FlurrySports gives their NASCAR fantasy picks and other DFS lineup advice for the Cook Out 400 NASCAR race, including Kyle Larson.
Track position, braking discipline and long-run consistency will be key ingredients to success for the drivers of the NASCAR Cup Series at Martinsville Speedway this weekend. With that in mind, this week’s fantasy lineup focuses on proven short-track performers, blending elite dominator potential with a few sneaky value plays.
Let’s dive into a full NASCAR fantasy preview for the Cook Out 400. Below, we’ll share our recommended lineup picks, take a look at this week’s featured head-to-head matchups and more.
Play our free NASCAR trivia quiz here!
NASCAR Fantasy Scoring Overview
For those who may be new to NASCAR Fantasy under the official rules this year, the good news is that the scoring system is fairly simple. Drivers in your lineup earn the same number of fantasy points as they do NASCAR standings points during the race.
The only new wrinkle this season is the increased number of points awarded to the race winner under the updated format.
The following list summarizes how drivers can accumulate NASCAR fantasy points:
- Outright Winner: 55 points
- Finishing Position: 35 points for second, 34 for third, and so on down to 1 point for finishing 36th or worse
- Stage Points: 10 points for a stage win, 9 for second, and so on down to 1 point for finishing 10th in a stage
- Fastest Lap of the Race: 1 point
Remember that each driver can only be used in your lineup 10 times during the 36-race season. That’s where strategy comes into play, as fantasy players must decide when to deploy their top drivers and when to rely on sleeper picks.
Finally, NASCAR Fantasy also offers four head-to-head driver matchups each week. For every matchup you correctly predict, you earn an additional 10 points toward your weekly score.
Don’t worry, we’ll share our recommendations for those matchups later in this column.
Cook Out 400 NASCAR Fantasy Picks
Lineup Locks
Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
It’s tough to start a NASCAR fantasy lineup anywhere else this week. Kyle Larson enters Martinsville with elite track form and plenty of motivation after a late-race mechanical issue derailed his finish last week. He is more than capable of being the one to finally get Chevrolet into victory lane this week.
Over the last six races at Martinsville, Larson has recorded one win and an incredible 3.7 average finish, with no result worse than sixth. He has also led a track-best 532 laps during that span, while his 112.9 average driver rating ranks second among all drivers.
Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
If anyone can match Larson’s production at Martinsville, it’s Denny Hamlin. He leads all drivers with a 115.0 average rating over the last six races here, along with one win, four top-five finishes and a 9.8 average finish.
Among active drivers, Hamlin also leads the way with six career Cup Series wins at “The Paperclip,” including a victory in this race one year ago. With top-tier teams typically controlling the race at Martinsville, Hamlin stands out as the top option from the Joe Gibbs Racing camp.
Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Team Penske Ford
After locking in top options from both Chevrolet and Toyota, it only makes sense to round out this core with the top Ford contender. Ryan Blaney checks that box once again, entering the weekend with strong momentum following his performance at Darlington.
Blaney has been one of the most consistent drivers at Martinsville in recent years, recording two wins, four top-five finishes and no result worse than 11th over the last six races. Expanding to the last ten races, he leads all drivers with a 5.6 average finish. Blaney is a cornerstone NASCAR fantasy play this week.
Drivers to Avoid
Tyler Reddick, No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota
With four wins in the first six races, it would be easy to automatically include Tyler Reddick in fantasy lineups. However, Martinsville has not been one of his strongest tracks, making him a risky option this week.
While Reddick has shown some improvement here recently, his average finish sits at 19.8 over the last 10 races at Martinsville. Across 12 career Cup Series starts, he has just two top-10 finishes and no result better than seventh. Clearly, his upside is limited compared to other top-tier options.
Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
After a late-race charge to a fourth-place finish last week, Carson Hocevar could attract increased attention in NASCAR fantasy formats. This presents an opportunity to sell high at a track that may not suit his current profile.
Through five Cup Series starts at Martinsville, Hocevar has recorded just two top-20 finishes with no result better than 17th. While his talent is evident and Spire Motorsports has shown improvement in 2026, his aggressive driving style and discipline remain question marks — traits that can be costly at a tight, unforgiving track like Martinsville.
Sleepers to Consider
Ryan Preece, No. 60 RFK Racing Ford
Ryan Preece’s background in modified racing translates well to a place like Martinsville, where physical racing and tight quarters are the norm. The results back it up, as Preece has recorded three top-10 finishes in the last four races here, including seventh- and sixth-place finishes in his first two starts with RFK Racing last season.
Combine the track-specific results with the organization’s recent form and Preece becomes an appealing value play. His win in the preseason Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium further reinforces his upside on short tracks.
Todd Gilliland, No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford
Given the overall performance of Front Row Motorsports in 2026, opportunities to steal a week with Todd Gilliland in NASCAR fantasy formats have been limited. Martinsville, however, stands out as one of the few tracks where he becomes a viable option. He has quietly finished 13th or better in five of his eight Cup Series starts here, including three top-10 results.
Gilliland also finished inside the top 10 in both Martinsville races last season, placing 10th and ninth. While he may not offer race-winning upside or stage points, his consistency at this track makes him a sneaky choice to help round out a lineup.
NASCAR Fantasy Driver Matchups and Predictions
The following are the four driver head-to-head matchups that are spotlighted by NASCAR Fantasy this week, along with our predictions for each.
Tyler Reddick vs. Christopher Bell
Having already documented the struggles of Tyler Reddick at Martinsville, it comes as no surprise that we’re taking Christopher Bell in this matchup. His results have been inconsistent, but an outright win in 2022 and a runner-up last year far exceed anything Reddick has done here.
Prediction: Christopher Bell
Carson Hocevar vs. Brad Keselowski
It’s been a while since Brad Keselowski has achieved great success at Martinsville. However, he as at least done so in the past and profiles as a disciplined, veteran driver. On the other hand, Carson Hocevar does not exactly fit in the “disciplined” category.
Prediction: Brad Keselowski
William Byron vs. Kyle Larson
William Byron’s track record at Martinsville is elite and includes three outright wins, but Kyle Larson’s recent form here is impossible to ignore. With consistent front-running speed and laps led in recent races, Larson gets a slight edge in what is otherwise a very close NASCAR fantasy matchup.
Prediction: Kyle Larson
Bubba Wallace vs. Joey Logano
Joey Logano was nowhere close to competitive last week. However, one has to believe he will rebound on Sunday at a track where he boasts a 6.3 average finish in the last ten races. Bubba Wallace has been sneaky solid at Martinsville in his own right, but not to the caliber of Logano.
Prediction: Joey Logano
NASCAR Fantasy 36 for 36 Selection
Each week, we conclude our NASCAR fantasy column with a 36 for 36 selection. For those unfamiliar, this is a separate contest from the standard format. Managers must select one driver for each race throughout the season, with that driver’s fantasy points contributing to their overall total.
The catch is that each driver can only be used once over the course of the season. Think of it as a blend between NASCAR fantasy scoring and an NFL survivor contest — without eliminations.
Given the format, Ryan Preece is our selection this week. Martinsville is one of his best tracks from a statistical perspective, and his comfort level racing at short tracks given his background is crucial. Over the last three years, his average finish here is 11.8, and an 86.5 average driver rating represents his best mark at any track during that span.
36 for 36 Pick: Ryan Preece
