DFS NASCAR DraftKings Lineup Advice: Brickyard 400 Picks 7/23/17

The Monster Energy Series Cup travels to the hollowed grounds of auto racing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway where NASCAR drivers covet winning at this legendary racetrack. The flat rectangular oval is 2.5 miles long, and the Brantley Gilbert Big Machine Brickyard 400 will run for 160 laps(400 miles).

At this race, I will look at practice data and speed to make my picks.  I expect that the guys in front will dominate this race and my DFS DraftKings lineup may have four relatively expensive drivers and two punts.

My Top 5 Drivers for the Brantley Gilbert Big Machine Brickyard 400

Kevin Harvick($9,900):  Harvick had a great week of practice and will join Kyle Busch in the front row by qualifying 2nd overall.   Harvick did win this race in recent history in 2014, where he was able to perform the NASCAR tradition of “Kissing the Bricks”.   After hitting a slump earlier in the year, Harvick and his team has gradually been finishing well in recent races, where Harvick sits in fourth in the overall points race.

Kyle Busch($10,500):  Kyle Busch is a very easy pick for cash lineups.  He won the Pole Position for this race and he led 149 out of the 170 laps last year coasting to victory lane.  And, he also happened to win this race in 2015.  Expect him to completely dominate this race as he is also desperate to secure an automatic playoff spot with a win.

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Denny Hamlin($9,500):   Hamlin finally got his first win of the season at New Hampshire last week.  NASCAR is all about momentum and I would easily use Hamlin in your lineups.   In the first practice session, he had the fastest car.  Not surprisingly, as his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Kyle Busch has won the pole position.   Hamlin has finished in the Top 10 in four out of the last five Brickyard 400’s.

Jimmie Johnson($10,000):  The reigning champion has the number one driver rating at this track.   Johnson has four total wins at this track and finished 3rd in last year’s race.   His car has performed well this week in practice.   If you needed to fade Kyle Busch, Jimmie Johnson is a great replacement if you can’t fit them both in your lineup.

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Martin Truex Jr($10,600):   Truex has been dominant all year-long and grades well at this race track.  Earlier in the year, he got his first win at Kentucky.    Can he get his first win at this prestigious race?   It is highly probably with the momentum that his team has built this year.  He has finished in the Top 10 in the past two races at the Brickyard 400.

Value Picks

Erik Jones($8,500):   Just last week, Erik Jones returns to his home team of Joe Gibbs Racing(he is being loaned to Furniture Row Racing right now to drive the #77) to take Matt Kenseth’s place in the #20 Toyota Camry.   Jones has qualified 9th for this race and had the fastest car in the 2nd practice.  I like his price and he should be used in GPPs.

Jamie McMurray($8,700):  McMurray has had a solid car this week for Chip Ganassi racing as opposed to his teammate Kyle Larson.  McMurray qualified near the front in the 3rd position.   He is no stranger to victory lane at the Brickyard 400 as he won this iconic race in 2010.

Sleeper Pick

Ryan Blaney($8,900):   Last week, my Sleeper Pick was Denny Hamlin, who went on win the race.   My pick this week is Ryan Blaney who has shown speed in the past few weeks.   He has had a Top 10 qualifying and practice car this week, and he could very well take the checkered flag.

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Sergio Balatan

NASCAR DFS Writer. Find me on DraftKings("sbalatan") to play NASCAR or NFL head to heads.

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