This article is part of our NASCAR DFS series.
In It to Win It 200
Location: Darlington, S.C.
Course: Darlington Raceway
Format: 1.37-mile oval
Laps: 147
Race Preview
Sheldon Creed kicked off the NASCAR Camping World Truck series playoffs with a win at Gateway. The victory guarantees him a spot in the next round of elimination races and was the perfect start for the GMS Racing driver. This week, the series heads to Darlington Raceway for the second time this season. It is the first time the track has hosted a playoff race for the Trucks, and Creed may be extra confident this week since he won at the circuit earlier this season. This will be just the ninth time the track has hosted the series, and while most of the previous winners have started in the top 10, none of those winners started from pole. Creed holds that starting position this week in part due to his victory at Gateway. Matt Crafton will line up alongside him on the front row, with last year's winner Ben Rhodes starting third.
Key Stats at Darlington Raceway
- Number of races: 8
- Winners from pole: 0
- Winners from top-5 starters: 5
- Winners from top-10 starters: 6
- Winners from 21st or lower starters: 0
- Fastest race: 133.645 mph
Previous Darlington Winners
2021 spring - Sheldon Creed
2020 - Ben Rhodes
2011 - Kasey Kahne
2010 - Todd Bodine
2004 - Kasey Kahne
2003 - Bobby Hamilton
2002 - Ted Musgrave
2001 - Bobby Hamilton
Tire management is a major factor for teams at Darlington. The rough surface is challenging for drivers throughout fuel runs, and four-tire stops will be the choice every time there is a pit road visit. Fresh tires will be a big advantage, and late restarts will bring trucks to pit road, sacrificing track position, to get a grip and speed advantage for the final miles. Drivers also need to navigate traffic. The unique track makes passing more difficult than usual, and lapped traffic in the final laps could also impact the battle for the lead. The spring Darlington race featured high attrition with nearly half the field failing to make it to the checkered flag. In order to be able to race for the win, teams will first need to survive until the finish.
DRAFTKINGS VALUE PICKS (Based on Standard $50K Salary Cap)
DraftKings Tier 1 Values
John Hunter Nemechek - $11,300
Sheldon Creed - $10,900
Zane Smith - $10,600
Austin Hill - $10,300
DraftKings Tier 2 Values
Todd Gilliland - $9,900
Ben Rhodes - $9,400
Matt Crafton - $9,200
Tyler Ankrum - $9,000
DraftKings Tier 3 Values
Josh Berry - $8,700
Johnny Sauter - $8,500
Stewart Friesen - $8,300
Spencer Davis - $8,100
DraftKings Long-Shot Values
Jordan Anderson - $7,900
Derek Kraus - $7,700
Carson Hocevar - $7,200
Hailie Deegan - $6,900
My Picks
John Hunter Nemechek - $11,300
Ben Rhodes - $9,400
Johnny Sauter - $8,500
Carson Hocevar - $7,200
Hailie Deegan - $6,900
Chase Purdy - $6,500
John Hunter Nemechek did not have the start to the playoffs he would have wanted, but he remains one of the most successful drivers on the circuit this season. He started on pole last time out at Darlington and finished eighth for one of his 12 top-10 finishes this season. Ben Rhodes has two Darlington starts in the Trucks and finished first and second in those starts. His win came last season and he led 34 laps in his runner-up finish earlier this year. He will start third this Sunday with a shot at winning his way into the next round of playoffs. Johnny Sauter missed out on making the playoff field and is now hunting for wins. That may be a good thing considering he got his third top-five of the season last time out at Gateway. With three top-10s from four Darlington starts, he should make an attractive fantasy option this week. Carson Hocevar is another playoff contender, and he finished 16th or better in the last nine races, too. He finished eighth at Gateway and lines up fifth this week. With a third-place finish earlier this year at Darlington, he makes another top selection for this week's race. Hailie Deegan scored her best ever finish in the series at Gateway with a seventh-place finish. She has continued to improve every week and should be poised to do the same at Darlington this week where she finished 20th in May. Chase Purdy finishes out the selections this week. He crashed out at Darlington in May but brings some consistency deep in the lower-price options having finished 17th or better in four of the last five races.
