NASCAR’s biggest event of the season has arrived. Unlike other sports, NASCAR starts its season with it’s “Big Game”. The strategy we will use at this track is a little different then the strategies we will use throughout this season. The Daytona 500 is known for great racing, awesome finishes and “The Big One”. Our strategy is to find the drivers who can score us points and not kill our lineups if they get involved in the big wreck. In order to do this we want to target guys who are starting farther back in the field. The floor is high and the upside is monumental, especially for a couple of drivers who didn’t do so well in the Duels on Thursday. It’s also important to remember that salary is not an issue here and don’t be afraid to leave thousands of dollars on the table. Let’s dive in:
Brad Keselowski (FD $12,200 DK $10,600)
Brad fell victim to the penalty bug in Thursday’s duel. Two pit penalties cost him a decent finish and made him the chalk play for the 500. Starting 35th, Brad has a high floor and will be on the winning lineup this week. The Fords are fast here at Daytona and I don’t see Brad staying back here too long. Brad also is known as one of the best plate racers in the Cup series. Could I see you fading him in a gpp or two, sure, but I will probably be overweight on my Keselowski ownership.
Kyle Busch (FD $10,300 DK $9,600)
Kyle’s qualifying spot was dictated by good ol’ Jimmie Johnson. Like last Sunday’s Clash, Jimmie was involved in a wreck that ruined someone’s day. Kyle Busch has never won the Daytona 500 and typically struggles in this race. The one thing I have learned playing NASCAR dfs, always bank on an angry Kyle Busch. Between the issue in the Duels and now Martin Truex Jr. joining the team, Kyle has to establish himself as top dog in the company and can do that starting Sunday. Kyle starts 31st and has that high floor which we are targeting this week.
Michael McDowell (FD $6,200 DK $5,900)
As you see there is a big drop in price of drivers I like. If you played NASCAR dfs last year with Karma, you know that McDowell won us some money. McDowell is a Daytona darling. In points races here since 2016 he has finished 15th, 10th, 15th, 4th, 9th and 26th. He starts 34th in the 500 and is one of those high floor plays I keep preaching about.
Casey Mears (FD $4,000 DK $5,400)
This name is a blast from the recent past. Casey used to drive the #13 Germain Racing car which is now occupied by dfs darling Ty Dillon. The car he is driving for the 500 is a Germain Racing car and is a one race deal. Casey has nothing to lose and you can say the same about his floor for dfs purposes. He starts 40th which is last place in the field. When he raced for Germain, at Daytona he had top 12 finishes in 6 of the last 7 races. Casey should be high owned but is the plug and play driver you want in your lineups.
Tyler Reddick (FD $4,000 DK $5,100)
Tyler is another driver in a spot where he isn’t racing for points but is in decent equipment. Tyler is driving the 31 for RCR. If you remember, Austin Dillon won the 500 last year driving a RCR car. Tyler will be a driver who i believe will sit back to earn himself some track time in a cup car. This is important to us because by sitting back he should avoid getting involved the eventual big wreck. Tyler starts 39th and has the ability to get a top 25 in that car.
As always if you have any questions or want some advice you can find me on twitter @davidjr831 or join our NASCAR, discord or mvp package. Mike and I are in the discord chat all the way up to lock with any lineup construction advice or just to talk NASCAR. Good luck this week and we will see you in Atlanta next week!
