This article is part of our NASCAR DFS series.
Ally 400
Location: Lebanon, Tenn.
Course: Nashville Superspeedway
Format: 1.33-mile D-shaped oval
Laps: 300
Race Preview
The NASCAR Cup Series will visit Nashville Superspeedway for the first time this week in the Ally 400. The 1.33-mile D-shaped oval has hosted both NASCAR Camping World Trucks and Xfinity races up until 2011, but this is the first time the Cup teams will tackle the circuit. In fact, this will be the first time the Nashville area has hosted a Cup Series race since 1984 when the race was held at the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway. Geoff Bodine won that race in the Hendrick Motorsports No. 5 car. The track is the largest concrete oval on the calendar, and fantasy players will want to look at both Dover and Darlington races to get some insight into how this week's race may unfold.
Key Stats at Nashville Superspeedway
- Number of races: 0
- Winners from pole: 0
- Winners from top-5 starters: 0
- Winners from top-10 starters: 0
- Winners from 21st or lower starters: 0
- Fastest race: n/a
Previous Nashville Winners (active Cup Series drivers)
2011 Trucks - Austin Dillon
2011 Trucks - Kyle Busch
2010 Xfinity - Brad Keselowski
2010 Xfinity - Kevin Harvick
2010 Trucks - Kyle Busch
2009 Xfinity - Kyle Busch
2009 Xfinity - Joey Logano
2008 Xfinity - Brad Keselowski
2006 Xfinity - Kevin Harvick
Nashville's D-shaped oval is likely to become a game of track position. Teams will have practice and qualifying to hone their settings and understand tire wear, but drivers are likely to be opting for four-tire stops throughout the afternoon. The majority of Truck and Xfinity races have been won by drivers starting inside the first five rows, which is likely where Sunday's winner will come from, too. The shorter lap distance and concrete surface are going to make opportunities go off strategy more difficult. Pitting under green flag conditions will put drivers a lap down, which means untimely cautions are something to beware of as well. There are many unknowns entering this week's race, but careful attention paid to practice and qualifying pace should give some insight into who will come out on top.
DRAFTKINGS VALUE PICKS (Based on Standard $50K Salary Cap)
DraftKings Tier 1 Values
Kyle Larson - $11,800
Chase Elliott - $10,700
Martin Truex Jr. - $10,400
Denny Hamlin - $10,100
DraftKings Tier 2 Values
Kyle Busch - $9,900
William Byron - $9,700
Brad Keselowski - $9,500
Kevin Harvick - $9,100
DraftKings Tier 3 Values
Joey Logano - $8,900
Ryan Blaney - $8,700
Tyler Reddick - $8,600
Kurt Busch - $8,300
DraftKings Long-Shot Values
Ross Chastain - $7,600
Chris Buescher - $7,400
Bubba Wallace - $6,500
Daniel Suarez - $6,300
MY PICKS THIS WEEK
Lower-Risk Lineup ($50K Salary Cap)
Chase Elliott - $10,700
Kevin Harvick - $9,100
Joey Logano - $8,900
Tyler Reddick - $8,600
Bubba Wallace - $6,500
Chase Briscoe - $6,200
Looking at past races this season, it's reasonable to expect Hendrick Motorsports to be among the leaders again at Nashville. Chase Elliott (DK $10,700, FD $13,500) has never raced at the track, but he did have a single-day test with Hendrick there in 2013. He hasn't finished lower than seventh since April, though. Kevin Harvick (DK $9,100, FD $10,000) is a past Nashville winner in the Xfinity Series. He hasn't won in 2021 yet, but has started to find some traction with two top-10 finishes in the last four races. Team Penske's Joey Logano (DK $8,900, FD $11,000) has also been racing well in recent weeks. He has three top-fives in the last four races and won at Nashville in the Xfinity Series in 2009. Tyler Reddick (DK $8,600, FD $8,800) won a stage in the All-Star Open last week to get into the main show. That segment victory was deserved and could have been predicted given the speed he has had throughout the season, too. He is 15th in the playoff standings and has two top-10 finishes from last three races. A relatively unknown circuit could put Bubba Wallace (DK $6,500, FD $5,000) on a more level footing with the other teams. He is earning consistent top-15 finishes recently, and his 11th-place finish at Dover was one of his best races so far this season. Chase Briscoe's (DK $6,200, FD $5,000) tire tests at Nashville make him one on whom fantasy players should keep an eye. He was one of three drivers to participate in the three-day test, which could give him an early knowledge advantage over some of the field.
Higher-Risk Lineup ($50K Salary Cap)
Denny Hamlin - $10,100
Kyle Busch - $9,900
Kurt Busch - $8,300
Ross Chastain - $7,600
Chris Buescher - $7,400
Daniel Suarez - $6,300
The higher-risk lineup puts more emphasis on Joe Gibbs Racing having the equipment to win. Denny Hamlin (DK $10,100, FD $12,500) hasn't visited Victory Lane yet this season, but he was fifth at Darlington and seventh at Dover. After a mini slump, he was discovering his top-10 form again prior to last week's All-Star Race. Teammate Kyle Busch (DK $9,900, FD $12,000) has multiple Nashville wins on his resume. He will feel more comfortable than most arriving at this circuit, and should be at his best with on-track practice and qualifying available to him to improve his car throughout the weekend. Kurt Busch (DK $8,300, FD $8,500) is also taking strides in the right direction. He was sixth at Sonoma before the All-Star Race and scored a 13th-place finish at Dover. He is searching for a way into the playoff standings and has the experience to find race victories to get him there. He was also one of three drivers to have participated in the three-day tire test at the track. Another driver on an upward swing is Ross Chastain (DK $7,600, FD $6,800). He won the opening stage of the All-Star Open last week and picked up two top-10 finishes in the last three races. He has found consistency and is improving his average finish as the season progresses. Roush Fenway Racing's Chris Buescher (DK $7,400, FD $7,000) has been very good on abrasive surfaces this year. He finished 17th at Dover, was ninth at Darlington and led 57 laps at Homestead. This could be a track that suits RFR's machinery, and Buescher is one to watch. Another driver who has demonstrated the ability to outperform this season is Daniel Suarez (DK $6,300, FD $6,000). He finished ninth at Dover with his new team, and Nashville's concrete could suit the car again this week.
