NASCAR DFS Tiered Rankings: Blu-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500

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Welcome to RotoBaller's Tiered Rankings for the eighth race of the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season, the Blu-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway. For those that are viewing these rankings for the first time, here is how the sheet works.

There are two sets of DFS tiered rankings featured below, with one set of rankings focused on DraftKings DFS contests while the other is focused on FanDuel. Every driver that will officially be starting in this week's race will be listed in a particular tier based on their salary for each site. The tiers feature drivers that have similar price ranges and are ranked based on their final outlook, which is determined by a combination of a driver's expected performance for this week's race as well as their salary.

These ranks will help you make tough lineup calls, telling you which drivers must be started over others in each tier. DFS players from any skill level can use these rankings in order to create a lineup that will cash out.

Martinsville is one of the oldest courses in the NASCAR Cup Series, known for having plenty of lap dominators, or drivers that lead whole portions of the race. As one of the smallest tracks in NASCAR, Martinsville also features larger amounts of driver contact than most meaning that crashes are more common. Fantasy players for this week's race must diversify their lineups to cover themselves in case of wrecks ruining the days of many racers while picking as many possible dominators in lineups as possible. This week's ranks are based on a combination of results from past races at Martinsville as well as driver performances in 2021. Good luck RotoBallers!

Premium Tiered Rankings - NASCAR DFS

Normally, you can expect these rankings to be published on Thursdays or Fridays for every week that there is a Cup Series race, depending on the schedule of pre-race events. These rankings will also be updated as pre-race events progress throughout the week when applicable and also will include an analysis of each tier of drivers at the conclusion of all pre-race events.

* = This driver will be starting from the rear in this week's race

DraftKings Rankings Analysis

DraftKings Tier 1: Every driver in this tier must be greatly considered for all DFS lineups at Martinsville. Brad Keselowski placed in the Top 10 in each of the last ten races at MS including top-5 finishes in each of the last five races. Since 2019, Keselowski ranks fourth in Laps in the Top 15 (1,749), Fastest Laps (130), Average Running Position (7.5), and Driver Rating (113.3). The driver of the No. 2 Ford starts 10th, offering more Place Differential upside than most in this tier. Martin Truex Jr. won two of the last three races at Martinsville while also leading more than 100 laps in each Cup event. Since 2019 at the site, Truex leads all drivers in Laps in the Top 15 (1,855), Fastest Laps (287), Laps Led (725), Average Running Position (5.2), and Driver Rating (120.3). Truex starts seventh and is one of the favorites to win this week. Chase Elliott is the most recent winner at Martinsville from Fall 2020 where he also led the most laps (236). Since 2019 at the Virginia track, Elliott ranks fifth in Laps in the Top 15 (1,635) and Average Running Position (9.5), third in Driver Rating (113.7), and second in Fastest Laps (248). Elliott starts fifth this week and is another favorite to win this week’s race. The winner of the last Cup Series race this season, Joey Logano, starts first and is another driver with great history at Martinsville. Logano has one win at the site in his career and placed in the Top 10 in the last three races there. Watch for the driver of the No. 22 Ford to lead laps and compete for a podium finish.

DraftKings Tier 2: Alex Bowman leads this tier as the driver with the most PD upside here from his starting position (20th). Bowman placed sixth in both races at Martinsville last season and has three top-10 finishes at short tracks in his last four starts at short tracks. Kyle Busch is the only other driver to consider from this tier for Martinsville. Since 2015 at the Virginia course, Busch has nine top-10 finishes including two wins. The driver of the No. 18 Toyota also placed in the Top 10 of every race at short tracks except one last season and he will start 12th this week at Martinsville, providing decent PD upside.

DraftKings Tier 3: The first three drivers here all provide great PD upside for Martinsville based on their start positions. Kurt Busch statistically has the most success at the track with two wins and nine top-10 finishes in 41 starts including four of the last five. Busch will start 21st and has equipment capable of competing for a top-10 finish. Christopher Bell finished 15th in his last start at Martinsville while he picked up positive PD in his first race at the track. Last season at short tracks, Bell earned three top-15 finishes, and this week he will start 23rd. Look for Bell to finish in the Top 15 based on his Joe Gibbs Racing equipment and recent results at short tracks. Aric Almirola has the most PD upside of all drivers in this tier from his starting position (31st). In his last six starts at Martinsville, the driver of the No. 10 Ford has four top-15 finishes and placed in the Top 10 in his last three short track starts. Almirola has been inconsistent so far this season, but his PD upside makes him a driver to consider for this week’s race at Martinsville.

DraftKings Tier 4: Coming Soon.

DraftKings Tier 5: Coming Soon.

DraftKings Tier 6: Coming Soon.