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This week NASCAR heads to Daytona Beach, Florida for the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway. Daytona always tends to be a crap shoot, as the restrictor plate style of racing causes plenty of pack racing. This gives almost all the drivers a chance at the end. The restrictor plate, which is placed over the carburetor, restricts air flow to the engine and thus restricting the speeds in which the cars can reach. These plates were introduced after the horrible crash involving Bobby Allison in 1987 at Daytona. Without restrictor plates on the engines, today's cars would exceed speeds of 230 mph which is quite scary when you think about it.
With not many drivers showing consistent success at Daytona in the past, the focus this week should be on GPP tournaments. You will be able to find value in guys starting outside the top 20 who show good speed in practices. If you get the opportunity to watch practice this week, be sure to pay attention to who is drafting together in a pack. It is important that you pick guys who tend to form many alliances throughout the week. Drivers will find themselves in situations where they fall into the middle and if no driver picks them up and gives them a push they will fall way back in the pack. You can be sure that the winning lineups in GPP formats this weekend will have one or two lower-end values who score well in place differential and pass differential points. If the weather holds up, it should be another exciting Daytona finish this weekend. On to the picks for this week!
Daily Fantasy NASCAR: DraftKings Picks
Dale Earnhardt Jr. - $12,300
Earnhardt Jr. is topping the DraftKings salary list this week, and for good reason. In his previous five races at Daytona International Speedway, he has recorded three top 5 and four top 10 finishes with a 5.6 average finish. He is one of the most popular drivers and always seems to have multiple alliances during these races. From a DraftKings perspective, it would be nice to see him start outside the top 20 so he can capitalize on the bonus points. However, he will be a good pick either way.
Jimmie Johnson - $11,800
With the vast possibilities that Daytona presents (being such a "crapshoot"), it is viable to roster both Dale and Jimmie in the same lineup this week. They are the top two in salary and two of only three drivers to record four top 10 finishes in the last five races at Daytona. Johnson won both races at Daytona in 2013 and became only the second driver in 31 years to do so. He is the best driver in the sport and always seems to be there at the end of the Superspeedway races.
Joey Logano - $11,200
Coming off his win at the Daytona 500 in February, Logano will look to sweep the Daytona races this weekend. He has proven to be one of the most consistent drivers in 2015, as he has recorded 11 top 10 finishes and only finished outside the top 20 on two occasions. He comes into the weekend with three straight top 5 finishes as well, so you know he is rolling with confidence. As the eighth highest racer in salary this week, he makes a nice start to a cash game lineup.
Jamie McMurray - $10,200
McMurray is another driver coming into this weekend with confidence. McMurray has recorded 14 straight finishes inside the top 21 and also has six top 10 finishes in that time. He makes a nice cash game play this week as the 15th highest in salary.
Casey Mears - $8,700
His price has climbed up a bit, and I hope it scares some people off. He is the third driver who has recorded four top 10 finishes in his previous five Daytona races. The team always seems to get a great setup for the #13 car at this track. It would be nice to see him start outside the top 20 this week, but at his price he should still provide some value even with a high-end starting position.
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