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Sean Engel's NASCAR Cup Series DFS picks for the Shriners Children's 500. Check out his DFS sleepers and top plays on DraftKings and FanDuel for the Shriners Children's 500 (2025).
Last week's race at Circuit of the Americas, the EchoPark Texas Grand Prix, ended with a second consecutive victory for Christopher Bell. As the Cup Series heads to Phoenix for the Shriners Children's 500, Bell aims to become the first driver to win three races in a row since 2021.
This week's race at Phoenix will use two different tire compounds: option tires and regular tires. Option tires offer better grip and handling for teams, but they wear out quicker over a long run than regular tires. Six sets of regular tires and two sets of option tires will be available for teams during this week's Cup race, and they can determine when to use them at any point. Among the usual strategy of races at Phoenix, which involve picking the best potential dominators and Place Differential upside plays, the differing tires add another wildcard element to DFS strategy for Phoenix this week.
Below are my NASCAR DFS lineup picks for the Shriners Children's 500 on DraftKings and FanDuel this week. This slate locks on 3/9/2025 at 3:39 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.
Ryan Blaney
Starts 12th - DK: $10.8K, FD: $13.5K
Retired driver and future Hall of Famer Kevin Harvick was the top all-time performer in the Cup Series at Phoenix, scoring nine victories and holding an incredible 21-race streak of top-10 finishes from 2013 until the end of his career. There is a strong chance that nobody will ever see a streak on that level of consistency in NASCAR Cup racing again at one particular track.
Ryan Blaney, however, seems to be doing his best impression of Harvick right at the same track, as Blaney is having an excellent run of consistency in his own right at Phoenix. Blaney's last nine races at the Arizona track ended with him finishing inside the top 10, including seven straight top-5 finishes going into this weekend's race.
Ryan Blaney has an average finish of 2.8 at Phoenix since 2022 👀
This is the best average finish at any track for any qualified driver in the Next Gen era pic.twitter.com/EU5YTNULnu
— Peyton (@TowryPeyton) March 8, 2025
The craziest thing about Blaney's streak and success at Phoenix, however, is that he has never won a single race in the Cup Series at the site. With four runner-up finishes in the last five Phoenix races, it's not for a lack of effort or not having the team to get to the front, but rather unfortunate circumstances keep him unable to break through.
Could this week be the week Blaney finally wins at Phoenix? Well, he has a great shot at winning since he displayed top-5 speeds in most categories in practice. Fantasy players should strongly consider the No. 12 Ford driver due to his Phoenix history, top-notch equipment at Team Penske, and even offers some upside from his starting position.
Kyle Larson
Starts 17th - DK: $10.5K, FD: $13K
Kyle Larson's start to the season has been lackluster for his standards, with only one top-5 finish to start the year, but Phoenix represents a great chance to get his season back on track. In six Phoenix races since 2022, Larson has four top-10 finishes, including three finishes of fourth or better in the last four races at the site.
The No. 5 Chevrolet driver did not get the fastest lap during qualifying, as he hit the track's apron during his lap. As a result, Larson has some of the greatest upside from his starting position among the top-priced drivers for this week's race.
Larson looked especially fast, particularly during the longer runs during practice. He ranked first in the fastest 25- and 30-consecutive lap average categories. Races at Phoenix generally favor longer green flag runs, which will play into Larson's hands as he will likely rise through the pack and compete for a top finish at Phoenix.
Chase Briscoe
Starts 30th - DK: $9K, FD: $10K
Another former Phoenix winner with plenty of upside this week, Chase Briscoe of Joe Gibbs Racing is one of the more notable DFS options of the week. Briscoe is another driver who did not get a great lap during qualifying and will start deep in the field.
In six starts at Phoenix since 2022, Briscoe has four top-10 finishes, including a win in the first race at the site in the Next-Gen car back in March 2022 while driving for Stewart-Haas Racing. He also has a streak of three straight top-10 finishes in March Phoenix races dating back to his win.
