Four races are completed for the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season. Phoenix saw Ryan Blaney earn his first win of the year and also end Tyler Reddick's three-race win streak that opened up the season. Blaney and Reddick are now the top two drivers in the Cup standings as the Series next heads to Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the first race at a 1.5-mile Intermediate track. Below are my NASCAR DFS lineup picks for the Pennzoil 400 on DraftKings and FanDuel this week. This slate locks on 3/15/2026 at 4:00 p.m. EST. If you have further questions or want to discuss racing, you can find me on X at @SeanE247.
Las Vegas is the first 1.5-mile Intermediate track that the Cup Series will visit in 2026. 1.5-mile Intermediate tracks are the most common type of track to appear in the Cup Series, but each has different degrees of banking between its corners and straightaways to differentiate them. The turns at Las Vegas feature 20 degrees of banking and nine degrees of banking on the straightaways.
Although there are new rules packages in place for this year for adjusted horsepower, Las Vegas represents the first non-drafting track for the Cup Series that does not have increased horsepower. This makes the racing similar to last year's rules package. While keeping that in mind, fantasy players should aim to create their lineups with a combination of one to two potential dominators to lead a lot of laps, Place Differential upside picks where possible, and rounding it out with drivers who can gain a solid finish based on their salary range. Fantasy players who properly format their lineups with that philosophy in mind are likely to find success in Las Vegas.
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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 1st - DK: $10.7K, FD: $13.5K
Christopher Bell arguably had the best car in last week's race at Phoenix, as he led the most laps (176), but finished second and fell short of winning. The No. 20 Toyota driver has also been one of the top drivers at Las Vegas in recent years without a victory, but is a likely contender who could finally grab one this week.
VIDEO: Christopher Bell pre-race press conference from Las Vegas Motor Speedway
🎥 #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/nm8PLnIh9Y
— Speedway Digest (@speedwaydigest) March 14, 2026
In 12 Cup races at Las Vegas, Bell has six top-10 finishes and an average finish of 15.8. Bell placed in the top five in four of the last six Cup races at Vegas, an accomplishment shared only with Kyle Larson, the only multi-time winner in that span. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver also led the third-most laps of all drivers in the last six Cup races at Las Vegas (216).
In practice for this week's race, Bell ranked 13th in overall lap averages and fourth in 10 consecutive lap averages. Bell qualified in the pole position, meaning he will start at the front of the pack and be in a prime position to lead laps early and become a potential dominator. Fantasy players should consider Bell one of the favorites to compete for the win based on equipment and recent track history.
Denny Hamlin
Starts 2nd - DK: $10.5K, FD: $12K
Speaking of Joe Gibbs Racing drivers, they swept the front row in qualifying with Bell and the No. 11 Toyota driver, Denny Hamlin. The most recent winner at Las Vegas, Hamlin, is another driver with the potential to win a second straight, similar to Blaney at Phoenix last week.
Denny Hamlin said after his Las Vegas win that he just put the pedal down in the last 10+ laps and made it happen. This is what his run from sixth on the final restart to first at the finish looked like from his onboard.
Special delivery for @TravisRockhold and the Denny Bros pic.twitter.com/oszcxgI2LS
— Steven Taranto (@STaranto92) October 13, 2025
In 28 races at Las Vegas, Hamlin has two wins, 15 top-10 finishes, and an average finish of 12.4. Hamlin placed 11th or better in nine of the last 11 Cup races at Vegas, with eight top-10s in that span. The No. 11 Toyota driver also led in 10 of the last 11 Vegas Cup races.
In practice, Hamlin ranked among the top five fastest in all categories except for overall lap averages. He also ranked first among all drivers in five and 10 consecutive lap averages during practice. Although he does not offer any upside from his starting position in terms of PD, he is still in a great position to compete for the win and lead early laps, making him one of the top potential dominators of the week.
