The NASCAR Cup Series is set to race on dirt this weekend for the first time since 1970. Bristol Motor Speedway will play host to the Food City Dirt Race on Sunday afternoon. Fans of NASCAR and dirt racing are all excited for this weekend. Of course, you can also use what figures to be a wild race to your advantage and make some money playing NASCAR DFS! Here is a breakdown of drivers to target and avoid for the Bristol dirt race.
FanDuel NASCAR DFS Overview
In this NASCAR Cup Series DFS column, I will be using FanDuel prices and scoring. Their scoring includes the following:
- .1 points for leading a lap
- .1 points for completing a lap
- Add/subtract a point based on the difference in a driver’s finishing position relative to their starting position
- Points based on where the driver finishes
FanDuel NASCAR DFS
Food City Dirt Race Drivers to Consider
Kyle Larson ($14,000)
How can you not pick Kyle Larson for NASCAR DFS in this race? Larson was really hot last year in his time off from NASCAR on dirt tracks. He won race after race in the World of Outlaws, showcasing his background and skills on the dirt surface. He is also one of the drivers with the most dirt experience in the NASCAR Cup Series. After dominating at Atlanta last Sunday only to finish second, I have Larson winning the Food City Dirt Race this weekend.
Christopher Bell ($13,500)
If you don’t pick Larson, you are going to want Christopher Bell in your NASCAR DFS lineup. Bell is probably the guy with the most experience on dirt among all Cup Series drivers, aside from Larson. He has won the biggest dirt race of the year, the Chili Bowl, three different times in 2017, ’18, and ’19. Bell knows his way on the dirt surface and should fare well this weekend.
Bubba Wallace ($9,200)
I know I have said not to pick him in NASCAR DFS until 23XI fixes their maiden season problems, but Bubba Wallace is enticing this week. A former winner of the NASCAR Truck Series dirt race at Eldora, Wallace has a strong history running on the dirt surface. 23XI hasn’t had terminal problems the past couple weeks so as long as everything goes to plan, everything is on Wallace. I believe in Bubba this weekend.
Tyler Reddick ($7,800)
Is anyone surprised? Tyler Reddick is a dirt guy. He came to NASCAR through the dirt and should use that experience to his advantage this weekend. He looked really good in the iRacing dirt event on Wednesday night. Reddick could be sneaky good this weekend and you will want him in your NASCAR DFS lineup.
Food City Dirt Race Drivers to Avoid
William Byron ($4,500)
William Byron might seem like a good pick for NASCAR DFS after his win in Wednesday night’s iRacing event, but I can’t see him doing well this weekend. Byron is great on iRacing in general. Unfortunately for him, video games are not the real world. Byron has a history of winning on the iRacing track and doing poorly in the corresponding real life event. Follow the trends this weekend.
Kurt Busch ($7,000)
Kurt Busch did not get a lot of time on the track before getting booted in his heat race yesterday. He didn’t race very well, and I don’t think he will this weekend either. Kurt doesn’t have much past experience on dirt so it’s easy to pass on him in NASCAR DFS this weekend.
Rickey Stenhouse Jr. ($8,800)
This call is more based on what I think of the JTG Daugherty team and not Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG has had problems with consistency, an issue that could very well arise again this weekend. I can’t trust them even after last week’s strong showing. That being said, Stenhouse has plenty of experience on dirt and could prove me wrong.
Any Stewart-Haas Driver Not Named Chase Briscoe
Yes, I am grouping SHR into one. I honestly did not think this would be something I would be writing this season. Kevin Harvick has had a down year compared to previous seasons, and I don’t know how good he is on dirt. Cole Custer hasn’t lived up to his potential was since being brought up and also lacks dirt experience. Finally, Aric Almirola has had a bad season and also does not have a lot of dirt experience.
Briscoe is known for his dirt racing and has even won the Eldora truck race in the past. Aside from Briscoe, everyone else in the Stewart-Haas garage should be avoided in NASCAR DFS this week.
