This article is part of our NASCAR DFS series.
Hollywood Casino 400
Location: Kansas City, Kan.
Course: Kansas Speedway
Format: 1.5-mile tri-oval
Laps: 267
Race Preview
Kyle Larson became the first driver to confirm his spot among the final four championship contenders with a win one week ago at Texas. The remaining seven playoff contenders have just two more opportunities to take their place alongside him with a win. Kansas Speedway hosts this week's race, with Martinsville looming one week later. Kyle Busch is still in the championship hunt, and he scored the win at Kansas earlier this year after late restarts jumbled the running order late in the running, giving the No. 18 driver the chance to seize the win on his birthday. Larson will lead the field to green this week from pole as he goes for his third consecutive victory. Lining up alongside him will be Team Penske's Ryan Blaney, who took over the second spot in the playoffs with a sixth-place finish a week ago at Texas. Penske teammate Brad Keselowski and spring winner Kyle Busch will occupy the second row.
Key Stats at Kansas Speedway
- Number of races: 31
- Winners from pole: 6
- Winners from top-5 starters: 14
- Winners from top-10 starters: 19
- Winners from 21st or lower starters: 3
- Fastest race: 152.057 mph
Previous 10 Kansas Winners
2021 spring - Kyle Busch
2020 fall - Joey Logano
2020 spring - Denny Hamlin
2019 fall - Denny Hamlin
2019 spring - Brad Keselowski
2018 fall - Chase Elliott
2018 spring - Kevin Harvick
2017 fall - Martin Truex Jr.
2017 spring - Martin Truex Jr.
2016 fall - Kevin Harvick
The focus again this week will be on track position and restarts. While the majority of prior winners have come from the first five starting rows, late-race restarts have upended the results in the final miles on multiple occasions. This 1.5-mile oval was repaved in 2012, and variable banking was added to the configuration, which opened more lanes for drivers to race in as their cars change and as they work traffic. Given the propensity for restarts to test the front runners in the final laps, teams will work to give their drivers every advantage in the closing laps, including fresh tires. Short-run speed and getting off of pit lane first could make the difference. Teams will try to stay out as long as possible and hope for a caution in order to pit under yellow. However, fantasy players should expect the quickest drivers to separate themselves from the field under green as they take advantage of clean air at the front of the field.
DRAFTKINGS VALUE PICKS (Based on Standard $50K Salary Cap)
DraftKings Tier 1 Values
Kyle Larson - $11,700
Denny Hamlin - $11,000
Kyle Busch - $10,700
Chase Elliott - $10,000
DraftKings Tier 2 Values
Alex Bowman - $9,800
William Byron - $9,500
Ryan Blaney - $9,300
Brad Keselowski - $9,100
DraftKings Tier 3 Values
Kevin Harvick - $8,900
Joey Logano - $8,700
Kurt Busch - $8,500
Tyler Reddick - $8,400
DraftKings Long-Shot Values
Christopher Bell - $8,000
Aric Almirola - $7,600
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. - $7,000
Chris Buescher - $6,300
MY PICKS THIS WEEK
Lower-Risk Lineup ($50K Salary Cap)
Denny Hamlin - $11,000
Chase Elliott - $10,000
Ryan Blaney - $9,300
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. - $7,000
Daniel Suarez - $6,400
Chris Buescher - $6,300
For the first time in recent memory, Denny Hamlin (DK $11,000, FD $13,500) enters a race not being first or second in the standings. He won the first race of each prior round of the playoffs but struggled last week with multiple issues. He will aim to get his charge back on track this week from the sixth starting spot at a track at which he's won three times. Chase Elliott (DK $10,000, FD $12,500) is another championship contender looking to get an early entry to the championship finale. He is below the cutline in fifth but has won at Kansas in the past. He finished fifth at the track this past May. Blaney (DK $9,300, FD $11,000) is the one who has been moving forward in the standings. He sits second in the championship fight and just needs a clean race this week to give himself a very good chance of earning a chance to race for the series title. He will start alongside Larson on the front row this week and has six Kansas top-10s from 13 starts. He was 21st earlier this year after late contact on a restart. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (DK $7,000, FD $5,800) led 23 laps before a crash took him out here in the spring race this season. He finished 16th or better in three of the last five Kansas stops, too. The Texas race was a good one for Daniel Suarez (DK $6,400, FD $7,000) who snagged his fourth top-10 of the season. That was also his third top-15 in the last five races. Chris Buescher (DK $6,300, FD $6,700) has demonstrated significant speed this season. He has two top-10s in the last five races and finished eighth at Kansas already this year. He led 13 laps in that run and will start 21st this time.
Higher-Risk Lineup ($50K Salary Cap)
Kyle Larson - $11,700
William Byron - $9,500
Tyler Reddick - $8,400
Aric Almirola - $7,600
Matt DiBenedetto - $6,800
Cole Custer - $6,000
Larson (DK $11,700, FD $14,500) is aiming for his third consecutive victory this week at a track at which he dominated in the spring. He led 132 laps in May before late-race contact on a restart left him with a 19th-place finish. He also led 101 laps at the track in 2018 when he finished fourth. His teammate, William Byron (DK $9,500, FD $11,500), could play spoiler for other championship contenders this week. He finished second a week ago at Texas and finished in the top 10 in his last four Kansas starts. Another spoiler could be Tyler Reddick (DK $8,400, FD $9,200). Reddick has turned on the afterburners since being eliminated from championship contention, finishing in the top 10 in three of the last four races leading up to this week's contest. He was seventh in the spring race. Aric Almirola (DK $7,600, FD $7,700) could be a valuable fantasy option this week with seven top-10s at the track. He only finished 29th there in May, however, and will start 20th this week. Despite not having a confirmed ride for 2022, Matt DiBenedetto (DK $6,800, FD $8,000) continues to enjoy some of the best form of his career. He finished 13th or better in four of the last five races and had his best Kansas finish of fourth this season. Cole Custer (DK $6,000, FD $6,000) completes this week's selections with a 22nd-place starting spot and one top-10 from three Kansas starts.
