RADIO
The flat track fever has passed, and the drivers are all set for the beginning of the 2019 NASCAR playoffs. Ryan Newman and Clint Bowyer bagged the last two spots after a time-consuming Brickyard 400 last Sunday. Newman even fell asleep in his car after Brad Keselowski and Erik Jones wrecked, and was probably dreaming of hot dogs.
Driving is about to get a lot more competitive for the Top 16, and what better place for high stakes racing than Las Vegas Motor Speedway. As always, we can expect Kyle Busch to put on a show at this track, and after Joey Logano's win earlier in the year at the Penzoil 400, he'll be gunning for points to try to repeat his championship. Racing is about to get more intense and that can change some things when setting your DFS lineups moving forward.
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What We Learned At Indianapolis
- Ryan Newman knows how to get a job done
- Jimmie Johnson missed the playoffs for the first time
- Bubba Wallace is still here
- Brad Keselowski and Erik Jones put Ryan Newman to sleep
DFS Lineup Sleepers - South Point 400
William Byron
Byron no doubt has one of the fastest cars in the field, and as he races to stay in the playoffs, we could see something different on Sunday from him. Byron finished the Pennzoil 400 in 16th place, and only gained four spots for a not so great fantasy day. As long as Byron can qualify towards the back of the pack, he will be a great play on Sunday.
Jimmie Johnson
Just because Johnson didn't make the playoffs doesn't mean that he's going to lay down and call it a season. Johnson scores an average of 47.25 FPTS at this track, and ran third in the first practice on Friday. When a driver like Johnson has nothing to lose, a lot of wild things can happen.
Paul Menard
Menard announced that he would be retiring after this season, and passing his ride down to Matt DiBenedetto. Menard has finished two out of three races at this track in the Top 10 over the past three years and has averaged a total of 33.50 FPTS at this track since 2016. Menard should push to go out with a bang this season, so keep an eye out for where he qualifies this Saturday.
DFS Lineup Avoids - South Point 400
David Ragan
Ragan is the driver you play when you're trying to ball on a budget, but that budget is going to need another driver this week. Ragan scores an average of 13.50 FPTS at this track, and is all about negative place differential. Ragan hasn't finished inside the Top 20 in Vegas since 2008 (sheesh).
Kurt Busch
Older brother Busch finished first in the second practice on Friday in Las Vegas, but when you look at his history at this track, that's not a good thing for DFS players. Busch has only finished inside the Top 10 twice since 2012 when running in Vegas, and has scored an average of 20.50 FPTS since 2016. At his price on DFS sites, you're better off staying away from him this weekend.
Alex Bowman
Bowman punched his ticket into the playoffs by winning at Chicagoland this year, and will be gunning to continue proving himself in the cup series. I'm not so high on him this weekend due to his decline in Top 10 finishes. Bowman ran 18th in the second practice on Friday, and although I think he will make it to the next round of the playoffs, I don't think it will start this weekend in Vegas.
For any and all fantasy NASCAR questions, find me on Twitter @GarageGuyChase.
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