
Dave's NASCAR DFS Picks (Truck Series) for the Eero 250 at Richmond (2025). Read his daily fantasy NASCAR advice and NASCAR Trucks DFS sleepers, values.
Corey Heim's dominant 2025 season continued last week at Watkins Glen. Heim led 44 of 81 laps and scored his sixth victory of the season. Heim has comfortably won the regular season title, and it's going to be hard for anyone to beat him once the Truck Series Playoffs begin.
Speaking of the playoffs, the Truck Series makes a stop at Richmond Raceway on Friday night. This race will mark the final event of the regular season. Beginning in two weeks at Darlington, the top 10 drivers in the standings will then square off for the 2025 Craftsman Truck Series Championship. With Richmond being next on the docket, we have a traditional Friday Night short track race. Sparks should fly and tempers could flare as several drivers on the playoff bubble will look to secure their spot in the Craftsman Truck Series Playoffs.
Can one of the drivers vying for a playoff spot upset Heim and pick up a surprise win? Let's dive in and look at some NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series DFS lineup picks for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Eero 250 at Richmond on DraftKings. Also, make sure to check out our NASCAR Premium Tools for the Craftsman Truck Series, including our DFS Lineup Optimizer and powerful Research Station. Please note, this slate locks on 8/15/25 at 7:46 p.m. EDT.
*Please note: Truck Series qualifying takes place on 8/15 at 3:10 PM. Check back after qualifying for any updates.*
Craftsman Truck Series DFS Preview - DraftKings
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Top NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series DFS Plays
Corey Heim ($12.5K)
Starts First
As dominant as Heim has been this year, he has yet to win on a short track. Don't let that fool you, though; he has still been very good on the short circuits. He's posted two top fives and three top 10s in four short track starts this year.
His worst finish was a 17th-place result at North Wilkesboro. However, Heim still finished second in the first two stages and led 162 laps in that race. He has also led 347 laps on the short tracks this year. As long as Heim qualifies toward the front, there is plenty of opportunity here for Heim to accrue those all-important dominator points DFS gamers seek at short track events.
Even though he doesn't have a short track win this year, this is not the week to fade Heim. Gamers can feel confident building their lineups around him.
Corey Heim holds off Daniel Hemric to WIN at Watkins Glen! pic.twitter.com/VRsR0BbWli
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) August 9, 2025
Ty Majeski ($10.5K)
Starts Second
Majeski still hasn't won a race in 2025. However, he has been stacking solid finishes over the last few races and has seven top 10s in his last 10 starts. He's had mixed results on short tracks but posted a top-five finish at IRP (Indianapolis Raceway Park).
Majeski is the defending champion of this race, and this could finally be the weekend he breaks through for a win. There's an argument to be made that he's overpriced this weekend, and that's understandable given his results on the short tracks this year.
Check back after qualifying/practice for a final call, but for now, we'll list him as a contender.
Chandler Smith ($10K)
Starts Sixth
Both of Smith's victories this year have come on short tracks. He won at Bristol and North Wilkesboro, finished fourth at Martinsville, and sixth at IRP.
If you're looking for an alternative to Heim at the top of your card, Smith is your guy.
Chandler Smith holds off Kyle Larson to WIN the NASCAR Truck Series race at Bristol! #NASCARonFS1 pic.twitter.com/0Ofpx25NO0
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) April 12, 2025
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series DFS Fades
Layne Riggs ($11K)
Starts Third
Riggs dominated the series' most recent short track event. He picked up the victory at IRP and led 160 laps in the process. He also has a second-place finish at North Wilkesboro after starting 27th in that race. Riggs also finished sixth at Bristol and 11th at Martinsville.
However, he did not lead a single lap at Bristol, Martinsville, or North Wilkesboro. IRP was the only short track where he was truly dominant. That is potentially problematic when dominator points can be extremely important in short-track races.
