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Sean Engel's NASCAR Cup Series DFS picks for the Wurth 400. Check out his DFS sleepers and top plays on DraftKings and FanDuel for the Wurth 400 (2025).
The NASCAR Cup Series heads to the Lone Star State for this week's race at Texas Motor Speedway, the Wurth 400. Texas is one of a couple of 1.5-mile intermediate oval tracks on the Cup Series schedule, and this will be the only time the Series visits the site this season.
Out of all the intermediate oval tracks, Texas has been one of the more unpredictable ones in recent seasons. This is due to multiple crashes and varying pit strategies teams have used for track position. Multiple drivers also tend to become lap leaders in Texas races, with three of the last five Cup events at the site featuring no single racer leading over 100 laps. Drivers usually struggle with Texas due to the track's rough surface, making it difficult to maintain grip and make passes. DFS players who are playing lineups for this week's race should be prepared for chaos by creating multiple lineups with differing driver combinations. This way, they can always maintain a chance to remain in contention to cash out regardless of the circumstances and track conditions at Texas.
Below are my NASCAR DFS lineup picks for the Jack Link's 500 on DraftKings and FanDuel this week. This slate locks on 5/4/2025 at 3:30 p.m. EST. If you have further questions or want to discuss racing, you can find me on X at @SeanE247.
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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 4th - DK: $11K, FD: $14K
It is turning out to be another week where the drivers from Hendrick Motorsports are ending up as great options for DFS. Considering that they are the top Chevrolet team so far this season, it should be no surprise, especially when they won at Texas one year ago with Chase Elliott (DK: $9K | FD: $11K). Elliott is worth rostering this week based on his favorable track history and high upside, as is William Byron (DK: $10.8K | FD: $13.5K), who is in a great position to dominate the race early from the second position.
However, Kyle Larson should be the one to watch this week. In 17 races at Texas, Larson has one win and six top-10 finishes, but he also led 525 laps, the third-most of active drivers in the field behind Kyle Busch and Brad Keselowski. The No. 5 Chevrolet driver has led more laps at Texas than anyone else in the Next-Gen car (195) since 2022, meaning he typically finds the front of the pack. Larson also won this weekend's Xfinity Series race at TMS while subbing for an injured Connor Zilisch.
Great way to start the weekend 🤠 pic.twitter.com/2rrR5jKnw7
— Kyle Larson (@KyleLarsonRacin) May 3, 2025
In practice, Larson displayed top-10 speeds in all categories on speed, including ranking eighth in overall lap averages and having the fourth-fastest single lap time. Although he is the most expensive driver on both DFS sites for this week's race, he will be worth spending up for this week as it's hard to imagine that he will not be a factor for the win, especially considering he won on a 1.5-mile intermediate earlier in the year at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Tyler Reddick
Starts 17th - DK: $10.2K, FD: $13K
Hendrick Motorsports has won three out of the last four Cup events at Texas, outside of the All-Star race in 2022. As for the other race, they didn't win; that was accomplished by a driver who should not be overlooked this week, Tyler Reddick of 23XI Racing.
The No. 45 Toyota driver has been one of the best overall drivers at Texas since he joined the Cup Series. In six starts at the site, Reddick has one win, four top-10 finishes, and an average finish of 9.3, ranking second among all active drivers behind Chase Briscoe. Reddick led the second-most laps of all drivers in the last three Cup races behind Larson (143) and also has the highest Driver Rating of all in that span (111.3).
In practice, Reddick ranked eighth in single-lap times and fifth in 10 consecutive lap averages in practice. 23XI has been one of the fastest teams at Texas with the Next-Gen car, and Reddick carries solid upside from his starting position. Those looking for an alternative to the Hendrick drivers at the top should consider rostering Reddick for this week's race at Texas.
Ross Chastain
Starts 31st - DK: $8.2K, FD: $7.5K
Ross Chastain has been one of the kings of gaining positive Place Differential throughout the 2025 season. Through the season's first 10 races, Chastain collected positive PD seven times. He only failed to obtain positive PD at Daytona due to a crash, COTA, where he had a high starting position, and Homestead, a track far from his best historically.
In eight Cup races at Texas, Chastain has three top-20 finishes. This includes two of his last three Cup starts at the site, where he has two finishes of 13th or better. He also led in each of the last three Cup events at TMS, including 33 in last year's race before being taken out in a late race crash.
