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Sean's NASCAR DFS picks for DraftKings, FanDuel for the AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway (2026). His top NASCAR daily fantasy lineup plays and DFS sleepers.
Last week at Bristol Motor Speedway, the NASCAR Cup Series saw a first-time winner. Ty Gibbs, driver of No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, scored his first Cup Series victory at Bristol in his 131st Cup start. While Gibbs became the fifth different driver to win this year, the question now becomes whether another new winner will emerge at Kansas Speedway this week. Below are my NASCAR DFS lineup picks for the AdventHealth 400 on DraftKings and FanDuel this week. This slate locks on 4/19/2026 at 2:00 p.m. EST. If you have further questions or want to discuss racing, you can find me on X at @SeanE247.
After two consecutive short track races, the NASCAR Cup Series now heads to Kansas, a 1.5-mile intermediate oval track. Kansas is a track known for having progressive banking in its turns, with the bottom part of the corners having 17 degrees of banking and the top having 20 degrees. This track is also known for wild restarts, where sometimes drivers can spread out three, four, or five-wide while racing for positions. The race this week will also be the first at this track type since Las Vegas back in March. Kansas will be using a similar tire compound setup and rules package as both of the Darlington and Vegas races from earlier in the season.
Both tracks will be taken into account when referencing driver picks and which drivers may stand out. The lap count is lower than the last two Cup races at Bristol and Martinsville, meaning that dominator drivers will not be as big a factor to focus on for lineup construction in DFS as those tracks, but the lap count is still big enough that picking the right driver or two to dominate will make a difference. Fantasy players, however, must also consider Place Differential as a factor where possible, as Kansas is a track where drivers can find several ways to pass for positions, especially in comparison to Bristol and Martinsville.
DFS Lineup Picks - DraftKings, FanDuel
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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.
Christopher Bell
Starts 11th - DK: $10.7K, FD: $13K
Two of the four drivers from Joe Gibbs Racing have now won a race this year with Denny Hamlin winning at Las Vegas and Ty Gibbs winning at Bristol. Considering how fast the JGR Toyotas are this season, it is only a matter of time before Christopher Bell or Chase Briscoe also become winners. For Bell, Kansas might be one of his best opportunities to break through for his first 2026 win.
In 12 Cup races at Kansas, Bell has nine top-10 finishes and an average finish of 11.6 (second-best of all active drivers). The No. 20 Toyota driver also has an active streak of five consecutive finishes of eighth or better in the last five Kansas races going into this week's race, which is the longest of all drivers in the field. Bell also led multiple laps in every single race in the Next-Gen car at Kansas since 2022.
In practice for this week's race, Bell ranked sixth in overall lap averages and had the best 25 and 30 consecutive lap averages. With some decent upside, top-notch equipment, and excellent history at one of his best tracks, Bell should be one of the first drivers that fantasy players anchor their lineups around for this week.
Tyler Reddick
Starts 1st - DK: $9.5K, FD: $12.5K
Tyler Reddick's 2026 season has been nothing but incredible through the first eight races of the season. The No. 45 Toyota driver has four wins, six top-10 finishes, and an average finish of 5.5, with three poles for the year after earning one more in qualifying this week.
In 13 Cup starts at Kansas, Reddick has one win and five top-10 finishes, including a finish of seventh in his last appearance at the site last Fall. Reddick also led in six of the last eight Cup events at Kansas and finished in the top 20 in five of the last six. With three top-10 finishes in his last six appearances at Kansas, this is a solid track for Reddick based on past history.
The fastest lap at @kansasspeedway 🔥 pic.twitter.com/ChFE5TkIph
— Sports on Prime (@SportsonPrime) April 18, 2026
In practice for this week's race, Reddick ranked second in overall lap averages, and he had the best five, 15, and 20 consecutive lap averages. Reddick's track history, equipment, and overall finishes for this season so far make him a top driver to consider for all lineups, especially as a driver who can win and potentially dominate right from the beginning.
Bubba Wallace
Starts 10th - DK: $8.5K, FD: $9K
There was a point in history where 23XI Racing was absolutely feared at Kansas. This was because between 2022 and 2023, they won three of the four races in that span of time with three different drivers. One of those drivers who won for the team was Bubba Wallace, who earned his second career Cup Series victory and his first one on a non-superspeedway oval in September 2022.
