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Sean's NASCAR DFS picks for DraftKings, FanDuel for the Go Bowling at the Glen in Watkins Glen International (2025). His top NASCAR daily fantasy lineup plays and DFS sleepers.
There are now three NASCAR Cup Series races left before the 2025 playoffs begin. The first of those three remaining races is this week's Go Bowling at the Glen, taking place at Watkins Glen International. Watkins Glen is a road course located in upstate New York, featuring multiple track variants used by various motorsports. The NASCAR Cup Series will utilize the short circuit with inner loop chicane variant, a road course with eight turns spanning 2.45 miles.
As mentioned last week, the playoff narrative is likely to impact the racing over the last three races of the regular season, as it is crunch time for drivers to get a spot in the playoffs. Therefore, do not be surprised to see teams make desperate moves or conserve track positions, depending on their specific situations. Some racers will view this race as their best chance to secure a playoff spot with a win, so do not be surprised to see some drivers push to the limit to make NASCAR's postseason.
Below are my NASCAR DFS lineup picks for the Go Bowling at the Glen on DraftKings and FanDuel this week. This slate locks on 8/10/2025 at 2:00 p.m. EST. If you have further questions or want to discuss racing, you can find me on X at @SeanE247.
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.
Shane Van Gisbergen
Starts 2nd - DK: $12.7K, FD: $15K
Before getting into the other driver choices this week, Shane Van Gisbergen has to be addressed as the top current road course ace. SVG is a driver who will be a factor in this week's race as the winner of the last three road course events in the Cup Series. He will start second and is in a great position to lead laps early, but he is also notably way more expensive than any other driver.
In practice for this week's Cup race at Watkins Glen, he ranked 29th in overall lap averages, seventh in five consecutive lap averages, and fifth in both 10 and 15 consecutive lap averages. Van Gisbergen already showed signs that he is one of the fastest in the field through pre-race events.
It's recommended to have some exposure to him because he's the top favorite to win, but he is also the most expensive driver of the week by a decent margin. Be sure to also have some lineups without him this week, especially as he severely lowers cap flexibility and makes it harder to have a balanced lineup.
VIDEO: Shane Van Gisbergen and Justin Marks pre-race press conference from Watkins Glen International
🎥 #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/PCfdQAicYg
— Speedway Digest (@speedwaydigest) August 9, 2025
Kyle Larson
Starts 27th - DK: $10.2K, FD: $12K
As for Kyle Larson, he is a driver to watch for this week's race, especially with his team, Hendrick Motorsports, having plenty of success at the New York road course. Hendrick has 11 Cup Series victories at the Glen, with Larson being one of the contributors to that total.
In 10 races at Watkins Glen, Larson has two wins, five top-10 finishes, and an average finish of 12.2. Larson has scored positive Place Differential in three of his last four appearances at the Glen, and he has two top-15 finishes in the last three. This season, Larson has been one of the stronger drivers of the year with three wins, a series-leading 14 top-10 finishes, and an average finish of 13.5 after 23 Cup races.
In practice, Larson ranked third in overall and five consecutive lap averages, and fourth in 10 consecutive lap averages. Considering his incredibly high upside based on his starting position, his fast practice speeds, and equipment, Larson is one of the best overall DFS options to consider for this week's race.
NASCAR: With 3 races to go, the chase for the regular season title is still up for grabs.
Kyle Larson is 45 points off the top, and he believes he’s still in it to win it ahead of @WGI qualifying. pic.twitter.com/ILFyMFzAdG
— ESPN Ithaca (@ESPNIthaca) August 9, 2025
Michael McDowell
Starts 6th - DK: $8.4K, FD: $10K
Spire Motorsports driver Michael McDowell is always a name to consider when it comes to road courses. One of his two Cup Series victories did come at the Indianapolis road course back in 2023, and he has a road racing background from previously being in Sports Car and open-wheel racing.
Michael McDowell said something interesting when answering a followup question about why Shane van Gisbergen has been so dominant despite everyone having his SMT data: He doesn't think SVG's advantage over the rest of the field is that big.
