 133.269, and he should be heavily considered when building a star-studded lineup.
Update: Dillon will be starting in P25, and Is definitely a value lock for Sunday. His brother Austin Dillon and RCR teammate Tyler Reddick have also caught my eye based on their starting positions (P29 and P30).
(Special Bonus) In case you were wondering about that song "Like The Deserts Miss The Rain", I've put it right here in this article for you to click on. Welcome to my wild brain. Enjoy. "Like The Deserts Miss The Rain" by SADE
For any and all fantasy NASCAR questions, find me on Twitter @GarageGuyChase and subscribe to the Garage Guys Fantasy Sports Podcast for Fantasy NASCAR and Fantasy Football talk. Good luck RotoBallers!
NASCAR DFS News and Driver Outlooks
More Fantasy NASCAR Analysis
The Keys to Weekly NASCAR Success
NASCAR is back, and it's time for you to win more with RotoBaller! Our NASCAR Premium Package for DFS and betting features several heavy hitters and proven winners.
Jordan McAbee anchors the team with his exclusive NASCAR DFS and betting picks, DFS projections and algorithm-predicted finishing order! Jordan had a 60+ unit betting profit in 2024 NASCAR, and a 25% average annual profit since 2018. He won the FSWA Racing Writer Of The Year award in 2023, and has been nominated for DFS Writer Of The Year in 2024.
Five-time NASCAR Racing Writer of the Year finalist and fantasy industry legend Scott "The King" Engel is also in the crew, bringing you his weekly strategies and lineup picks. Set your winning DFS lineups with our award-winning team. He has been nominated once again in 2024 for this award.