Riggs qualified third but only posted the 23rd-best 10-lap consecutive average in practice. That suggests his truck might be better in qualifying trim than race trim.
He should post a strong finish, but unless he jumps out and leads a ton of laps, Riggs might not be the best play at this price. It's a little risky, but DFS players may want to look at other options this weekend.
Sammy Smith ($9.5K)
Starts Fifth
This will be Smith's fourth Truck Series start of the season. He's finished inside the top 10 twice with a best finish of sixth last weekend at Watkins Glen.
However, none of his three Xfinity Series victories have come on short tracks. Look to play other drivers in this price range.
Mid-Tier NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series DFS Options
Christian Eckes ($9.8K)
Starts Ninth
Eckes will make his first Truck Series start of 2025 on Friday night. He's been very strong on short tracks and has registered victories at Martinsville and Bristol. Eckes only has two top 10 finishes in 4 career starts at Richmond, but he was the runner-up in this race last year and led 64 laps in the process.
He was flat-out fantastic on the short tracks in 2024, and this is a good week to insert him into lineups.
Daniel Hemric ($9K)
Starts 10th
Hemric won at Martinsville early this year. He also has a 13th-place finish at Bristol to go along with a fourth at North Wilkesboro and a seventh at IRP.
This will be Hemric's first career Truck Series start at Richmond, but he has been solid in seven career Xfinity races at the track. Hemric has posted three top fives and five top 10 finishes in his seven career Richmond Xfinity Series starts.
This is a good price to play him this weekend. If he qualifies poorly, even better.
Corey LaJoie ($8.7K)
Starts 26th
LaJoie was fast in practice but had a poor qualifying effort. He's only made one other start in the Truck Series this year. He finished fifth at Michigan after starting 24th. This might be a good spot to deploy him as a place differential target.
Tyler Ankrum ($8.3K)
Starts 16th
Ankrum has finished inside the top 10 in every short track race this year. A so-so qualifying effort means he could pick up a few place differential points with another top 10 finish. Look to play Ankrum at this price.
Kaden Honeycutt ($8K)
Starts 11th
Honeycutt had top 10s at North Wilkesboro and Bristol. His eighth-place finish at Bristol was particularly impressive considering he started 22nd. Look to target Honeycutt as a potential place differential play.
Ben Rhodes ($7.8K)
Starts 17th
Rhodes is on the outside looking in for a playoff spot entering Richmond. He is just 11 points behind Jake Garcia for the final playoff spot. Rhodes has yet to win a short track race in his Truck Series career, so he might have to rely on points to secure a playoff berth. Luckily for Rhodes, he has a pair of top fives at short tracks already in 2025.
It's never a bad idea to play a driver who desperately needs a strong finish. Starting 17th, Rhodes does offer some additional value as a place differential play if he cracks the top 10.
Rajah Caruth ($7.6K)
Starts 21st
Caruth led laps at Martinsville and Bristol earlier this year. He posted top 10s at both tracks as well as a 10th-place finish at IRP.
Caruth hasn't had the best results at Richmond in the Truck Series, but he's had solid results on the short tracks this year.
Giovanni Ruggiero ($7.4K)
Starts 35th
Ruggiero starts dead last after an issue during practice forced him to miss qualifying. Outside of a 25th-place finish at IRP, he has been very solid on short tracks this year. Ruggiero finished 12th at Martinsville and scored top 10s at Bristol and North Wilkesboro. He's a great place differential play.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series DFS Value Options
Jake Garcia ($6.8K)
Starts Eighth
Garcia is hanging on to the final playoff spot by 11 points. With multiple drivers gunning for the victory to secure a playoff berth, Garcia and his team need to be aggressive to secure their spot in the playoffs.
Luckily, Garcia has been solid at the short tracks this year. He's finished inside the top 15 in all four short track events, which is highlighted by a third-place finish at Martinsville.
Don't expect him to be in contention for the victory, but he should post a quality finish this weekend.
More Fantasy NASCAR Analysis
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