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The NASCAR Sprint Cup series heads to Loudon, New Hampshire this weekend for the 5 Hour Energy 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The track is a 1.058 Mile Intermediate Oval. It is a flat track with tight 12 degree corners and long, fast straightaways. It races like a short track at Intermediate track speeds. This is a race that is very hard to win multiple times. Since 2008, Joey Logano is the only driver with multiple wins. The track does produce a group of drivers who consistently run well here. It is the same group who excel at other flat tracks like Martinsville, Phoenix and Richmond.
With Loudon being one of the toughest tracks on the circuit you normally don't see many low-end drivers with top 25 finishes. This leads us to DraftKings strategy for the week. When forming cash game lineups start with the drivers who share good current form and track history. In GPP tournament formats using a more balanced approach similar to cash games will be the way to roll this week. If you want to go stars & scrubs this week look for lower-end drivers who have higher practice speed ranks than qualifying order. Current form isn't as crucial this week, as Loudon is a unique track. Concentrate mostly on track history and driver results from other flat tracks.
Daily Fantasy NASCAR: DraftKings Picks
Jimmie Johnson - $12,700
With four wins on the year the #48 team has nothing to lose in the final eight races. You can bet they will be using this race to prepare for the return trip to Loudon during the Chase for the Sprint Cup playoffs in September. When a team has nothing to lose it can be both a good thing and a bad thing. They will take more risks near the end of the race trying to win, knowing they are locked in to the playoffs. This can lead to wrecks or running out of fuel, but it is nice knowing your fantasy driver is going all out for a win. It helps that Jimmie holds an 11.8 average finish in his previous five races here with three top 5's and four top 10's. As the third most expensive driver on DraftKings he makes a nice play in both cash games and GPP tournaments.
Kyle Busch - $11,800
I am going to stick on the Rowdy Busch train this week, as he is running hot lately. Since returning from a broken leg and shattered ankle Kyle has three top 10 finishes and wins in two of his last three races. To make the Chase playoffs he will need to average about a 17th place finish in the final eight races. This makes him a GPP only play this week. Why? Because at the end of the race if he is comfortably within the top 15, he may just play it safe and collect the points he needs rather than take a risk of wrecking and push for the win. Then again, this is Kyle Busch, and he never gives anything less than 100%
Matt Kenseth - $11,200
Kenseth is another one of the Joe Gibbs Racing team that has success here. In his last five races at Loudon, Kenseth has recorded a win, two top 5's, and three top 10 finishes. His current form is also pretty nice, as he has recorded three finishes inside the top 6 in his previous five races. Check where he qualifies this week, as he is a lock in your lineups if he starts outside the top 10.
Denny Hamlin - $11,100
As you probably have already noticed, Joe Gibbs racing is pretty darn good at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. In the previous five races here, Hamlin has led more laps (245) than any other driver in that time. He won the race here in September, 2012, and he has two top 10's and three top 20 finishes in those five races. Hamlin is coming off back to back 3rd place finishes and will be looking for that second win on the season.
Kyle Larson - $10,000
In 2014, he raced New Hampshire for the first two times in his career and finished both of those races with top 5 finishes. He has been trending in the wrong direction the last two weeks with a 35th and a 38th place finish. This may cause people to pivot off him and select other drivers in his salary range. This will make Larson a great GPP play this week.
Paul Menard - $8,200
If you are looking for a consistent option for cash game lineups this week look no further. Menard has a 17.0 average finish at New Hampshire with four finishes inside the top 20 in his previous five races here. On the season, he has recorded four straight top 16 finishes. Pay attention to qualifying, as you will want Menard starting outside the top 20 for him to provide the best value.
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