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Welcome back RotoBallers! NASCAR is officially open for business in the U.S.A, and all week long I've been rejoicing in high fashion. From watching just about every Randy The Plumber video there is online, to dusting off my old Nintendo 64 and running heavily pixelated laps on NASCAR 2000. To top it off, NASCAR decided that Darlington would be the best spot to pick things back up where we left off (AKA The Lady In Black, AKA The Big D), and after finding that out I almost ran through a brick wall in excitement.
For those of you reading this that are new to the game, I'd first and foremost like to welcome you to the sweat-fest that is DFS NASCAR. Fantasy NASCAR is a rush that will send you soaring through the air faster than magic carpet ride, or slam all your hopes, and dreams into the ground within the blink of an eye (You gotta have big lugnuts to play this game). Just because the drivers are going in this weekend without any practice, doesn't mean you should.
Darlington Raceway is one of the toughest tracks in the cup series, and one of the most unique. It's hard to choose a track to compare it to, so I learned not to try a while back because It's just its own animal. It's a good thing to look back at how drivers perform at this track, and you can do that by checking out the NASCAR Premium Tools that we have here at RotoBaller (just click that link below in the fancy slant text that most people call italics). With that being said, below are my NASCAR DFS lineup picks for FanDuel and DraftKings - good luck RotoBallers!
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DFS Lineup Picks - DraftKings, FanDuel
Be sure to also check out all of our other weekly NASCAR DFS articles and analysis to help you set your optimal DFS lineups on DraftKings and FanDuel.
Kevin Harvick #4 (DraftKings $11,300 | FanDuel $12,500 | DK SportsBook +500)
Since there was no qualifying this week, Harvick will start from the sixth position after his number (along with all the other drivers) was drawn out of a bingo tube. Harvick is beyond capable of getting the job done at this track, and we could see him pick up place differential within minutes of the green flag waving. In the last seven races at Darlington, Harvick hasn't finished outside the Top 10.
Brad Keselowski #2 (DraftKings $10,400 | FanDuel $12,000 | DK SportsBook +800)
I asked myself if Brad K was "Slamming Brad K's" after finding out he was on the pole for Darlington, but then realized it was unlikely because there's no reason to slam something that only values you for one race this season (real shame Miller Lite). Usually, I dont want any part of the pole-sitter due to the risk in DFS, but this week I'm open to it due to the way the race is being handled (no qualifying, practice, etc.). The last time "Kes" was on the pole at Darlington he led 196 laps, and finished in second place.
John H. Nemechek #38 (DraftKings $5,900 | FanDuel $5,000 | DK SportsBook +25000)
Nemechek is slowly becoming a value play favorite for me this season. The rookie seems to have a decent handle on the car, and finds himself in starting positions that aren't so risky for the price you pay for him. This Sunday, Nemechek starts from P34, and should at least find his way into the Top 30 if all goes well.
Tyler Reddick #8 (DraftKings $7,200 | FanDuel $6,600 | DK SportsBook +6600)
Reddick is by far my favorite rookie of this year. He earned that by dominating in Xfinity last season, and briefly putting on a show back in March at Phoenix. Reddick has a solid team built around him at Richard Childress Racing, and should have no issues piling up place differential points in Sunday's race starting from P29.
Martin Truex Jr. #19 (DraftKings $10,800 | FanDuel $11,500 | DK SportsBook +850)
Truex Jr. is my "Gut Boy Driver" this week (Gut Boy Driver means I'm not really sure why I like him, but I like him, and I think he might win the race). Even though the recent data doesn't shine as bright as some of the other drivers on my list this week, Truex Jr. still has plenty of opportunities to shine bright like a diamond (I may or may not be listening to Rhianna). With an average of 60.9 FPTS over the past four races at this track, I'm ready to take the gamble with him starting in P15.
Kurt Busch #1 (DraftKings $8,500 | FanDuel $9,400 | DK SportsBook +2000)
Bu..Busch It Real Good (Dun Da Dun Dun Dun Duh Da Da Da Duh Duh Duh) is all I'm going to be singing come Sunday because this guy has the potential to be one of the biggest movers on the track. Busch will be starting from P22 which is equivalent to a miracle from heaven when looking at how he runs Darlington. Busch has finished inside the Top 10 in all but one of the last five races at this track, and will make a nice pair to your top driver when building your stacks.
Joey Logano #22 (DraftKings $10,100 | FanDuel $12,200 | DK SportsBook +850)
Logano starting in P9 at Darlington is almost hard to pass up after the season he's been having. Recently, Logano and his wife had their second child, and he found out that iRacing isn't as easy as playing Cruisin' World at the local Pizza Hut when you were a kid. When looking at the data, there are definitely a few options out there that you could substitute for Joey, or you could continue to trust that what's happening between Logano, and new crew chief Paul Wolfe is working better than expected.
Ty Dillon #13 (DraftKings $5,600 | FanDuel $5,000 | DK SportsBook +40000)
Out of the Dillon brothers, I really like Ty this week based on starting position, (and maybe because I want to dream of him winning the race so I can bring home 40 bands) and his ability to navigate at Darlington. Out of his three career races at this track, Dillon did best in 2017, where he finished in P13 after starting in P25. He is very consistent in the Top 30 range, and for the price, he should pay off nicely for those who welcome him into their lineups on Sunday.
For any and all fantasy NASCAR questions, find me on Twitter @GarageGuyChase and subscribe to the Garage Guys Fantasy Sports Podcast for Fantasy NASCAR and Fantasy Football talk. Good luck RotoBallers!
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