This article is part of our NASCAR DFS series.
Sunoco 159
Location: Daytona, Fla.
Course: Daytona International Speedway
Format: 3.61-mile road course
Laps: 44
Race Preview
The NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Trucks visit Daytona International Speedway's road course with the other two national series in this week's Sunoco 159. It will be the first time the trucks have raced on a road course this season, and it could have big playoff implications with five races remaining until the knockout competition begins. Zane Smith enters the weekend as the most recent winner with his victory last week at Michigan, which leaves three spots left for nonwinners to earn enough points to take part in the championship battle. Brett Moffitt is the driver currently on the bubble with a healthy 45-point gap ahead of Derek Kraus. However, all it would take is one new winner to put Moffitt on the outside looking in.
Key Stats at the Daytona Road Course
- Number of races: 0
- 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: N/A
Recent Road Course Winners
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
The trucks primarily have done their road course racing at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park in recent seasons. Sunday's race will be the first on the Daytona road course, which could be one of the fastest road courses the series has ever visited. Daytona's layout has long straights and sweeping turns bookended by long full-throttle trips around the high-banked turns. Like most road courses, though, track position and pit strategy will be key. The long lap enables drivers to pit off sequence without losing a lap, and starting up front on restarts will be a heavy advantage as the race nears the finish.
DRAFTKINGS VALUE PICKS (Based on Standard $50K Salary Cap)
DraftKings Tier 1 Values
Alex Tagliani - $10,800
Kris Wright - $10,500
Mike Skeen - $10,200
Matt Crafton - $10,000
DraftKings Tier 2 Values
Johnny Sauter - $9,800
Parker Kligerman - $9,600
Austin Hill - $9,400
Brett Moffitt - $9,300
DraftKings Tier 3 Values
Grant Enfinger - $8,900
Stewart Friesen - $8,800
Christian Eckes - $8,600
Ben Rhodes - $8,400
DraftKings Long-Shot Values
Tyler Ankrum - $8,000
Raphael Lessard - $7,700
Ty Majeski - $7,200
Scott Lagasse Jr. - $6,400
My Picks
Kris Wright - $10,500
Mike Skeen - $10,200
Brett Moffitt - $9,300
Raphael Lessard - $7,700
Scott Lagasse Jr. - $6,400
Tyler Hill - $5,900
Kris Wright is a road course specialist who finished second in the Daytona 24-hour race last season in an LMP2 machine for Performance Tech Motorsports. He starts 26th for Sunday's race and should be one of the drivers fantasy owners can expect to move forward. Similarly, Mike Skeen is a veteran sports car racer and should scythe his way through the field from the 38th starting position. He finished 12th last year in the Watkins Glen round of the IMSA Weathertech Sportscar Championship in an Audi R8. That was his only start in the series last season. Brett Moffitt is the full-time trucks driver looking for a win to guarantee his spot in the championship playoffs. He won last season's road course visit to Canada. Raphael Lessard will start 10th on Sunday and has finished 16th or better in his last five starts in the series. Scott Lagasse will be making his first truck start of the season this week and will line up 30th on Sunday. It was announced he would share driving duties for the No. 30 Toyota Tundra with Danny Bohn for the remainder of the 2020 season. Finally, Tyler Hill will make his sixth truck start of the season. In five races this season he has three finishes of 21st or better. He has his best starting spot of the season of 10th, and fantasy owners should watch to see how he leverages that track position to possibly score his best result of the year.
