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Let's get ready for some more NASCAR action! These daily fantasy NASCAR rankings for Saturday's Blue Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway were determined by a combination of DraftKings and FanDuel prices, and the projected DFS points each driver is expected to earn in this week’s race.
Each week, we'll present you the weekly rankings, followed by some key analysis of those rankings.
Be sure to also check out all of our other weekly NASCAR DFS articles and analysis to help you set your optimal DFS lineups.
Fantasy NASCAR Driver Rankings
| Driver Name | DraftKings Rank | FanDuel Rank |
| Martin Truex Jr. | 1 | 1 |
| Kyle Larson | 2 | 3 |
| Chase Elliott | 3 | 4 |
| Brad Keselowski | 4 | 2 |
| Joey Logano | 5 | 5 |
| Denny Hamlin | 6 | 8 |
| Ryan Blaney | 7 | 6 |
| Kevin Harvick | 8 | 10 |
| Kyle Busch | 9 | 7 |
| Kurt Busch | 10 | 11 |
| Aric Almirola | 11 | 12 |
| Alex Bowman | 12 | 9 |
| Christopher Bell | 13 | 13 |
| William Byron | 14 | 14 |
| Bubba Wallace | 15 | 16 |
| Matt DiBenedetto | 16 | 15 |
| Cole Custer | 17 | 17 |
| Tyler Reddick | 18 | 19 |
| Austin Dillon | 19 | 18 |
| Chase Briscoe | 20 | 21 |
| Chris Buescher | 21 | 20 |
| Ross Chastain | 22 | 24 |
| Erik Jones | 23 | 25 |
| Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | 24 | 23 |
| Ryan Newman | 25 | 22 |
| Anthony Alfredo | 26 | 29 |
| Daniel Suarez | 27 | 26 |
| Ryan Preece | 28 | 27 |
| Michael McDowell | 29 | 28 |
| Corey LaJoie | 30 | 31 |
| Justin Haley | 31 | 30 |
| BJ McLeod | 32 | 32 |
| James Davison | 33 | 34 |
| Josh Bilicki | 34 | 35 |
| JJ Yeley | 35 | 33 |
| Cody Ware | 36 | 37 |
| Quin Houff | 37 | 36 |
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NASCAR Rankings Analysis
After a dirt race and then the Easter break, the NASCAR Cup Series is finally getting back to normal as it heads to Martinsville for the Blue Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500. This is a long race -- that 500 stands for laps, not miles this week -- so there's a lot of laps led and fastest laps points available. Something to keep in mind this week: place differential points still matter, but not quite as much as usual.
My top play on this slate is Martin Truex Jr. Starting seventh offers a little PD upside, but mostly I'm high on Truex because he's led over 100 laps in each of the past three races here, including a dominant showing in 2019 where he led 464 of 500 laps. This 19 car has really figured out this track. He's won two of the last three races here and could have won all three if not for a late wheel issue last time at Martinsville that led to Truex needing to make an unscheduled pit stop.
Beyond Truex, this is set up to be a good race for the three Penske cars. Last time we were here, all three cars finished in the top four, though they couldn't run down race winner Chase Elliott. Joey Logano will start on the pole, offering some early chances to jump out front and lead some laps. Keselowsi starts 10th and has a little more PD upside, which is why he's higher in my rankings, but don't be surprised to see Logano just dominate in the early going.
Kyle Larson is another strong play, if you want to go after PD. Starts back in 19th. Has had a good car this year. Should contend for a top 10.
One of the drivers I had the toughest time with was Aric Almirola. He's in a Stewart Haas car that starts 31st, so we have to play some of him for the upside, but Almirola has also struggled so much this year. No top 10s and an average finish of 26.6. Yikes. He's still ranked high for the upside, but I'm also afraid to go too heavy on him.
I like Bubba Wallace this week. He's never had a top 10 in the Cup Series here, but he does have three top 20s in his last four races here. But the big reason I like him is that he's a two-time Truck Series winner here and finished top 10 in all five of his starts here in that series. Finally driving a car with top speed, Wallace could be up front by the end of this one.
In terms of value guys, it's not a great week. Daniel Suarez and Ryan Preece start a little too high for me to be comfortable with them, but they're also so much better than the drivers priced under them that I'm still playing them over the BJ McLeod's of the world. Ugh -- we need some of those rumored expansions next year of 23XI and Kaulig to come true so we can get some better plays lower down in the pricing.
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.
