The NASCAR Cup Series season continues this Sunday in the Sunshine State. The second annual O’Reilly Auto Parts 253 is set to be run on the Daytona Road Course. The drivers will once again have to deal with the high banks of Daytona International Speedway, but now they also have to deal with the infield. When it comes to NASCAR DFS, selecting the right drivers for road course races is no easy thing.
The following articles offers my best NASCAR DFS leans for this weekend’s O’Reilly Auto Parts 253 at the Daytona Road Course.
FanDuel NASCAR DFS Overview
For 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 | Race 2
O’Reilly Auto Parts 253 Drivers to Consider
Michael McDowell ($6,500)
We’re going to start this week’s NASCAR DFS plays with the winner of the Daytona 500. McDowell is a good road course racer. Last year at this track, he was able to get into the top 10. His front row starting spot might cost you some points, but he will still be in the top 10 at the end of the race.
Daniel Suarez ($4,500)
Suarez did not have a good debut for Team Trackhouse last week, but I predict a better race for him on the Daytona Road Course. Suarez is a good road racer and he should have no trouble gaining spots from his starting grid position of 35th. This will help your FanDuel NASCAR DFS points total.
Kurt Busch ($9,000)
The Busch brothers are both very strong road racers. You can’t really go wrong with either of them in NASCAR DFS this week. I am taking the older Busch since he is the cheaper option of the two. He starts 17th and has the capabilities to get to the front and possibly into the top 5. A lot of points could be in the cards for Kurt Busch.
Chase Elliott ($14,000)
Yes, I am telling you to take the most obvious choice. Elliott is the low-hanging fruit that everyone will be taking in NASCAR DFS this week. He is by far the best road racer in the NASCAR Cup Series right now, and he could lead for over half of this race. Put Elliott in your lineup.
O’Reilly Auto Parts 253 Drivers to Avoid
Kevin Harvick ($11,300)
This is probably the only week I will say to stay away from Harvick in NASCAR DFS. He clearly cannot figure out the Daytona Road Course track as he has spun a lot in the two prior races. He is one to not pick this week.
AJ Allmendinger ($12,000)
Allmendinger is enticing in all honesty, but what type of equipment does he have under the hood? Kaulig Racing is excellent on the Xfinity Series side, but we don’t know what they have on the Cup Series side. I don’t trust the equipment enough to spend $12,000 on a driver in NASCAR DFS, even if it is Almendinger in a road course race.
Ross Chastain ($6,600)
Chastain is not new to the NASCAR Cup Series, but he does not know how to drive on this layout. His starting spot of ninth doesn’t help either. This is the opposite of Allmendinger where I trust the equipment, but not the driver. I would stay away from Chastain in NASCAR DFS this week.
Cole Custer ($7,200)
Custer had trouble in the Busch Clash race on the Daytona Road Course as his car turned into an inferno. That had nothing to do with how bad he was before then, but it serves to further prove my point. Add in the 22nd place finish from the last year and Custer is one to avoid in NASCAR DFS this week.
