RADIO
The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series heads to Austin on Saturday as part of a NASCAR tripleheader weekend.
Last time out, Corey Heim won at Atlanta, taking the first checkered flag of his Truck Series career. Chandler Smith currently leads the points standings.
Here at RotoBaller, we want to help you make informed decisions about your DFS lineups, which is why I'll be breaking down the slates for the Truck Series. Let's look at some NASCAR Truck Series DFS lineup picks for the XPEL 225 on DraftKings. Be sure to also check out our NASCAR Premium Tools for Truck Series including our DFS Lineup Optimizer and powerful Research Station.
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Kaz Grala ($9,900)
Starting 18th
Kyle Busch is $13,000. This race only has 42 laps. We're avoiding him and emphasizing the place differential plays.
Like Kaz Grala, who is one of my favorite road racers in NASCAR and is piloting the 02 truck this week. Grala was 14th in practice and 18th in qualifying, but his track record on road courses makes him my favorite play in spite of the mediocre showing so far this weekend.
Last year, Grala drove this truck to a second-place finish here, leading 11 laps. Overall, in five road course starts in the Truck Series, Grala has three top 10s and an average finish of 10.2. That includes a 2016 race at Bowmansville where he crashed. Grala should be in contention on Saturday.
Ben Rhodes ($9,500)
Starting 13th
Like Grala, Rhodes hasn't shown as much speed this weekend as I'd hope for, but he's a good driver who starts outside the top 10, making him someone who is firmly on my radar this week.
Last year, Rhodes finished 10th here, leading three laps. Overall, his eight road course starts in the Truck Series, with one win and four top 10s. He should be considered a solid top 10 driver this week with the upside to finish in the top five. Really like this play, just like I also like paying $200 less and getting Grant Enfinger in some lineups as well.
Matt DiBenedetto ($8,900)
Starting 36th
Well, duh.
Look, I'm not one of these people who thinks that DiBenedetto needs to be in a Cup ride or anything, but he's a good race car driver who starts 36th this week. There's immense place differential potential for this truck.
His one race here wasn't spectacular, but finishing 23rd in a Cup race at COTA isn't bad, and that experience should translate on Saturday.
Also of note: DiBenedetto may not have turned a lap in qualifying, but he did get some in during practice, where he was seventh-fastest.
Really, the concern with DiBenedetto is that he's going to be extremely chalky. He's such an obvious play. I want him in my lineups, but I also want to have a couple contrarian lines without him, just in case.
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Tyler Ankrum ($8,300)
Starting 10th
Love Ankrum this week. Could be someone who gets a surprise race victory,
Last year when he was driving for GMS. Ankrum won the pole, led four laps, and ultimately finished third. Overall, his five road course starts in the Truck Series have resulted in four top 10s and an average finish of 9.2.
And last year, the 16 truck, driven by Austin Hill, was ninth here.
So, a driver who ran well here last year in a truck that ran well here last year and he's only $8,300? Yes. Yes, I'm going heavy on Ankrum.
Tanner Gray ($7,400)
Starting 28th
Gray's a risk. The place differential play is obvious, and that's before you even factor in that Gray has a top 10 finish in every race this year. If this was an oval track, I'd consider Gray to be the No. 1 play on this slate.
But it's not an oval. It's COTA. And last year at COTA, Gray started 36th and finished 31st.
And in four total road course starts in the Truck Series, Gray has an average finish of 20th. He was running at the end in all of them and was on the lead lap three times, but he's definitely not a good road course racer.
However, Gray was 15th in practice. If he can turn some good laps and stay out of trouble, the place differential upside for Gray is definitely worth the risk.
Timmy Hill ($5,200)
Starting 25th
A lot of the value plays feel iffy this week. Dean Thompson and Brad Perez start outside the top 30 and should be in some of your lineups, but guys like Lawless Alan and Logan Bearden start inside the top 25, making me fade them.
But Hill feels like a solid play. He starts 25th and while I would have preferred him be a few spots back of that, he's a decent play. He had a top 10 last year at the Daytona road course race. His worst finish this season is 22nd, with a pair of top 20s. If we're diving into the value guys, Hill is my top target.
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