Ross Chastain priced pretty cheap at DK but a lot to like about him!
Wrecked while running in 2nd on the last lap in 2024 at Texas, finished 2nd in 2023.
Since 2024 at high-speed 1.5's minus Texas (remember he was crashed while running in 2nd), Chastain has a 7.3 average…
— Ryan (@ifantasyrace) May 3, 2025
In practice, Chastain's speeds were underwhelming as he ranked 32nd in overall lap averages and as high as 21st in 20 consecutive lap averages. Despite his slow practice speeds, Chastain has incredibly high upside from his starting position, and qualifying has not been the No. 1 Chevrolet driver's strongest suit all season.
With positive PD scored five times in his Cup career with an average finish of 23.1 in eight starts at Texas, there is a pretty solid chance he will pay off for DFS lineups of all formats this week.
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Brad Keselowski
Starts 30th - DK: $7.6K, FD: $7.2K
Most drivers in Texas struggle to find consistency in finishes. However, most drivers are not Keselowski, who has been a standout performer at this track for most of his Cup career.
Always good chopping it up with a fellow Michigander! Sat down with the No. 6 of @RFKracing Brad Keselowski ahead of Sunday’s @TXMotorSpeedway race.
Keselowski has 4 straight top 10’s here, including P2 a year ago. In a slow start to ‘25, he’s eyeing his first win in Texas 🏁 pic.twitter.com/ENfP25Ocmt
— Joey Ellis (@Jellis1016) May 2, 2025
In 29 starts at TMS, Keselowski has 21 top-20 finishes, including 14 inside the top 10. Keselowski also has 685 laps led, the second-most of active drivers, and an average finish of 15.3. The No. 6 Ford driver is the only racer in the field to place in the top 10 in each of the last six Texas Cup races dating back to 2019. This includes the two seasons when the track was used for the All-Star race.
In practice, Keselowski ranked 24th in overall lap averages, but displayed top-10 speeds in the 25 and 30 consecutive lap average categories. This means that Keselowski has a car capable of moving through the field on longer runs.
Brad has yet to score a top-10 finish this year, with his best being at Las Vegas, the closest comparable track to Texas out of all that were run in the Cup Series this season. Due to his enormous upside and track history, fantasy players should highly consider Keselowski for all formats.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
Starts 34th - DK: $6.2K, FD: $4.5K
Ricky Stenhouse Jr is one of the most quietly productive performers of the 2025 season so far. In the first 10 races this year, Stenhouse has nine finishes with positive PD obtained and placed in the top 25 every time. The only race where Stenhouse failed to nab PD was at Bristol, where he qualified second.
In 20 Cup starts at Texas, Stenhouse has 10 top-20 finishes. The No. 47 Chevrolet driver also captured positive PD 11 times overall in his Cup career at TMS, including the last two Cup events at the track. Notably, Stenhouse also led 22 laps during the 2022 race at Texas, which was the first in the Next-Gen car.
During practice, Stenhouse ranked 35th in overall lap averages while ranking as high as 16th in 15 consecutive lap averages compared to the field. Once again, Stenhouse qualified poorly and will start deep in the field, but he has amazing upside that will make him worth rostering in DFS this week.
Ty Dillon
Starts 23rd - DK: $5.1K, FD: $4.2K
DFS players who are looking for a deeper punt option should consider Ty Dillon for this week's race. Dillon has a history of decent finishes for the salary at Texas and is one of the cheapest drivers to consider adding for Sunday's race.
In 12 races at Texas, Dillon has seven top-20 finishes, including last year's race, where he placed 16th while driving for his current team, Kaulig Racing. Dillon has nine finishes with positive PD scored at TMS, including each of his last four appearances at the site. However, Dillon's most impressive stat is how he only has one DNF in his entire Cup career at Texas and placed 24th or higher in all of his starts otherwise.
Races since last DNF in the Cup Series pic.twitter.com/QMzXSlMcRt
— NASCAR Insights (@NASCARInsights) May 2, 2025
In practice, Dillon ranked 27th in overall lap averages and ranked 31st in 10 consecutive lap averages. Despite the slow practice speeds, Dillon has plenty of cap flexibility, favorable track history, and has been one of the better overall performers available for the salary, scoring an average finish of 22.9 through the first 10 races this year.
Dillon and John Hunter Nemechek (DK: $5,6K | FD: $3.5K) are the top recommendations for fantasy players who need a driver in this salary range for this week's race.
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