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Sean Engel's NASCAR Cup Series DFS picks for the Great American Getaway 400. Check out his DFS sleepers and top plays on DraftKings and FanDuel for the Great American Getaway 400 (2025).
After its first race in Mexico City, the NASCAR Cup Series is back in the United States and heads to Pocono Raceway for the Great American Getaway 400. Nicknamed the "Tricky Triangle" due to its unique triangular-shaped layout, Pocono is a 2.5-mile oval track made up of three corners modeled after three different tracks. Pocono is also one of the largest and most unique tracks the Cup Series has on its schedule.
Races at Pocono can range from chaotic races where drivers try to survive wild restarts and get five-wide for position, to races with longer green flag runs that can come down to fuel mileage and pit strategy. This weekend's race is sure to be an eventful one, especially as this is also a track where tires can go flat or get cut in a matter of seconds, causing crashes that can directly change the outcome of a DFS contest in seconds. Fantasy players may find it wise to consider creating multiple lineups with different driver combinations for this week's race to maintain a chance to remain in contention to cash out, especially since several notable drivers are also starting towards the back on Sunday.
Below are my NASCAR DFS lineup picks for the Great American Getaway 400 on DraftKings and FanDuel this week. This slate locks on 6/22/2025 at 2:00 p.m. EST. If you have further questions or want to discuss racing, you can find me on X at @SeanE247.
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DFS Lineup Picks - DraftKings, FanDuel
Once you've read this article, be sure also to check out all of our other weekly NASCAR DFS articles to help you set your optimal DFS lineups. You should also check out our NASCAR DFS lineup tools for the ultimate combination of DFS resources to help you win big, including our Lineup Optimizer, DFS Cheat Sheet, Research Station, and more.
Disclaimer: All the drivers presented as picks for this week's race are meant to be some of my top DFS recommendations of the week. They are not originally intended to fit all into one lineup.
Denny Hamlin
Starts 1st - DK: $11K, FD: $14K
The No. 11 Toyota driver, Denny Hamlin, returns to Cup Series competition after taking off the past week due to the birth of his third child. There is perhaps no better track on the Cup Series schedule for Hamlin to return after a one-week break from Cup Racing than Pocono, where he has obtained so much success since the beginning of his career.
In 35 Cup races at Pocono, Hamlin leads all drivers with seven wins, 23 top-10 finishes, and 858 laps led. Hamlin led in the last 10 Pocono races and placed in the top five in six of the last eight, including three victories. The average finish for Hamlin at Pocono is 11.3, which ranks third-best among active drivers.
In practice for this week's race, Hamlin ranked 17th in overall lap averages and ranked as high as fifth in 15 consecutive lap averages. In qualifying, Hamlin scored the pole position at Pocono for the fifth time in his Cup career and is in prime position to lead laps and become a dominator right from the beginning.
There's just something about @dennyhamlin and @PoconoRaceway. #BuschLightPole pic.twitter.com/UT40j4tC14
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) June 21, 2025
Expect Hamlin to be one of the top drivers to compete for the win, making him a great driver to consider for all formats at one of his best tracks.
Ryan Blaney
Starts 20th - DK: $10.7K, FD: $13.5K
Another driver who is expensive to add to DFS rosters for this week's race, but is well worth rostering, is Ryan Blaney. Blaney shares a couple of similarities with Hamlin mentioned above. Both drivers scored their first-ever career Cup Series victory at Pocono, and both have been highly successful at the site in the past.
Blaney is the defending winner of this week's race and led in the last three Cup events at Pocono. In 15 starts at the site, Blaney has two wins, seven top-10 finishes, and an average finish of 13.4, which ranks fifth-best of all drivers in the field on Sunday.
Pocono's been good to Ryan Blaney. 🏁🏁 pic.twitter.com/Fzl94fON1d
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) June 18, 2025
In practice, Blaney ranked sixth in overall lap averages and had the best 15 consecutive lap average. He also ranked among the top five fastest in all other categories on speed, except for single lap times. Blaney's starting position offers solid upside, and although he does not provide as much as other top-priced drivers and is more expensive, spending up for the No. 12 Ford driver is a viable strategy for tournaments that can pay off this week.
Chase Elliott
Starts 18th - DK: $9.5K, FD: $11K
One driver with a history of solid finishes at Pocono who should be on the radar of fantasy players this week is Chase Elliott. Elliott participated in double duty this week by racing in the Xfinity Series race at Pocono, where he led the most laps (38) and competed for the win before finishing fourth.
