RADIO
Sean's NASCAR DFS picks for DraftKings, FanDuel for the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway (2025). His top NASCAR daily fantasy lineup plays and DFS sleepers.
The NASCAR Cup Series continues onward with another race at a 1.5-mile Intermediate track, the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway. Kansas is one of a couple of 1.5-mile oval tracks that the Cup Series visits every year, and in this case, it will be the second time the Cup Series will race at the site this season. Kyle Larson dominated the previous race at Kansas in May 2025, leading 221 of 267 laps, sweeping the stages, and went on to win.
This race is the second race in the Round of 12 in the Cup Series playoffs. The only driver currently locked into the next round of the playoffs is Ryan Blaney, who got himself into the Round of 8 by winning last week's race at New Hampshire. Everyone else in the playoff field still has to earn their way into the next round. A few drivers, such as Larson and William Byron, have large point gaps to the cut line, while others like Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace must make up a lot of points or win to advance. It is essential to pay attention to the playoff narratives, especially. They will affect driver and team strategies for this week's race and DFS.
Below are my NASCAR DFS lineup picks for the Hollywood Casino 400 on DraftKings and FanDuel this week. This slate locks on 9/28/2025 at 3:00 p.m. EST. If you have further questions or want to discuss racing, you can find me on X at @SeanE247.
Featured Promo: New Novig users get a $25 purchase match (50% discount up to $25) on your first Novig deposit, and a 3 free months of RotoBaller's "Big-4" Premium Pass (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL) which includes exclusive tools for Betting, Props, DFS and more! CLAIM IT NOW
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.
Kyle Larson
Starts 3rd - DK: $11K, FD: $14K
Since his Kansas victory earlier in the year, Larson has not exactly been dominant or competing for wins on the level he displayed in the first third of 2025. In fact, Larson has led more than 10 laps in just three races since Kansas in May at Charlotte, Indianapolis, and Gateway. If there was ever a track where Larson may surprise and come back to prominence with a strong performance, it would be Kansas.
A DOMINATING WIN AT KANSAS FOR KYLE LARSON! pic.twitter.com/wgtyBFs9Ub
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) May 11, 2025
In 21 races at Kansas in his Cup career, Larson has three wins, 12 top-10 finishes, and an overall average finish of 12.4, which is tied for second-best of all drivers in the field this week. Larson has been an incredible performer at this track since 2022, with six finishes of eighth or better, including two victories and five top-5 finishes.
In practice for this week's race, Larson ranked second in overall lap averages and had the fastest 15 consecutive lap average. He may be the most expensive driver of the week on both DraftKings and FanDuel, but he is well worth rostering at one of his best statistical tracks in the Cup Series. Some fantasy players may fade him just because he has not been at the front as much as he was in the earlier part of the season, but with his practice speeds, Kansas history, and how he led in five of the last six Cup events this year, this is the perfect get-right race for the No. 5 Chevrolet driver.
Christopher Bell
Starts 5th - DK: $10.2K, FD: $12.5K
Any of the three Joe Gibbs Racing drivers currently in the playoffs could easily occupy a spot in a DFS lineup this week and pay off well. Denny Hamlin (DK: $10.5K | FD: $13K) is the active wins leader at Kansas with four wins and is a favorite to win once again this week while Chase Briscoe (DK: $9.5K | FD: $10.5K) scored the pole position and also finished fourth at this track earlier in the year when he was still "figuring out how the car drove" in his first season with JGR.
Christopher Bell, on the other hand, is a driver who is priced between the two other drivers but deserves just as much of a spotlight as Hamlin and Briscoe this week. In 11 Cup races at Kansas, Bell has eight top-10 finishes and an average finish of 12.4, which is tied for second-best of active drivers. Bell also placed in the top 10 in the last four Kansas races and led the most laps (122) in last year's fall race at the site.
In practice, Bell ranked seventh in overall lap averages and ranked fifth in both 10 and 20 consecutive lap averages. Look for another strong result this week out of the No. 20 Toyota driver, who also has finished seventh or better in the last three Cup races this year, including a victory at Bristol.
Chris Buescher
Starts 15th - DK: $8K, FD: $8K
One of the most consistent drivers in terms of finishing position all year long has been RFK Racing's Chris Buescher. After the first 30 races this year, Buescher has 15 top-10 finishes and an average finish of 13.8. For a comparison of how great that actually is, only five drivers this season have a higher average finish, and only four have more top-10s this season. All of those drivers who beat Buescher in those stats are in the playoffs!
