This article is part of our NASCAR DFS series.
LiftKits4Less.com 200
Location: Darlington, S.C.
Course: Darlington Raceway
Format: 1.37-mile oval
Laps: 147
Race Preview
Toyota added another race win to its 2021 tally with Kyle Busch winning at Kansas Speedway last week. The manufacturer has won every NASCAR Camping World Trucks Series race so far this season and is approaching its record of 10 consecutive victories to open a season from 2014. This week they'll have to do it at Darlington Raceway. Ben Rhodes won at Darlington in a Toyota last season, and two Toyotas have a lock on the front row for this week's race with John Hunter Nemechek and Austin Hill starting first and second. Last year's race was the first at Darlington for the series since 2011. Rhodes started fifth and led just four laps in the victory while Brett Moffitt led all but three other laps that day. The race featured seven cautions for 35 laps and ended with an overtime finish.
Key Stats at Darlington Raceway
- Number of races: 7
- 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
2020 - Ben Rhodes
2011 - Kasey Kahne
2010 - Todd Bodine
2004 - Kasey Kahne
2003 - Bobby Hamilton
2002 - Ted Musgrave
2001 - Bobby Hamilton
Darlington Raceway is notoriously tough on tires. The surface will challenge drivers throughout fuel runs, and four-tire stops will be the choice every time the trucks come to pit road. 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 importance of fresh tires makes gambling to go off strategy a risky move without many caution periods to assist. Picking up places on pit road under yellow, or having newer tires than others will be the best ways to make up ground or consolidate a lead.
DRAFTKINGS VALUE PICKS (Based on Standard $50K Salary Cap)
DraftKings Tier 1 Values
John Hunter Nemechek - $11,000
Grant Enfinger - $10,700
Parker Kligerman - $10,400
Sheldon Creed - $10,100
DraftKings Tier 2 Values
Austin Hill - $9,800
Zane Smith - $9,600
Matt Crafton - $9,400
Ben Rhodes - $9,200
DraftKings Tier 3 Values
Stewart Friesen - $8,800
David Gilliland - $8,400
Tyler Ankrum - $8,200
Jordan Anderson - $8,000
DraftKings Long-Shot Values
Johnny Sauter - $7,800
Spencer Davis - $7,400
Timmy Hill - $7,200
Tanner Gray - $6,600
My Picks
Grant Enfinger - $10,700
Sheldon Creed - $10,100
Stewart Friesen - $8,800
Johnny Sauter - $7,800
Todd Gilliland - $7,700
Hailie Deegan - $4,800
Grant Enfinger gets another start on his part-time schedule this week at Darlington. He finished 11th or better in his five most recent starts and finished fourth at this track last season. Sheldon Creed will start 15th Friday night. He led 82 laps at the track last season and finished fifth at Atlanta earlier in the season, which is another track with a rough surface like Darlington. Stewart Friesen is another Toyota driver, and he is consistently scoring top-15 finishes. He will start seventh this week and he finished eighth at the track last season. This week's race could be a good opportunity to grab his third top-10 finish of 2021. Johnny Sauter has been moving up the standings with three top-10 finishes in the last five races. He will start sixth in this week's race. He suffered an engine failure at Darlington last season but has two prior top-10 Darlington finishes. Three top-10s in a row have Todd Gilliland in playoff contention. He will start fifth in this race and finished seventh at the track last season. Hailie Deegan is a bit of an unknown at Darlington, having never raced there in the series, but she has been improving every week and has shown genuine speed this season. She will start 10th Friday night and is a risk worth taking for her discount price.
