This article is part of our NASCAR DFS series.
BrakeBest Brake Pads 159
Location: Daytona, Fla.
Course: Daytona International Speedway
Format: 3.61-mile road course
Laps: 44
Race Preview
The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series visits the Daytona Road Course for the first of its four scheduled road course visits this season. Last year was the first visit the series made to Daytona's circuit, and Sheldon Creed was the one who visited Victory Lane. Creed led 19 total laps and the last 12 of the race after taking over the top spot from Matt Crafton. Joining Creed in Friday's field as road course winners are John Hunter Nemechek and Brett Moffitt, who both scored their wins at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park. However, everyone in the field will be looking to join Ben Rhodes on the 2021 winner's list after he picked up the first trophy of the season on Daytona's high banks one week ago.
Key Stats at the Daytona Road Course
- Number of races: 1
- 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: 81.435 mph
Recent Road Course Winners
2020 Daytona Road Course - Sheldon Creed
2019 Bowmanville - Brett Moffitt
2018 Bowmanville - Justin Haley
2017 Bowmanville - Austin Cindric
2016 Bowmanville - John Hunter Nemechek
2015 Bowmanville - Erik Jones
2014 Bowmanville - Ryan Blaney
2013 Bowmanville - Chase Elliott
This season's Truck schedule features the most road courses the series has ever visited in a season, and Daytona is the first. The circuit is the first road course, other than Canadian Tire Motorsports Park, the series has raced on since 2013. Last year's race produced 10 lead changes, and Creed's margin of victory was less than a second over Moffitt. That duo led 32 of the 46 laps and swept the stages, too. Teams will focus on pit strategy and set their machines up for maximum mechanical grip. The best places to pass are under braking at the end of the fastest straights, particularly entering the chicane on the back stretch. The pressure will be on to make the right pit decisions, however. Getting off of pit road first and timing stops to maximize track position could be significant factors this Friday.
DRAFTKINGS VALUE PICKS (Based on Standard $50K Salary Cap)
DraftKings Tier 1 Values
Austin Hill - $10,700
Sheldon Creed - $10,400
John Hunter Nemechek - $10,200
Brett Moffitt - $10,000
DraftKings Tier 2 Values
Tyler Ankrum - $9,800
Stewart Friesen - $9,400
Christian Eckes - $9,100
Ben Rhodes - $8,900
DraftKings Tier 3 Values
Matt Crafton - $8,800
Zane Smith - $8,600
Riley Herbst - $8,500
Raphael Lessard - $8,000
DraftKings Long-Shot Values
Johnny Sauter - $7,800
Timothy Peters - $7,600
Kaz Grala - $7,100
Austin Wayne Self - $6,100
My Picks
Austin Hill - $10,700
Brett Moffitt - $10,000
Chandler Smith - $8,100
Raphael Lessard - $8,000
Kaz Grala - $7,100
Austin Wayne Self - $6,100
Austin Hill finished fifth on the Daytona Road Course last season and will be starting back in 20th position this week. He led one lap in last year's race and should be a driver who moves forward to score fantasy players finish differential points. Moffitt was last year's runner-up. He and Creed led the most laps that day. He starts farther back this year in 21st position, which should also net fantasy players even more finish differential points. Chandler Smith will make his first start on a road course in the Trucks this week. He raced in the ARCA Series on this track last season and finished ninth. He will start eighth this week. Last year's third-place finisher was Raphael Lessard. The GMS Racing driver led three laps in that race and starts just outside of the top 10 in 12th this time. Kaz Grala scored a seventh-place finish on this track last season in the NASCAR Cup Series while substituting for Austin Dillon. He also finished fourth at Elkhart Lake last season in the Xfinity Series. He is an established road course racer and is poised to give fantasy owners a nice boost from his 24th-place starting position. The last selection for this lineup is Austin Wayne Self. The AM Racing driver started 23rd and finished 11th in this race last season and will start 14th this time.
