This article is part of our NASCAR DFS series.
Speedycash.com 400
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
Course: Texas Motor Speedway
Format: 1.5-mile quad-oval
Laps: 147
Race Preview
Brett Moffitt took the win a week ago in Kansas to become the first driver to claim his spot in the final four in Phoenix. Sheldon Creed won both opening stages of that race, but Moffitt was the one to be at the front when it mattered most. It was Moffitt's first win of the season and came at the most important time for him so far. This week the remaining seven championship contenders will work to replicate that fortune and claim their spots alongside him with a chance to race for the series title. Creed will be the one leading the field to the green flag with Moffitt alongside on the front row. Matt Crafton is the only championship contender with a previous Texas win on his resume.
Key Stats at Texas Motor Speedway
- Number of races: 45
- Winners from pole: 5
- Winners from top-5 starters: 25
- Winners from top-10 starters: 37
- Winners from 21st or lower starters: 2
- Fastest race: 158.002 mph
Previous 10 Texas Winners
2020 spring - Kyle Busch
2019 fall - Greg Biffle
2019 spring - Kyle Busch
2018 fall - Justin Haley
2018 spring - Johnny Sauter
2017 fall - Johnny Sauter
2017 spring - Christopher Bell
2016 fall - Johnny Sauter
2016 spring - William Byron
2015 fall - Erik Jones
Texas Motor Speedway is another quick 1.5-mile oval. Kyle Busch won there earlier this season with Christian Eckes finishing second. The race had five cautions for a total of 26 laps. Like last week's visit to Kansas, fantasy players should expect track position to be a major factor in the outcome. Being out front in clean air has a distinct advantage, and teams will gamble with two-tire stops to get better track position and a chance to be within reach of the lead. Restarts, especially late ones, will also be a focus, as drivers can make up positions more easily than when mired in traffic. The playoff contenders will have the early advantage with starting positions at the front of the field, which is a big benefit at the track that has only produced eight race winners from outside of the top 10 starting positions.
DRAFTKINGS VALUE PICKS (Based on Standard $50K Salary Cap)
DraftKings Tier 1 Values
Austin Hill - $11,200
Zane Smith - $10,800
Brett Moffitt - $10,500
Sheldon Creed - $10,100
DraftKings Tier 2 Values
James Buescher - $9,900
Christian Eckes - $9,700
Grant Enfinger - $9,300
Matt Crafton - $9,000
DraftKings Tier 3 Values
Johnny Sauter - $8,800
Ben Rhodes - $8,600
Tyler Ankrum - $8,500
Chandler Smith - $8,300
DraftKings Long-Shot Values
Derek Kraus - $7,800
Ryan Truex - $7,600
Trevor Bayne - $7,500
Raphael Lessard - $7,300
My Picks
Austin Hill - $11,200
Matt Crafton - $9,000
Johnny Sauter - $8,800
Trevor Bayne - $7,500
Raphael Lessard - $7,300
Austin Wayne Self - $6,200
Austin Hill fought back from early damage last week in Kansas to finish third, which was his eighth podium finish of the season. He has a best finish at Texas of fifth and led 34 laps in this race last season. Matt Crafton won at this track twice. In fact, he hasn't finished outside of the top 10 at the track since 2011. He will start this week's race seventh as he looks to claim his spot in the Championship 4. Five-time Texas winner Johnny Sauter is another driver fantasy managers shouldn't ignore this week. He last won here in 2018 and led laps in eight of the last nine races at the track. Sauter will start 15th this week. Trevor Bayne will start his sixth Trucks series race of the season this week. He finished second at Talladega and 10th last week at Kansas. Raphael Lessard had a rough visit to Kansas last week and will be hoping for a quick recovery this week. He starts this week's race from 20th and finished 12th at the track earlier this season. The final spot in this week's roster goes to Austin Wayne Self. He has four top-15 finishes at Texas from eight series starts. He finished 19th at Kansas and will start 18th this week.
