This article is part of our NASCAR DFS series.
Goody's Headache Relief Shot 500
Location: Martinsville, Va.
Course: Martinsville Speedway
Format: 0.5-mile oval
Laps: 500
Race Preview
After a wild finish to the Contender round of NASCAR's Chase for the Sprint Cup at NASCAR's biggest track the first race of the Eliminator round kicks off at its smallest. Martinsville's flat half-mile oval means tight racing and hard braking. The teams and drivers will work to get their cars working best along the bottom of the track while avoiding the circuit's high curbs. The long 500-lap distance means drivers will be racing in traffic all afternoon with the best passing opportunities coming through outbraking opponents at the end of the straights. Teams will work to keep their brakes cool and fight for track position throughout the afternoon as they clamor for the checkered flag.
Key Stats at Martinsville Speedway
• Races: 133
• Winners from pole: 21
• Winners from top-5 starters: 69
• Winners from top-10 starters: 95
• Winners from 21st or lower starters: 7
• Fastest race: 82.223 mph
Last 10 Martinsville Winners
2015 spring -[ Denny Hamlin
2014 fall - Dale Earnhardt Jr.
2014 spring - Kurt Busch
2013 fall - Jeff Gordon
2013 spring - Jimmie Johnson
2012 fall - Jimmie Johnson
2012 spring - Ryan Newman
2011 fall - Tony Stewart
2011 spring - Kevin Harvick
2010 fall - Denny Hamlin
After sweeping the Contender round Joey Logano will look to continue his incredible momentum at Martinsville. The Penske Racing driver has been the best driver through the last dozen races, but will face tough competition again in the Eliminator round. Hendrick Motorsports had the upper hand at Talladega, but weren't able to get Dale Earnhardt Jr. through to the win in the closing laps. Drivers Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon have been the best at Martinsville through their careers, but it was Denny Hamlin who took his fifth win at the track earlier this season. Kevin Harvick and Logano both led more than 100 laps in that race while Gordon was the highest-placing Hendrick driver in ninth.
DRAFTKINGS VALUE PICKS (Based on Standard $50K Salary Cap)
DraftKings Tier 1 Values
Joey Logano - $10,500
Jimmie Johnson - $10,400
Jeff Gordon - $10,300
Denny Hamlin - $10,200
DraftKings Tier 2 Values
Matt Kenseth - $9,900
Brad Keselowski - $9,400
Dale Earnhardt Jr. - $9,200
Carl Edwards - $8,900
DraftKings Tier 3 Values
Jamie McMurray - $7,900
Clint Bowyer - $7,300
Ryan Newman - $7,100
DraftKings Long-Shot Values
Danica Patrick - $5,900
Austin Dillon - $5,900
David Ragan - $5,800
Greg Biffle - $5,700
MY PICKS THIS WEEK
Lower-Risk Lineup ($50K Salary Cap)
Jimmie Johnson - $10,400
Jeff Gordon - $10,300
Matt Kenseth - $9,900
Clint Bowyer - $7,300
Trevor Bayne - $6,200
Greg Biffle - $5,700
The lower-risk lineup for Martinsville includes the two most successful active drivers at the track in Johnson and Gordon. Both have eight wins and they've won three of the last six races at the track. Next up is Kenseth who has never won at Martinsville, but does have four consecutive top-10 finishes there heading into this week. Bowyer returned to the top-10 last week in Talladega, and has six top-10 Martinsville finishes in his last seven attempts. Trevor Bayne came from the 36th-starting position to finish 18th there earlier this season, and Biffle has improved his average finish from 19.6 to 15.6 in the last five races as he found some speed.
Higher-Risk Lineup ($50K Salary Cap)
Kevin Harvick - $10,600
Joey Logano - $10,500
Denny Hamlin - $10,200
Tony Stewart - $6,900
Danica Patrick - $5,900
Aric Almirola - $5,800
Defending champion Harvick leads the higher-risk lineup with three top-10 Martinsville finishes. The hottest driver on the circuit Logano makes the cut as well. He swept the Contender round of the Chase, and has three consecutive top-5 Martinsville finishes heading into this week. Hamlin will hope to get over the terrible afternoon he had at Talladega at a track he has five wins at, including earlier this year. Stewart led eight laps at the track earlier this season before scoring a top-20, and Patrick grabbed her first Martinsville top-10 in that same race. Lastly, Almirola has two top-15 finishes in his last three Martinsville trips.
