This article is part of our NASCAR DFS series.
WINDOWS 10 400
Location: Long Pond, Pa.
Course: Pocono Raceway
Format: 2.5-mile tri oval
Laps: 160
Race Preview
Pocono Raceway's second race of the season features this week's Windows 10 400. Martin Truex Jr. won the last Pocono race, leading 97 of the race's 160 laps. The second-best car that day was arguably Kevin Harvick, but the former champion didn't have enough pace to catch and overtake the streaking Truex. Pocono's unique design forces teams to compromise on their chassis settings. No two corners are alike, and each requires a different setup. The teams that find the best compromise of speed and handling will be the ones who run at the front of the field. Like Indianapolis Motor Speedway's race last week, the teams will have plenty of leeway to explore pit strategies to maximize track position. Pocono has tended to favor cars that are fast early in the weekend, so pay special attention to practice and qualifying.
Key Stats at Pocono Raceway
• Races: 75
• Winners from pole: 15
• Winners from top-5 starters: 45
• Winners from top-10 starters: 53
• Winners from 21st or lower starters: 5
• Fastest race: 145.384 mph
Last 10 Pocono Winners:
2015 (spring) - Martin Truex Jr.
2014 (fall) - Dale Earnhardt Jr.
2014 (spring) - Dale Earnhardt Jr.
2013 (fall) - Kasey Kahne
2013 (spring) - Jimmie Johnson
2012 (fall) - Jeff Gordon
2012 (spring) - Joey Logano
2011 (fall) - Brad Keselowski
2011 (spring) - Jeff Gordon
2010 (fall) - Greg Biffle
With more than 70 percent of Pocono's 75 races being won from a car starting inside the top 10 it pays to put a premium on practice speeds this week. The long Pocono track requires significant horsepower to propel drivers down its long straights, and tire wear could become a factor as teams will race with a less than ideal setup in at least one of the track's three unique turns. Teams will leverage strategy as much as possible to gain track position, which can be very important at the long triangle. Track position gained on pit road could put drivers in contention to pick up spots on late restarts, which are likely to be an important factor in Sunday's outcome.
DRAFTKINGS VALUE PICKS (Based on Standard $50K Salary Cap)
DraftKings Tier 1 Values
Kyle Busch - $10,800
Jimmie Johnson - $10,400
Martin Truex Jr. - $10,300
DraftKings Tier 2 Values
Brad Keselowski - $9,400
Jeff Gordon - $9,300
Denny Hamlin - $9,300
Dale Earnhardt Jr. - $9,200
Kasey Kahne - $8,700
DraftKings Tier 3 Values
Ryan Newman - $7,600
Austin Dillon - $7,500
Paul Menard - $7,400
DraftKings Long-Shot Values
David Ragan - $7,000
Casey Mears - $6,500
A.J. Allmendinger - $6,300
MY PICKS THIS WEEK
Lower-Risk Cash Game Lineup ($50K Salary Cap)
Brad Keselowski - $9,400
Dale Earnhardt Jr. - $9,200
Kasey Kahne - $8,700
Ryan Newman - $7,600
Jamie McMurray - $8,100
David Ragan - $7,000
Keselowski has a win at Pocono from 2011, but he also finished second to Earnhardt in 2014. He struggled in the last two races at the track, but is back on form now. Earnhardt has continued to impress in recent weeks, and now returns to the track he swept victories at last season. Another Hendrick Motorsports driver that has a strong Pocono resume is Kahne. He won twice at the track in 2008 and 2013. Newman and McMurray are both looking for wins to secure their spots in the Chase, while Ragan has started inside the top 10 in four of the last five races.
Higher-Risk Tournament Lineup ($50K Salary Cap)
Kyle Busch - $10,800
Jimmie Johnson - $10,400
Kyle Larson - $8,300
Paul Menard - $7,400
Casey Mears - $6,500
A.J. Allmendinger - $6,500
The higher-risk lineup banks on Busch continuing his charge at the front of the field. His run is already one of the longest in the sport. Johnson has been great at Pocono with three wins. Kyle Larson has a worst finish of 11th at the Pennsylvania track, and has again been showing flickers of the pace he demonstrated in 2014. Paul Menard is fighting for a spot in the Chase, and that effort could use a win or a top points finish. Lastly, Mears has turned up his Pocono finishes in the last two races to be top-20 efforts while Allmendinger has a past top-10 at the track with two laps led in this race last season.