In 19 races at Kansas in his Cup career, Buescher has nine top-15 finishes, including each of the last three Kansas Cup races. In the last three events at the site, Buescher ranked 11th or better every time, with two of those being top-10 finishes. Buescher's average finish of 15.3 since 2022 at Kansas also ranks 10th of all active drivers in the field.
Fastest in practice goes to @Chris_Buescher. 💨 pic.twitter.com/IlTWML9zbW
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) September 27, 2025
In practice for this week's race, Buescher ranked 18th in overall lap averages, but also first in single lap times, and displayed top-10 speeds in the 10-25 consecutive lap average categories. Buescher has equipment that is capable of competing for a top-10 finish, and Kansas has become a solid statistical track for him in recent years. While Buescher is a great all-around DFS option, his salary on FanDuel is a noteworthy discount, making him especially cash-game friendly.
Did you know RotoBaller has a Premium DFS NASCAR subscription? Like what you read today? You can show your support for Sean -- save 30% with code NEW when purchasing any NASCAR Premium Pass. Gain exclusive access to all of our expert Premium NASCAR articles, DFS tools, and Lineup Optimizer! Be sure to check out screenshots of NASCAR DFS winners and testimonials from RotoBaller readers and writers who have been winning using RotoBaller's Premium NASCAR tools.
Great day today thanks for some extra help from @RotoBaller @FanRacingOnline @JoeNicely pic.twitter.com/mAIMTaEYWc
— brent buckner (@tenndolly2) August 7, 2023
Alex Bowman
Starts 17th - DK: $7.8K, FD: $8.2K
Although he is the only Hendrick Motorsports driver who is out of the playoffs currently, Alex Bowman is a driver who should not be overlooked for this week's race. He did finish in the top 15 in the last two Cup races this season, and he has 15 top-10 finishes in 30 total races for 2025.
Longest active top-10 streaks at Kansas
Alex Bowman - 6 races
Christopher Bell - 4 races
Ryan Blaney - 2 races pic.twitter.com/TjknpGAQX9— NASCAR Insights (@NASCARInsights) September 25, 2025
At Kansas, Bowman has 15 top-20 finishes and an average finish of 14.2 in 19 races in his career. Since 2022, Bowman is the only driver in the field to have placed in the top 10 in every race at Kansas, doing so six times in six races in that span. This also includes an average finish of 6.8 through those six races at Kansas
In practice for this week's Cup race, Bowman ranked 11th in overall lap averages and 22nd in 10 consecutive lap averages. Bowman has some of the better equipment in the mid-tier driver range this week and has strong Kansas history as well. Bowman is a driver to consider for all DFS formats this week.
Ryan Preece
Starts 19th - DK: $6.9K, FD: $7K
Barely being priced as a value pick this week is another RFK driver, Ryan Preece. Although Preece may not have the most impressive finishing history at Kansas at first glance, he is actually a highly underrated option for fantasy lineups with a deeper look at his stats.
In 11 Cup races at Kansas, Preece only has four top-20 finishes, but three out of those four top-20s did come within his last four appearances at the site. Also, Preece has gained positive Place Differential eight times in his Cup career at Kansas, including his last six Cup events at the site.
In practice, Preece ranked first in overall lap averages and ranked 25th in five consecutive lap averages. Preece has finished in the top 10 in almost all races at 1.5-mile Intermediate oval tracks this season, and his salary is undervalued for a driver who can compete for a top-15 finish, especially on DraftKings.
John Hunter Nemechek
Starts 25th - DK: $6.2K, FD: $5.8K
John Hunter Nemechek of Legacy Motor Club is a driver who should not be underestimated in all DFS formats for this week's race at Kansas. Through 30 races so far in the 2025 season, Nemechek has 15 top-20 finishes with an average finish of 19.3. He also scored top-20s in three of the four previous races at 1.5-mile Intermediate tracks, including a finish of 10th in the May Kansas race.
In five Cup starts at Kansas, Nemechek has four top-20 finishes and an average finish of 17.8. What is more impressive about Nemechek's history at Kansas, however, is the fact that he scored positive PD in all of his Cup races at the site to date. Nemechek's finish of 10th earlier in the season at Kansas was also his highest finish of his Cup career at the site.
In practice, Nemechek ranked 25th in overall lap averages, 22nd in 15 consecutive lap averages, and 12th in 20 consecutive lap averages. Nemechek's starting position does leave some upside, but he has performed better and is in superior equipment compared to most around his salary range. Expect him to compete for a top-20 finish, making him one of the more ideal value options for DFS lineups.
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.