Now, in improved equipment since joining JGR this season, Briscoe so far has two finishes with positive PD scored and one top-5 finish. The No. 19 Toyota driver also led multiple laps in two of the season's first three races and now heads to one of his better statistical tracks.
Also, for what it's worth, Joe Gibbs Racing has been on fire during all NASCAR activity this weekend. JGR won the ARCA Series race with Brent Crews and also won the Xfinity Series race with Aric Almirola. All JGR teams should be highly competitive on Sunday, but Briscoe has a strong chance of being the team's highest DFS scorer of the week.
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Alex Bowman
Starts 32nd - DK: $7.8K, FD: $7.2K
Alex Bowman is another driver from a top team starting far back in the field this week. Bowman is another driver who, similarly to his teammate Larson, messed up on their qualifying lap and will need to climb through the field on Sunday's race at Phoenix.
Here's the reason why Alex Bowman had a horrible qualifying lap before they start to give their opinions.pic.twitter.com/wF8YY3h6Gz
— Jose Pedro 🏁🏁🏁 (@jose_pedro_48) March 8, 2025
Although Phoenix is far from a top track for Bowman, with only two top-10 finishes in his entire Cup career at the site in 19 starts, he does well in gaining positions at the Arizona track. All four of Bowman's last four appearances at Phoenix had him earn positive PD and place inside of the top 20.
In practice, compared to other drivers in the field, Bowman's speeds in the 20, 25, and 30 consecutive lap average categories ranked inside the top 20. Bowman also ran the Xfinity Series race for Hendrick Motorsports this weekend and finished as the runner-up in a close finish.
With his incredibly high upside, great equipment from Hendrick Motorsports, and recent Phoenix races showcasing how he capitalizes on gaining upside, fantasy players should consider rostering the No. 48 Chevrolet driver this week.
Daniel Suarez
Starts 31st - DK: $7.1K, FD: $6.8K
Since ending the Daytona 500 with a finish of 13th, Daniel Suarez's 2025 season has not gone according to plan with two straight DNFs due to accidents. Phoenix could be the soft reset Suarez needs while helping fantasy players win contests in the process.
In 16 races at Phoenix, Suarez has eight top-20 finishes, including three consecutive top-15 finishes going into this week's race. The No. 99 Chevrolet driver also captured positive PD in five of the last six Phoenix Cup events.
More passing at @phoenixraceway this weekend? @Daniel_SuarezG thinks the new soft tire is a GOOD thing.
WATCH: "The Mexico Race Over Daytona 500" - Daniel Suarezhttps://t.co/enuRCniUu8 pic.twitter.com/4JidBNRRtd
— SpeedFreaks (@SpeedFreaks) March 8, 2025
In practice for Sunday's race, Suarez displayed top-20 speeds in the 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 consecutive lap average categories. Due to his starting position towards the back of the pack, Suarez has an enormous upside that he can capitalize on for this week's race, making him an easily rosterable driver in all formats.
Zane Smith
Starts 26th - DK: $5.5K, FD: $3K
There are a couple of interesting drivers in the value range this week who may outperform their previous results for Phoenix. Zane Smith, now with Front Row Motorsports, is one of those deep values worth watching this week.
In three career Cup starts at Phoenix, Smith's best finish is 29th, which he scored in last year's March race at the site. The No. 38 Ford driver also has one finish with positive PD, which he gained during the March 2023 Cup event at Phoenix on a part-time start with Front Row before joining them full-time this year.
Zane was great at Phoenix in the Truck Series, nabbing three top-5 finishes, including a win in November 2022 that also earned him the Truck Series championship that year. He also led in three of his four truck appearances at the site.
In the 15, 20, 25, and 30 consecutive lap average categories of practice this week, Smith displayed top-5 speeds. When factoring in his high upside and equipment with Front Row Motorsports, who has a technical alliance with Team Penske, one of the top teams at Phoenix in the past few years, Smith is one of the better value options of the week for all formats.
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