In 15 Cup races at Pocono, Elliott has one win and 10 top-10 finishes with an average finish of 13.5. The No. 9 Chevrolet driver also placed in the top 10 in all three races with the Next-Gen car since 2022 at the site, being one of only three drivers total to accomplish the feat.
Chase Elliott is fourth in points and has yet to finish outside the Top 20 in any race this year. It's been a "good" season, but Elliott says he hasn't been satisfied and there's been a few too many weeks where he and his team haven't been relevant.
That's especially pronounced… pic.twitter.com/vPlJBH1T0e
— Steven Taranto (@STaranto92) June 22, 2025
In practice, Elliott ranked seventh in overall lap averages and ninth in five consecutive lap averages. Elliott carries solid upside from his starting position and has practice speeds indicating that he will place inside the top 10, making him one of the more favorable options available for all DFS formats this week.
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Bubba Wallace
Starts 34th - DK: $7.5K, FD: $8.5K
23XI Racing historically has been a team that performs very well at Pocono, especially since the Next-Gen car was introduced in 2022. Tyler Reddick (DK: $9.9K | FD: $11.5K) has been highly consistent as one of only three drivers to collect top-10 finishes in all Pocono races since 2022, but his teammate Bubba Wallace deserves almost as much recognition and is a lot more affordable in DFS than Reddick.
In 12 races at Pocono, Wallace has six top-20 finishes with three of them being inside the top 10. Wallace's three top-10s all came within his last four appearances at the site and he never placed lower than 14th in a Pocono race in the Cup Series since joining 23XI back in 2021.
Prime says the starter on Bubba Wallace's car won't work, so it looks like he might not be able to qualify. He had the second-fastest five-lap average and fourth in 10-lap, so that's significant.
— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) June 21, 2025
In practice, Wallace ranked fourth in 10 consecutive and overall lap averages while ranking second in five consecutive lap averages. Wallace was not able to successfully start the car during qualifying and will have a deep starting position as a result this week. Considering his equipment, practice speeds, and Pocono history, he is an easy recommendation to make for all DFS formats this week.
Alex Bowman
Starts 25th - DK: $7.4K, FD: $7.8K
Alex Bowman of Hendrick Motorsports is another driver who should not be overlooked for this week's race at Pocono. Bowman scored his first top-10 finish since Kansas back in the first half of May last week at Mexico City and Pocono has become one of Bowman's more favorable tracks in recent years.
“Im about 85 or 90%.”@Alex_Bowman on how he is feeling heading into this weekend. He also speaks on the road course pit strategy, and what he likes so much about @PoconoRaceway as the @allyracing #48 has been a contender the last two seasons. #NASCAR | @MtrsprtsToday pic.twitter.com/wMOdJmXSkT
— Tim Moore (@IveBeenTimMoore) June 21, 2025
In 15 races at Pocono, Bowman has eight top-20 finishes, with five inside the top 10. Bowman's overall average finish in his Cup career at Pocono is 17.3 and he placed 11th or better in five of the last six Cup events at the site.
In practice, Bowman ranked 11th in overall lap averages and eighth in 10 consecutive lap averages. Bowman's starting position provides plenty of upside and considering his equipment, recent Pocono history, and practice speeds, expect Bowman to move up through the field and collect plenty of place differential, making him a solid driver worth consideration this week.
Todd Gilliland
Starts 32nd - DK: $5.6K, FD: $4K
As far as the value tier drivers are concerned, they typically fall into either drivers with a relatively higher than expected starting position, making them a capable tournament play like Erik Jones (DK: $6.4K | FD: $6.8K), or they will have a lot of potential upside and promise to have a decent run. Todd Gilliland is the driver to recommend who fitss more into the latter.
In three races at Pocono, Gilliland's best finish is 15th, which he scored during the 2023 race at the site. The No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford driver also has two finsihes with positive PD scored in his Cup career. One of the bigger reasons to consider him however is his overall 2025 performance as he currently has nine top-20 finishes and an average finish of 20.1 through the season's first 16 races.
Got some 3-sided speed in Group 1.@NoahGragson P8@ToddGilliland_ P12@ZaneSmith P14 pic.twitter.com/OQaXNQlwmc
— Front Row Motorsports (@Team_FRM) June 21, 2025
In practice, Gilliland ranked 18th in overall lap averages and 26th in five consecutive lap averages. In qualifying, Gilliland made contact with the wall, causing him to have a slow lap time and have him start deep in the field for Sunday's race with upside. Gilliland offers better upside than most for the salary and is one of the better options to consider this week for those looking for cap flexiblity.
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