This article is part of our NASCAR DFS series.
South Carolina Education Lottery 200
Location: Darlington, S.C.
Course: Darlington Raceway
Format: 1.37-mile oval
Laps: 147
Race Preview
The NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series visits Darlington Raceway this week for the first time since 2011. The series has raced six total times at the historic track, and Kasey Kahne and Bobby Hamilton are the only multiple-race winners at the circuit. Only four drivers in this week's field have prior truck starts at the track with Matt Crafton leading the group with six. Brett Moffitt and Sheldon Creed will start on the front row, but the race has never been won from pole. Five spots in the playoff field have been taken, leaving five remaining positions to be filled over the next two races.
Key Stats at Darlington Raceway
- Number of races: 6
- Winners from pole: 0
- Winners from top-5 starters: 4
- Winners from top-10 starters: 5
- Winners from 21st or lower starters: 0
- Fastest race: 133.645 mph
Previous Darlington Winners
2011 - Kasey Kahne
2010 - Todd Bodine
2004 - Kasey Kahne
2003 - Bobby Hamilton
2002 - Ted Musgrave
2001 - Bobby Hamilton
Darlington Raceway is a difficult circuit where track position and tire wear have a large impact on the outcome. Drivers will aim to make quick work of traffic, and fresh tires will enable those passes to happen. Passing is difficult at the circuit, but pit strategy will almost always lean toward fresh tires. The importance of fresh tires can make going off strategy a risky move without caution periods to assist. Picking up places on pit road under yellow, or having fresher tires than others are typically the best ways to make up ground at the circuit.
DRAFTKINGS VALUE PICKS (Based on Standard $50K Salary Cap)
DraftKings Tier 1 Values
Johnny Sauter - $11,000
Christian Eckes - $10,600
Chandler Smith - $10,300
Sheldon Creed - $10,100
DraftKings Tier 2 Values
Austin Hill - $9,900
David Ragan - $9,700
Zane Smith - $9,500
Matt Crafton - $9,300
DraftKings Tier 3 Values
Brett Moffitt - $8,900
Grant Enfinger - $8,700
Ben Rhodes - $8,500
Greg Biffle - $8,100
DraftKings Long-Shot Values
Derek Kraus - $7,900
Trevor Bayne - $7,600
Ty Majeski - $7,400
Austin Wayne Self - $6,900
My Picks
David Ragan - $9,700
Matt Crafton - $9,300
Ben Rhodes - $8,500
Greg Biffle - $8,100
Ty Majeski - $7,400
Austin Wayne Self - $6,900
While Darlington is a difficult track to pass one, fantasy players should expect David Ragan to move forward from his last-place starting position. Ragan has 13 Darlington starts in the Cup series with a best finish of fifth. Matt Crafton is one of the five drivers secure in the playoffs and has four top-10s from six series Darlington starts. Ben Rhodes will start fifth on Sunday and has not finished lower than 15th since Miami all the way back in June. Another former Cup series driver, Greg Biffle, returns to the truck series this week, too. Biffle will make his first series start in a year this weekend. He won his last race at Texas for Kyle Busch Motorsports and will start 20th on Sunday. Ty Majeski grabbed his third top-10 of the season last week at Gateway and will start 12th on Sunday. Austin Wayne Self takes the final roster spot with two top-15 finishes in the last five races. He will start 24th on Sunday, which gives him the potential to score additional points for finish differential.
