NASCAR DFS: AdventHealth 400 @ Kansas Speedway

This week, the NASCAR Cup Series travels to Kansas Speedway for the AdventHealth 400 on Sunday. After three straight races with the new 750-HP, low downforce package, we get back to the 2026 standard 670-HP package at a mile and a half track. This is the first of two races at Kansas in 2026 and the 9th race here in the NextGen era.

In this article, we will preview the track from a fantasy angle and then go over five drivers who stand out heading into practice and qualifying.

NASCAR DFS: AdventHealth 400

Track Preview & Fantasy Angle

Kansas Speedway is a 1.5-mile D-shaped oval with 17-20 degrees of banking in the turns. It is classified as an intermediate and is the third race on this type of track in 2026. When looking at the track type history data this week, remember that Darlington used the new 750-HP package, so better to compare this race to what we saw in Las Vegas earlier this year and during the nine races in the category in 2025. Unlike the short tracks and road courses, intermediates provide more opportunity for passing and, in turn, have a much lower correlation to starting position.

In terms of fantasy strategy, Kansas has been a fairly equal combination of dominators and place differential upside drivers. One driver has led 100+ laps in three straight and five of the eight races here in the NextGen era. After seeing six or fewer drivers pick up double-digit place differential in the first four NextGen era races here, there have been eight or more drivers in four straight races coming into this one.

Practice is very important here and is highly correlated with finishing position. It also correlates highly with the top dominator, as well. The driver leading the most laps has ranked Top-10 in practice in seven of the eight races. Qualifying and starting near the front has also been very important here at Kansas for dominators. The lap leader has started on the front row in three straight and five of the last six races.

Top Pre-Qualifying Targets for DraftKings

Kyle Larson ($10,500)

It has been a long road back to Victory Lane for Larson, who last won here in the spring of last season (32 races). He was close to ending the winless streak last week after sweeping the stages and leading 284 laps, but ended up 3rd. No better place to end the streak as he has not only won each of the last two spring races, but he has seven Top 10s in the eight races here in the NextGen era and leads the series with a 6.3 average finish during that stretch. There is also a little value with Larson this week as the price has dropped $1,000 on DraftKings. He is not only a top DFS target for me this week, but I also like betting him at +650 on DraftKings, as well.

Denny Hamlin ($11,000)

If not for a mechanical issue and a 36th-place finish in the spring race last year, Hamlin would easily be ahead of Larson in terms of average finish. He won the 2023 spring race and leads the series with six Top 5 finishes here over the eight races in the NextGen era. He has also been dominant on the intermediate tracks, leading all drivers with three wins on the track type since the start of last season, and has Top 10’s in six of the last seven. Much like last week, I think we are building around one of Hamlin or Larson and likely pairing them in some GPP lineups, as well.

Chase Elliott ($9,000)

Elliott has seen his price drop back down to a season-low and returns to Kansas as the last driver to win here. He not only won the fall race here, but he also has Top 10 finishes in six of his last seven races at the track. The form has been up and down coming off a 22nd at Bristol, but he does have a win at Martinsville and a runner-up at Las Vegas, one of the top comp tracks for Kansas. Look for the #9 car to be fast again this weekend.

Chris Buescher ($8,300)

Buescher stands out the most among the drivers in the mid-tier of pricing. He has been consistent here over the last two years, finishing 15th or better in all four races, including Top 10’s in each of the last two spring races. While he has lacked top-end upside at intermediate tracks, he is one of just four drivers with Top 10’s at both Darlington and Las Vegas this season and has six Top 10’s and 10 Top 20’s in the last 11 races on the track type.

Todd Gilliland ($5,800)

One punt play I will be watching closely during practice and qualifying is Todd Gilliland. He is coming off a very impressive Top 10 at Bristol after starting 35th and now returns to Kansas, where he has finished inside the Top 15 in three of his last four races. He has been consistently starting in the high 20’s/low 30’s, and if that is the case again, Gilliland will once again be one of my top value plays.