The field is set, so it is time to take a look at who we’re rostering for the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix.
As we discussed in our preview, the first road course of the season will be turn after turn after turn of interesting racing with a cast of characters who are really good on this type of track. It is an entirely different type of race with a unique approach to our DFS and season-long lineups.
The Top 10
Here’s a look at the top 10.
- William Byron (Hendrick Motorsports)
- Tyler Reddick (23XI Racing)
- Austin Cindric (Team Penske)
- Jordan Taylor (Hendrick Motorsports)
- Daniel Suarez (Trackhouse Racing)
- Alex Bowman (Hendrick Motorsports)
- A.J. Allmendinger (Kaulig Racing)
- Erik Jones (Legacy Motor Club)
- Kyle Busch (Richard Childress Racing)
- Noah Gragson (Legacy Motor Club)
There are eight Chevrolets on that list, so those of you inclined to bet the model winner can take that for what it is. Other than that quirk, the list looks about right to me for the third year at the Circuit of the Americas. With such a short track history, it’s hard to declare which starting position is ideal, so we’ll go with the metrics we have to determine our best plays.
Which Value-Priced Drivers Got a Movement Points Bump?
Here is a quick reminder of what we mean by “movement points” for fantasy NASCAR DFS:
Both DFS sites that feature NASCAR – DraftKings (DK) and FanDuel (FD) – and most season-long fantasy formats will include a scoring category called “position differential” or “place differential.” (The words are interchangeable for this purpose.) This number is figured quite simply: If Driver A qualifies to begin 10th and he ends up 18th, then he will have a position differential of -8. On DK, that will subtract eight points from your overall score; on FD, it will cost you four points. However, the opposite is true, too. If Driver B qualifies for 18th and ends up in 10th, he will gain eight points on DK and four on FD. This is what we talk about when we say “movement points” in our weekly articles.
Beyond the top drivers, your EchoPark Grand Prix DFS lineups will need some cheaper options to stay under the salary cap. This is where movement points are a primary focus as a quick way to earn some positive value. Here are some that stick out to me as having value in this area:
DraftKings
- Ty Dillon – QP34 | $4,700
- Michael McDowell – QP20 | $7,100
- Ryan Preece – QP26 | $6,000
FanDuel
- Ty Dillon – QP34 | $2,500
- Corey Lajoie – QP27 | $3,000
- Justin Haley – QP23 | $4,800
Which Higher-Priced Drivers Got the Same Bump?
Without looking at each site separately, the following drivers are in the upper range of salary costs for DFS contests. Still, they are veteran drivers with a good history at the track, starting from a much lower position than their anticipated finish.
- Christopher Bell – QP14
- Ryan Blaney – QP38
- Martin Truex Jr. – QP25
EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix
Tyler Reddick and AJ Allmendinger are priced close together on both sites and for good reason. Allmendinger just won the Xfinity race yesterday, and he has plenty of experience racing at this level to pull off the double victory. But Reddick, who comes in as the betting favorite, seems poised to take home his first win of the season.
Just keep an eye out for Ross Chastain.
Road races are their own animal, my friends. Deploy your drivers carefully, and remember that sometimes, the obvious plays aren’t your best plays.
DraftKings
- Ross Chastain – $10,100
- Ryan Blaney – $9,100
- Kevin Harvick – $8,000
- Erik Jones – $7,400
- Michael McDowell – $7,100
- Ryan Preece – $6,000
FanDuel
- Ross Chastain – $13,000
- Christopher Bell – $10,000
- Ryan Blaney – $9,500
- Michael McDowell – $7,800
- Kevin Harvick – $6,800
White Flag Thoughts Before You Go
Don’t be afraid to leave salary on the table if you have a build you like that lands well below the $50,000 cap. In cash games, it’s better not to come up with entirely weird lineups, but in GPP contests, throwing a couple of bizarre ones in can result in huge payouts. Avoiding DNFs (did not finish) is as much luck as it is a skill, but it’s important to deviate so that one driver’s early exit doesn’t sink every lineup you have.
Enjoy your race days, everyone! And, as always, good luck!
Kelly Kirby covers fantasy NASCAR, fantasy hockey, and other random things at Fantrax. For more of her work, check out her archive and follow her on Twitter at @thewonkypenguin.