This article is part of our NASCAR DFS series.
Foxwoods Resort Casino 301
Location: Loudon, N.H.
Course: New Hampshire Motor Speedway
Format: 1.06-mile oval
Laps: 301
Race Preview
The annual visit to New Hampshire Motor Speedway tends to give a good preview of what to expect in the championship playoffs. The horsepower package and track layout is similar to many of the stops in the final rounds of the championship battle, and many of the drivers who have made it to the championship finale have also won or finished in the top five at New Hampshire. Brad Keselowski won in a dominating performance last season and ultimately went on to finish second in the championship. This week, teammates Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr. will start on the front row. Kyle's brother Kurt Busch was the victor one week ago at Atlanta, securing his spot among the championship contenders, and will start fourth alongside Chase Elliott this week. Teammates Austin Dillon and Tyler Reddick are closest to the playoff cutline, but either could be on the outside looking in if drivers lower in the standings win. With five races remaining before the elimination rounds get underway, the pressure is sure to increase.
Key Stats at New Hampshire Motor Speedway
- Number of races: 49
- Winners from pole: 6
- Winners from top-5 starters: 14
- Winners from top-10 starters: 26
- Winners from 21st or lower starters: 9
- Fastest race: 117.134 mph
Previous 10 New Hampshire Winners
2020 - Brad Keselowski
2019 - Kevin Harvick
2018 - Kevin Harvick
2017 fall - Kyle Busch
2017 spring - Denny Hamlin
2016 fall - Kevin Harvick
2016 spring - Matt Kenseth
2015 fall - Matt Kenseth
2015 spring - Kyle Busch
2014 fall - Joey Logano
Knowing the New Hampshire's 1.0-mile oval configuration races similarly to tracks later in the playoff rounds, fantasy managers will want to keep this season's visits to Richmond and Phoenix in mind when making selections. The tracks straights are long and require heavy braking into the relatively flat turns. Despite being a flat circuit drivers do have a bit of room to move up and down the grooves due to the track's progressive banking. The surface is also not nearly as abrasive as we saw last week at Atlanta. Teams will have the chance to leverage two-tire stops to help gain positions on pit road and gain track position. Most New Hampshire winners start inside the top 10, but that ability to use tire strategy can open the door to almost anyone starting inside the top 20. Ford and Toyota have won the last five races at the track with Chevrolet last driving to Victory Lane with Kevin Harvick in 2016.
DRAFTKINGS VALUE PICKS (Based on Standard $50K Salary Cap)
DraftKings Tier 1 Values
Kyle Larson - $11,200
Kyle Busch - $10,900
William Byron - $10,600
Denny Hamlin - $10,000
DraftKings Tier 2 Values
Chase Elliott - $9,800
Joey Logano - $9,500
Brad Keselowski - $9,300
Martin Truex Jr. - $9,100
DraftKings Tier 3 Values
Ryan Blaney - $8,700
Kurt Busch - $8,500
Aric Almirola - $8,400
Alex Bowman - $8,200
DraftKings Long-Shot Values
Christopher Bell - $7,700
Matt DiBenedetto - $7,500
Tyler Reddick - $6,800
Cole Custer - $6,300
MY PICKS THIS WEEK
Lower-Risk Lineup ($50K Salary Cap)
Kyle Busch - $10,900
Chase Elliott - $9,800
Ryan Blaney - $8,700
Alex Bowman - $8,200
Christopher Bell - $7,700
Justin Haley - $4,700
Kyle Busch (DK $10,900, FD $12,500) enters this weekend's race on a streak of four consecutive top-three finishes. He is a three-time New Hampshire winner and will start on pole. Busch is on his best form of the season so far and makes a confident play this week. Chase Elliott (DK $9,800, FD $12,000) led nine laps and finished ninth in last year's trip to this track, and then he went on to win the series title in Phoenix. He finished fifth at Phoenix earlier this season and was also second at Martinsville, which could signal a good race for him this week. Ryan Blaney (DK $8,700, FD $10,500) grabbed his third finish of sixth or better from the last four races last week. He led five laps at New Hampshire last season, but his best result at the track was a fourth-place finish in 2019. Alex Bowman (DK $8,200, FD $10,000) does not have much of a successful history at New Hampshire, but he won at Richmond earlier this season, another flat oval. Joe Gibbs Racing's Christopher Bell (DK $7,700, FD $9,000) won the last two Xfinity Series races at New Hampshire. He'll pull double duty in both series this weekend, which could give him an advantage on Sunday. Justin Haley (DK $4,700, FD $2,000) rounds out the selections in what will be his 17th start of the season. His best results so far in the No. 77 this year were a pair of 24th-place finishes, one of which was at Phoenix. With the 30th-place starting position on Sunday, he should be able to earn fantasy players some points for finish differential.
Higher-Risk Lineup ($50K Salary Cap)
Kevin Harvick - $10,300
Brad Keselowski - $9,300
Aric Almirola - $8,400
Matt DiBenedetto - $7,500
Austin Dillon - $7,400
Tyler Reddick - $6,800
Kevin Harvick (DK $10,300, FD $11,300), while relatively safe in the points, would feel a whole lot better having a win under his belt before the playoffs begin. Fantasy players should keep in mind that he has been in this situation before and still won the title, however. He is a four-time New Hampshire victor, including two of the last three races at the track. It was made public this past week that Brad Keselowski (DK $9,300, FD $11,500) will not return to Team Penske in 2022. Rumors had been circulating for some time about where he is heading, but he remains focused on ending his time with the team on a winning note. He finished 10th last week and dominated last year's visit to New Hampshire to claim his second series win at the track. This track has been good for Ford and Stewart Haas Racing in general. That is great news for Aric Almirola (DK $8,400, FD $7,500) who needs a win to enter the playoffs. He will start this weekend's race 22nd but has led laps in the last three New Hampshire races while picking up two top-10 finishes. Matt DiBenedetto (DK $7,500, FD $8,000) said his Wood Brothers Racing team was clicking as good as it ever has after last week's top-10 finish. He enters this week coming off of back-to-back top-10s and finished sixth and fifth in his last two New Hampshire races. All this is good news for him now that we know Harrison Burton will be driving the No. 21 car next season. Teammates Austin Dillon (DK $7,400, FD $7,300) and Tyler Reddick (DK $6,800, FD $8,500) are in a battle with one another to remain in playoff contention. Neither has won a race this season, and both will start in the top 15 this week. They each have one top-10 finish at New Hampshire.
