FlurrySports shares NASCAR DFS lineup advice for the Go Bowling at The Glen NASCAR race this weekend, including Chris Buescher.
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As someone who grew up a mere 45 minutes from Watkins Glen International, Sunday’s Go Bowling at The Glen hits a little differently. The Finger Lakes region road course is one of the most unique venues on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule. It is fast, technical, and unforgiving for drivers who aren’t comfortable on this surface.
That track-specific dynamic is exactly what makes this an interesting slate for DraftKings NASCAR DFS purposes. The pricing board looks nothing like a typical oval week, and for good reason. With a $50,000 salary cap and six roster spots to fill, knowing which of the sport’s top road racers to pay up for — and which to fade in favor of cheaper options — is the difference between cashing and missing.
Let’s break down of the top DraftKings NASCAR DFS picks and lineup targets for the Go Bowling at The Glen.
DraftKings NASCAR DFS Scoring Overview
Before diving into the picks, here’s a quick breakdown of the key DraftKings NASCAR DFS scoring categories for Sunday’s race:
- Finishing Position: The bulk of your score. First place earns 45 points, second earns 42, third earns 41, and so on from there.
- Place Differential: +1 point for every position gained from starting spot to finishing position, -1 for every position lost. Starting deep in the field and finishing strong is a legitimate path to a big score.
- Laps Led: +0.25 points per lap. Drivers who run at the front all day accumulate meaningful bonus points over a full race distance.
- Fastest Lap: +0.45 points. A nice bonus, but not a primary roster construction consideration.
With that in mind, our strategy this week centers on three things: locking in the drivers likely to lead laps at the top of the board, finding mid-range options starting outside the top ten with finishing upside, and identifying a cheap tournament flier to round out the lineup.
Go Bowling at The Glen NASCAR DFS Picks
Premium Plays
Shane van Gisbergen — $13,500 | Starting Position: 1st
SVG is the most expensive driver on the board, but he is more than worth paying up in DraftKings NASCAR DFS this week. Starting from pole, he figures to lead a significant number of laps — and at 0.25 points per lap over a full race distance, that accumulation adds up in a hurry. van Gisbergen has six wins in 13 road course starts in the Cup Series, including five of the last six. He has also led 344 laps led over that span — more than double any other driver.
While he won’t generate place differential points from the front row, the laps led upside and finishing position ceiling more than compensate.
Connor Zilisch — $11,500 | Starting Position: 5th
He may be a Cup Series rookie, but Connor Zilisch is appropriately priced like the road course tactician that he is this week. Starting fifth gives him a realistic shot at positive place differential if he runs to his ceiling, and extra seat time in the Truck and O’Reilly races this weekend only helps his preparation. What’s more, Zilisch has now won the last three O’Reilly Series races at Watkins Glen following his victory on Saturday. At $2,000 less than SVG, he offers a strong alternative option.
Christopher Bell — $10,000 | Starting Position: 8th
For anyone willing to risk excluding both SVG and Zilisch, Christopher Bell is the value entry point into the premium tier this week. He was the fastest Toyota in the NASCAR qualifying results and will line up eighth on the grid. This starting spot gives him a realistic place differential upside if he runs to his Watkins Glen ceiling. He owns four top-10s in five Cup Series starts here, including a runner-up result last year.
Mid-Board Targets
Chase Elliott — $9,700 | Starting Position: 27th
Chase Elliott’s recent Watkins Glen results don’t inspire much confidence, but at this price tag and starting from 27th, DraftKings NASCAR DFS managers aren’t paying for his recent form. They’re paying for the place differential upside. A two-time winner at WGI with seven career road course victories, Elliott is adamant he isn’t here to reminisce this weekend — he’s here to contend.
Chris Buescher — $8,800 | Starting Position: 14th
Don’t let the price tag fool you — Chris Buescher is an anchor-level play priced in the mid-board range. Starting 14th makes him one of the most interesting DraftKings NASCAR DFS plays this week. His Watkins Glen track record — a win two years ago, third last year, four consecutive top-10s at this track — suggests he has the road racing chops to charge through the field. Every position he gains scores you points, making his already reasonable price tag look even more attractive.
AJ Allmendinger — $8,500 | Starting Position: 12th
AJ Allmendinger’s road course reputation has taken a hit as the specialist field has grown, but his price tag reflects that narrative more than his actual ability. Starting 12th gives him a realistic path to positive place differential. He has finishes of second, fourth and 11th in three of the last four Watkins Glen races, indicating his upside. At this price, you’re not paying for a guarantee. You’re paying for a driver who knows this track and has a ceiling worth chasing.
Salary Savers
Austin Cindric — $7,200 | Starting Position: 3rd
At a $7,200 price point, Austin Cindric is priced like a mid-pack oval guy, but his road racing credentials tell a different story. He won back-to-back Xfinity Series road course races at Watkins Glen and Mid-Ohio back in 2019 and was the fastest car in Cup practice on Saturday. Starting third gives him a realistic shot at laps led points, which is unusual value at this price point. Team Penske had three cars in the top seven in qualifying, suggesting the setup package is dialed in.
Noah Gragson — $5,900 | Starting Position: 35th
If you find yourself with little salary left for your last DraftKings NASCAR DFS lineup spot, Noah Gragson might be worth a look. Starting 35th, he doesn’t need to contend — he just needs to avoid trouble and drive forward. Finishes of 11th and 21st at WGI the last two years suggest he knows the track well enough to gain spots. Roster him, hope for a clean race, and forget about him until the checkered flag.