"A lot of people come into these races… pic.twitter.com/SimTlAMcsT
— Steven Taranto (@STaranto92) August 10, 2025
In 15 races at Watkins Glen, McDowell has two top-10 finishes, but they were both scored in the last three Cup races with the Next-Gen Car. He also led multiple laps in all three of those Cup events, just like all four of the Cup Series races on road courses this season.
In practice, McDowell ranked sixth in overall lap averages and fourth in 10 consecutive lap averages. He will have one of the fastest cars in the field on Sunday and should be a factor for a win, especially considering how this race represents his best chance to earn a victory in the playoffs. Despite his speed, his high start position does not make him the most cash game-friendly option for DFS, but he is a great driver to choose for tournaments.
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— brent buckner (@tenndolly2) August 7, 2023
Joey Logano
Starts 11th - DK: $7.5K, FD: $7.2K
Each of Team Penske's three Cup drivers has not seen too much success when it comes to road courses in the Cup Series. Ryan Blaney (DK: $7.9K | FD: $6.5K) has only one career Cup win at a road course (Charlotte Roval, 2018) while Austin Cindric (DK: $7.2K | FD: $7K) has yet to win at the track type. Joey Logano, like Blaney, also has one win, but it was earned at this week's track, Watkins Glen.
Joey Logano won the 2015 Cheez-It 355 at the Glen ten years ago today. 🏁
He led one lap. #TeamPenske 🏁 @WGI pic.twitter.com/PT4mR7qqYe
— NASCAR Legends (@LegendsNascar) August 9, 2025
In 15 Cup races at the Glen, Logano has one win, seven top-10 finishes, and an average finish of 15.7. The No. 22 Ford driver placed in the top 15 in the last three Watkins Glen Cup races and also led laps in three of the last four. He also collected positive PD in two of the last three Cup races at the Glen.
In practice, Logano ranked 13th in overall lap averages and 10 consecutive lap averages while ranking 12th in five consecutive lap averages and ninth in 15 consecutive lap averages. Considering his track history and practice speeds, look for Logano to compete for a top-10 finish this week, making him a solid all-around DFS play.
Todd Gilliland
Starts 28th - DK: $6.7K, FD: $5.2K
Those who are looking for a respectable value pick for this week's race should consider rostering Todd Gilliland into their lineups. The No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford driver has notably run solidly at Watkins Glen in the past in both the Cup Series and in the Truck Series before in the past.
In three Cup starts at the Glen, Gilliland has two top-20 finishes and one DNF. In 2022, when he scored his only DNF at the site, Gilliland led four laps before suffering rear-end issues that sent him to the garage. In his only Truck Series race at Watkins Glen in 2021, Gilliland led 18 laps, won the first stage, and then finished in the fourth position.
In practice for Sunday's Cup race, Gilliland ranked first in overall lap averages and 10th in five consecutive lap averages. With his starting position very deep in the field this week, Gilliland has plenty of upside with a car that is easily capable of placing in the top 20, making him an excellent choice to consider for all DFS formats.
P8 in practice for @ToddGilliland_ pic.twitter.com/ioL4OqKPnZ
— Front Row Motorsports (@Team_FRM) August 9, 2025
Zane Smith
Starts 34th - DK: $5.6K, FD: $4.8K
Gilliland's teammate at Front Row Motorsports, Zane Smith, also makes for a very respectable value option for DFS lineups. Smith will save fantasy players even more cap flexibility than Gilliland does and is one of the cheapest overall drivers to add to rosters for lineups.
Smith had his only Cup Series start at Watkins Glen last season, when he started 19th and went on to finish in the fifth position. Road courses have been a track type where Smith scored decent finishes before, as he placed in the top 20 six times in 11 Cup Series races at the track type throughout his career.
.@ZaneSmith rippin' through the bus stop like the @longjohnsilvers drive thru! #FishYeah pic.twitter.com/XTxmUBWRbj
— Front Row Motorsports (@Team_FRM) August 9, 2025
In practice for this week's race, Smith ranked 17th in overall lap averages and 24th in five consecutive lap averages. Based on his equipment, practice speeds, and overall history at road courses, Smith will pay off as a DFS pick for this week's race, especially with his enormous upside.
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