The Daytona 500
The signature race of the Monster Energy Cup series is always the highly watched Daytona 500. Even casual sports fans who also watch big sports events such as the Kentucky Derby will tune into the Daytona 500. The iconic 1979 Daytona 500 was the first nationalized televised NASCAR race where legendary driver #43 Richard Petty won the race. However, it wasn’t the victory by NASCAR royalty that garnered the headlines, it was the last lap crash followed by a subsequent infield brawl that made this race legendary and news worthy. The Daytona 500 kicks off the NASCAR season, which means, that NASCAR Daily Fantasy Sports is back too!
The Daytona 500 is restrictor plate race, in which the plate prevents drivers from reaching top speeds in their vehicles. So, generally, large packs of cars are bunched together, and any contact between cars can trigger a chain reaction causing the “Big One” in terms of a crash. Because cars are bunched together, there are many lead changes and passing, which makes the Laps Lead stat category not as important as Place Differential and Finish points.
Daytona 500 DFS DraftKings Cash Picks
Denny Hamlin (Salary Value: $9,600)
Hamlin won last year’s Clash Race(an exhibition race a week before the Daytona 500), then went on to win the Daytona 500. He was leading this year’s Clash race into the final lap, but was late to block a fast charging Brad Keslowski and both faded after contact between the cars. In the Dual 2 race on Thursday night, Denny Hamlin endured a pit road penalty rallying from 16th to beating Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the final few laps. He not only has the confidence from last year, but momentum this week for a possible repeat of the Daytona 500. He will be the driver to beat in the Daytona 500.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.(Salary Value: $10,600)
It is hard not to pick Dale Jr. as he dominates at this track. Earnhardt has four wins, thirteen Top 5’s, and nineteen Top 10’s at the Daytona Track. He will be the highest owned driver in Cash games, so fade him in GPP’s. He qualified for the 2nd position, and look for him to hold his front position for most of the race. He looked good in the Dual exhibition race on Thursday night, holding the lead for most of the race, but faded near the end against a dominant Denny Hamlin.
Brad Keslowski (Salary Value: $10,300)
Keslowski does better at the other restrictor plate race at the Superspeedway track at Talladega, where he has four wins, but he is still a top driver on this track, especially for this event. Keslowski has one win, three Top 5’s, and four Top 10’s in fifteen starts at the Daytona track. He did well in the this year’s Clash, battling Denny Hamlin for the top spot before both drivers faded after they made contact. Keslowski won the July 2016 Daytona race, dominating by leading 115 laps.
Martin Truex Jr. (Salary Value: $9,000)
Truex arguable had the most consistent 2016 of all drivers. If not for some bad luck in terms of mechanical failures in the Chase, he should have been in Homestead vying to win it all. He and his team are hungry and look to continue their 2016 momentum. With his close 2nd last year in the Daytona 500 to Denny Hamlin, Truex has shown he can perform well at Daytona. Also, since his car failed final inspection after the Duals, he is penalized and will start 35th in the Daytona 500. He has some great place differential upside starting in the back, especially if he can work his way up to the Top 5.
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Sleeper Pick: Jamie McMurray (Salary Value: $8000)
McMurray does well on Superspeedways as has won at Daytona before. He has two wins, three Top 5’s, and five Top 10’s at Daytona. He also has two wins at Talladega. He is a good value pick and mid-range priced driver to insert into your cash picks and GPP picks.
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