Congratulations to Bubba Wallace and 23XI Racing on their NASCAR Cup Series WIN! Kansas marks Bubba's second career victory and the third for 23XI. pic.twitter.com/oAhz6rI3By
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) September 11, 2022
In 16 Cup starts at Kansas, Wallace has one win and four top-10 finishes. All four of Wallace's top-10 results have come within the last eight Cup races at the site, including a finish of fifth in his last appearance at the site last Fall. Wallace also led in four different Cup events at Kansas, which came within his last seven races at the site.
In practice for Sunday's race, Wallace ranked 17th in overall lap averages, but he also had the best 10 consecutive lap average. With Wallace displaying top-5 speeds in most categories in practice, as well as his overall positive track history at Kansas, fantasy players can rely on Wallace as one of the better overall fantasy options for the week.
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Chris Buescher
Starts 7th - DK: $8.3K, FD: $8,5K
RFK Racing's Chris Buescher is one driver to watch for this week's race at Kansas. Buescher nearly won at this track two years ago, but lost to Kyle Larson in the closest scored finish in NASCAR Cup Series history. The margin of victory in that race was 0.001 seconds, with Larson being an inch ahead of Buescher for the victory.
IT WAS THAT CLOSE PEOPLE! pic.twitter.com/PU0wqKOFyW
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) May 6, 2024
That finish remains Buescher's top finish in terms of finishing position in his Cup career at Kansas. In 20 Cup races at the site, the No. 17 Ford driver has five top-10 finishes, including the last two Spring races. Notably, each of the last four Cup races at Kansas has ended with a top-15 finish or better for Buescher.
In practice for this week's Cup race, Buescher ranked 13th in overall lap averages, but ranked among the top five fastest drivers in 10-30 consecutive lap averages. Buescher's practice speeds, combined with his recent Kansas track history, make him a driver worth consideration as a top-5 threat in all DFS formats.
Austin Cindric
Starts 34th - DK: $7.2K, FD: $7K
Since the introduction of the Next-Gen car in 2022, Team Penske as an organization has struggled to be dominant at Kansas compared to the other big teams. Ryan Blaney has two top-5 finishes, while Joey Logano has one top-5 finish since 2022. Meanwhile, Austin Cindric has never scored a top-5 at Kansas in a Cup Series car.
So why mention Cindric as a DFS option for this week? That is because he does not need to be top-5, or even top-10, to cover his salary and be a proficient performer in DFS lineups. In nine Cup races at Kansas, Cindric has three top-15 finishes, including last year's spring race at the site where he went on to finish in 11th. Notably, just like this week, Cindric qualified outside the top 30 in the last race at a 1.5-mile Intermediate track at Las Vegas, only to go on and finish in 19th.
In practice for this week's race, Cindric ranked 32nd in overall lap averages but displayed top-15 speeds in the 20-30 consecutive lap average categories. Cindric does start deep in the field outside of the top 30 once again, and if he can at least crack the top 20, he will pay off well for fantasy players this week based on PD upside alone. The No. 2 Ford driver has the equipment to do so, especially if the race goes on a longer green flag run, as indicated by his practice speeds.
Corey Heim
Starts 24th - DK: $6.9K, FD: $6.8K
In case it was not already clear by the driver choices mentioned earlier this week, a 23XI Racing team stack is not a bad idea for this week's race at Kansas. The team is also bringing a fourth Cup Series entry this week for Corey Heim, last year's Truck Series champion, who will be making his third Cup start at Kansas despite limited Cup Series experience.
In his two previous Cup Series races at Kansas, Heim has a best finish of 13th, which he obtained in last year's spring race at the site while also driving for 23XI Racing. In the Truck Series, Kansas is one of Heim's best statistical tracks, as he has two wins and six top-10 finishes in seven races in that Series.
In practice for Sunday's Cup race, Heim ranked seventh in overall lap averages and 14th in 10 consecutive lap averages. Based on his equipment and upside from his starting position, Heim is a driver who can compete for a top-15 finish, making him one of the better value options for this week's race.
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