This article is part of our NASCAR DFS series.
SYLVANIA 300
Location: Loudon, N.H.
Course: New Hampshire Motor Speedway
Format: 1-mile oval
Laps: 300
Race Preview
Ask any driver or crew chief what it takes to win at New Hampshire Motor Speedway and almost all would say track position and fuel mileage. The track's banking makes the fastest line around the oval slightly higher than the bottom of the turns, making passing extremely difficult. The difficulty passing puts a premium on track position, which can be enhanced if fuel mileage can be stretched. The longer a driver can stay on track during a fuel run increases the options for pitting to leapfrog cars in the pits rather than on track. Winning after starting outside of the top 10 is a distinct possibility here, but the last four races have been won by drivers among those top-10 qualifiers.
Key Stats at New Hampshire Motor Speedway
• Previous races: 41
• Winners from pole: 5
• Winners from top-5 starters: 12
• Winners from top-10 starters: 23
• Winners from 21st or lower starters: 9
• Fastest race: 117.134 mph
Last 10 New Hampshire Winners:
2015 spring - Kyle Busch
2014 fall - Joey Logano
2014 spring - Brad Keselowski
2013 fall - Matt Kenseth
2013 spring - Brian Vickers
2012 fall - Denny Hamlin
2012 spring - Kasey Kahne
2011 fall - Tony Stewart
2011 spring - Ryan Newman
2010 fall - Clint Bowyer
Kyle Busch led 95 laps to top Brad Keselowski at the track earlier this season, while Kevin Harvick slotted into third. Denny Hamlin has already booked his place in the next round of the Chase by virtue of his win last week at Chicagoland Speedway. Penske Racing put both of their cars in the top 5 in the first New Hampshire event, while Joe Gibbs Racing had three of their drivers in the top 10. Drivers in the danger zone of being eliminated from the Chase include Harvick, Clint Bowyer, Paul Menard, and Jamie McMurray. Harvick is 22 points behind the safety of 12th position in the standings, and likely needs to win in order to advance.
DRAFTKINGS VALUE PICKS (Based on Standard $50K Salary Cap)
DraftKings Tier 1 Values
Kyle Busch - $10,800
Kurt Busch - $10,700
Brad Keselowski - $10,600
Matt Kenseth - $10,000
DraftKings Tier 2 Values
Jimmie Johnson - $9,600
Denny Hamlin - $9,500
Carl Edwards - $9,300
Jeff Gordon - $8,600
DraftKings Tier 3 Values
Clint Bowyer - $7,500
Ryan Newman - $7,400
Austin Dillon - $7,200
DraftKings Long-Shot Values
Aric Almirola - $6,600
David Ragan - $6,500
A.J. Allmendinger - $6,000
MY PICKS THIS WEEK
Lower-Risk Cash Game Lineup ($50K Salary Cap)
Brad Keselowski - $10,600
Matt Kenseth - $10,000
Denny Hamlin - $9,500
Austin Dillon - $7,200
Aric Almirola - $6,600
A.J. Allmendinger - $6,000
The lower-risk lineup for New Hampshire is a much more balanced field than the following option. The first three drivers have combined for a total of four wins at the track, and all six selections finished in the top 15 at the track earlier this season. The Joe Gibbs Racing drivers continue to have the fastest machines in the field each week, while Keselowski has been closing the gap and finished second here earlier in the season. Dillon finished eighth in New Hampshire in July, so this is a track where he could break his streak of bad luck. Almirola has had two consecutive strong weeks of top-10 finishes, while Allmendinger led 13 laps at the track in his last visit to the track.
Higher-Risk Tournament Lineup ($50K Salary Cap)
Kevin Harvick - $11,000
Kyle Busch - $10,800
Jeff Gordon - $8,600
Ryan Newman - $7,400
Paul Menard - $6,500
Casey Mears - $5,700
The higher-risk lineup banks on either Harvick or Busch dominating the race weekend. Both are capable, but the likelihood of the other selections doing that takes a steep step downward. Gordon has three New Hampshire wins, but hasn't yet shaken the bad luck that has plagued his final season in the series. He raced to 14th-place last week after deciding to stay out on old tires while in the lead. Newman is racing better at this point in the season than he has all year, while Menard is in desperate need of a top-10 finish to advance in the Chase. Mears finished 16th at this track in July, which was his best finish since his 11th-place result at Daytona.
