RADIO
Well, well, if this article looks the same from Saturday, I promise it's not. Yes, Drydene sponsored both NASCAR Cup Series and Xfinity Series races this weekend, but after Saturday's race at Dover International Speedway, we've got a clearer picture of which teams have strong cars this weekend.
Joe Gibbs Racing was lights out on Saturday, sweeping the top three positions. Spoiler: This lineup is going to be focused around a couple of those Toyota drivers.
But then there's those drivers who are going to have to come from deep in the field in order to have a good day. And if Saturday proved anything is is; clean air is king at Dover, but there is the ability to pass throughout the field.
Happy New Year! Save 30% on any Premium Pass using discount code NEW. Win more with our DFS, Betting and Season-Long Pass, get expert tools and advice from proven winners! GAIN ACCESS
My DFS Lineup - Drydene 311 (II)
Martin Truex Jr. ($11,300)
Career at Dover: 29 starts, 3 wins, 980 laps led
Average finish at Dover: 11.8
Even though he didn't win in Saturday's first race of the weekend at Dover, the track is quickly becoming one of Truex's best on the circuit, finishing in the top five for the seventh time out of the last eight races.
The No. 19 Toyota will be the same as it was on Saturday, and will likely be even better after overnight changes. Truex is on a hot streak of late, earning six consecutive top-five (three) finishes for the first time in his career.
By finishing runner-up on Saturday, Truex will have to start Sunday's race from mid-pack, rolling off 19th. He's the worth the buy-in price, because there's a good change the No. 19 car will spend plenty of time out front, giving your team points.
Denny Hamlin ($10,600)
Career at Dover: 29 starts, 1 win, 609 laps led
Average finish at Dover: 16.5
Foe years, Hamlin could never figure out the Monster Mile. In fact, when the Cup Series would head to Dover, you knew it would be a struggle for the No. 11 car to crack the top 20, let alone fight for a victory.
However, that's changed in recent years. Dating back to last October, Hamlin has led 333 of his 609 career laps in his last two starts. He's got four top-10 efforts in the last five races at Dover, and JGR is always fast at the track.
Hamlin starts 20th on Sunday, and for $10,600, he most definitely should be on your team. I mean, did you watch Saturday's race? The No. 11 spanked the field, leading a race-high 115 laps, sweeping all three stages. With as dominant as that car was, and has confident as the driver is this season, he could sweep the weekend like Kevin Harvick did at Michigan International Speedway two weeks ago.
Kurt Busch ($8,300)
Career at Dover: 40 starts, 1 win, 429 laps led
Average finish at Dover: 18.1
Saturday's event at Dover didn't go as planned for the No. 1 team, getting taken out on lap 6 by Erik Jones. Because of that, the No. 1 Chevrolet finished last, scoring just one point.
Prior to that fiasco, Busch was on a bit of a role at the Monster Mile, scoring top-10 finishes in three of the previous four races. Due to the crash, the No. 1 team had to bring out the backup car, meaning Busch is starting shotgun on the field.
With a price of only $8,300, Busch is a steal. The Las Vegas native is a veteran, known to keep his car clean. If I were to lay money on the table, I'd bet Busch finishes inside the top 10 -- he has 14 of them this season, scoring you a big number in your lineup.
Did you know RotoBaller has a Premium DFS NASCAR subscription?
Get winning DFS Lineup advice with RotoBaller's Premium DFS NASCAR Subscription, and use promo code RACING to get 10% off. You'll get access to our Lineup Optimizer, Research Station, and Premium Content that is proven to help our experts and subscribers take down tournaments.
William Byron ($7,700)
Career at Dover: 5 starts, 0 wins, 7 laps led
Average finish at Dover: 16.4
Based off Saturday's race, you probably think I'm going crazy with this pick. Byron was a non-factor all day long, losing 28 points to Jimmie Johnson, now sitting on the outside looking in as far as the playoff grid. But he does have at least one thing going for him; crew chief Chad Knaus, who is an 11-time winner with Johnson at Dover.
Prior to Saturday, Byron's first four starts at Dover were solid, with a best finish of eighth last spring. He'd never finished outside the top 20. And one thing that is attractive about the No. 24 car is how far back it starts. He will take the green flag where he finished the first race, 28th.
For a team like Hendrick Motorsports, there's almost only one way he can go and that's up. Another run like Saturday and his playoff chances are all-but gone, so expect the No. 24 team to rebound.
Matt Kenseth ($6,300)
Career at Dover: 40 starts, 3 wins, 905 laps led
Average finish at Dover: 13.2
This pick looks familiar, doesn't it? Yes, indeed. For the first Cup race of the weekend, I had Kenseth in my lineup. Why? Because I'm convinced the Wisconsin native could drive a boat around the Monster Mile and still be competitive. ...OK, maybe not.
All things considered, though, Dover has historically been one of Kenseth's best tracks on the schedule, always running towards the front. When given track position on Saturday, the No. 42 team couldn't hold it, which is a cause for concern after crossing the finish line in 23rd.
Look, it's been a bad year for Kenseth, who has now competed in 20 races and still only has two top-10 finishes, one of which was a runner-up. It's clear having no practice has hindered the 2000 champion, who doesn't have much experience in this aerodynamic package. The primary reason I'd pick Kenseth is he starts 23rd.
Corey LaJoie ($5,500)
Career at Dover: 6 starts, 0 wins, 0 laps led
Average finish at Dover: 31.3
This pick looks familiar, too! Yup. If you're going to go heavy at the top of your lineup, there needs to be a trade-off somewhere and here it is.
In six Cup starts at Dover, it hasn't been pretty for LaJoie, hoovering around 30th position. The good thing is, he rolls off 29th, exactly where he began Saturday's race from. For the price, I still think this is your best pick available, as the driver is giving Go Fas Racing its best season to date.
Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if LaJoie surprises some people, chaos ensues, and he grabs a top 20.
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.