Chase Briscoe
Starts 18th - DK: $9.2K, FD: $11K
In case it was not already made very clear, Joe Gibbs Racing is highly recommended as a team to consider stacking for this week's race. All four of the team's drivers have displayed great speed in pre-race events and are strong candidates to have high-scoring DFS performances. Chase Briscoe might potentially be the most overlooked of the team's four drivers and should not be underestimated this week.
In 10 Cup starts in his career at Las Vegas, Briscoe has only two top-5 finishes and an average finish of 20.3. The No. 19 Toyota driver's last start at the site was his best as he matched his best career finish (fourth) and led 57 laps while running inside the top five at the end of the first two stages. Briscoe also participated in the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series race at Vegas earlier in the weekend, where he placed as the runner-up.
During practice for Sunday's race at Vegas, Briscoe ranked second in overall lap averages while ranking as high as fifth in 20 consecutive lap averages. Despite starting the furthest back in the field of the four Gibbs drivers, Briscoe offers the most PD upside from his starting position, just like the O'Reilly race on Saturday. Expect Briscoe to gain positions and be a great all-around DFS option for Vegas.
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Ross Chastain
Starts 17th - DK: $8.5K, FD: $10.5K
One driver who has not gotten off to a decent start for the 2026 season so far is Ross Chastain. The Trackhouse Racing driver only has one top-5 finish for the whole year and sits 23rd in the regular season points. Las Vegas, however, represents a solid opportunity for the No. 1 Chevrolet driver to bounce back and finally get his season on the right track.
In 15 races at Las Vegas, Chastain has six top-10 finishes and an average finish of 16.5. Since 2022, Chastain has only had one finish worse than 12th at Vegas, which includes the last eight races at the site. He also led laps and finished in the top five in the last two Las Vegas spring races.
In practice for Sunday's Cup race, Chastain ranked 27th in overall lap averages and ranked 12th in 10, 15, and 25 consecutive lap averages. Based on equipment and past track history, Chastain is expected to finish inside the top 15 while competing for a top-10 finish.
Kyle Busch
Starts 24th - DK: $7.8K, FD: $7.8K
Richard Childress Racing driver Kyle Busch is having a hometown race with NASCAR heading to Las Vegas this week. The No. 8 Chevrolet driver is off to a rough start for the 2026 season, as he has yet to score a top-10 finish and sits 20th in the regular season standings after four races.
In 29 Cup starts at Las Vegas, Busch has one win, 16 top-10 finishes, and an average finish of 11.9. Since joining RCR in 2023, Busch has had four top-15 finishes at Vegas, with two top-10 finishes, including last Fall's race at the site. He also led laps in two of the last four Vegas Cup races.
In practice for this week's race, Busch ranked 23rd in overall lap averages while displaying top-10 speeds in the 10-30 consecutive lap average categories. Busch did not get a great lap during qualifying, but as a result, he has a starting position with some upside to finish inside the top 15, making him worth consideration for DFS lineups.
John Hunter Nemechek
Starts 31st - DK: $6K, FD: $3K
Fantasy players who are looking for a favorable value option for this week's race should consider Legacy Motor Club driver John Hunter Nemechek. The No. 42 Toyota driver currently sits 22nd in regular-season points with two top-20 finishes after four races this year.
In six Cup starts at Las Vegas, Nemechek has three top-20 finishes and has placed in the top 10 once. However, Nemechek also earned positive PD in five of his six starts at the site and placed in the top 20 in two of his last three. Nemechek also gained positive PD in two of the last three Cup races this season.
Really good car in practice, I felt. Missed it a little in qualifying. Looking forward to playing the hand we were dealt tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/FzZQhr2XF2
— John Hunter Nemechek (@JHNemechek) March 14, 2026
In practice for Sunday's race at Vegas, Nemechek ranked 19th in overall lap averages and displayed top-5 speeds in the 10-30 consecutive lap average categories. With his starting position being so far back in the field, Nemechek has plenty of upside with a car capable of placing inside the top 20, making him one of the better value options to consider based on his potential ceiling.
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