This article is part of our NASCAR DFS series.
Toyota Save Mart 350
Location: Sonoma, Calif.
Course: Sonoma Raceway
Format: 1.9-mile road course
Laps: 110
Race Preview
Sonoma Raceway and the Toyota Save Mart 350 await the NASCAR Sprint Cup teams this week after a mid-season rest. The rolling course in the California wine country is the first of two road courses that make an appearance on the Sprint Cup calendar. Kyle Busch will enter this weekend's race as the defending race winner after turning in a stunning performance at the track last season en route to his first series title. However, Penske Racing's Joey Logano is the most recent winner after a dominant showing in Michigan two weeks ago. Sonoma could level the field for the teams chasing Joe Gibbs Racing, and this week's race could prove to be one of the most unpredictable of the season.
Key Stats at Sonoma Raceway
• Number of previous races: 27
• Winners from pole: 5
• Winners from top-5 starters: 15
• Winners from top-10 starters: 19
• Winners from 21st or lower starters: 2
• Fastest race: 83.624 mph
Last 10 Sonoma Winners
2015 - Kyle Busch
2014 - Carl Edwards
2013 - Martin Truex Jr.
2012 - Clint Bowyer
2011 - Kurt Busch
2010 - Jimmie Johnson
2009 - Kasey Kahne
2008 - Kyle Busch
2007 - Juan Pablo Montoya
2006 - Jeff Gordon
The long lap and narrow track at Sonoma make track position the key to having a successful day. The Sprint Cup cars aren't the most ideal machines for this type of course, and that means drivers often have to barge their way forward to make passes. Of course, the easiest passes are those made in the pits. The long lap allows teams to pit off sequence without losing a lap, and staggering stops to the leaders along with opportune cautions enable cars to leapfrog forward in the running order. Teams will attempt to make their cars as nimble as possible, but the punishment of throwing the car onto the curbs and braking hard into the turns to make passes can create an atmosphere for mechanical troubles as well. The road course races often produce surprise results.
DRAFTKINGS VALUE PICKS (Based on Standard $50K Salary Cap)
DraftKings Tier 1 Values
Kurt Busch - $10,700
Kevin Harvick - $10,400
Jimmie Johnson - $10,100
DraftKings Tier 2 Values
Dale Earnhardt Jr. - $9,700
Joey Logano - $9,500
Martin Trux Jr. - $9,300
Carl Edwards - $9,100
DraftKings Tier 3 Values
Denny Hamlin - $8,000
Jamie McMurray - $7,800
Ryan Newman - $7,500
Austin Dillon - $7,300
DraftKings Long-Shot Values
Paul Menard - $6,900
Aric Almirola - $6,500
Danica Patrick - $6,100
MY PICKS THIS WEEK
Lower-Risk Lineup ($50K Salary Cap)
Kurt Busch - $10,700
Jimmie Johnson - $10,100
Kasey Kahne - $8,700
Clint Bowyer - $7,700
Austin Dillon - $7,300
Regan Smith - $5,500
The highest driver rating at Sonoma belongs to Kurt Busch. He has four top-fives at the track in the last five races. To back him up in the lower-risk lineup we add Jimmie Johnson. The No. 48 driver hasn't failed to finish in the top 10 at Sonoma since 2008, giving fantasy owners two of the strongest drivers at the track. Next up is Kasey Kahne. He has been relatively inconsistent so far in 2016, but he's reliable at Sonoma with three straight top-10 finishes there. Another underperformer in 2016 making an appearance in this lineup is Bowyer. Some of his problems this weekend will be neutralized by the course, and he has five consecutive top-10s at Sonoma. Dillon has been knocking on the door of a win almost all season, and there's no reason he couldn't get the job done here this week. Regan Smith will cap off this option with a best Sonoma finish of 16th in 2011.
Higher-Risk Lineup ($50K Salary Cap)
Dale Earnhardt Jr. - $9,700
Joey Logano - $9,500
Martin Truex Jr. - $9,300
Carl Edwards - $9,100
Paul Menard - $6,900
Michael McDowell - $5,400
Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s two latest Sonoma finishes earn him the top spot in the higher-risk fantasy option. He finished third here in 2014 and seventh in 2015. Logano has also gained consistency at this track recently, and his fifth-place finish last season along with three total top-10s in the last five Sonoma races give him the second nod. The 2013 Sonoma winner was Martin Truex Jr., which makes him another top option this week, given his 2016 form. Edwards won this race in 2014, and has three top-fives at the track in the last five races. While Paul Menard has been lackluster so far this season, Sonoma could give him a chance for redemption. He finished fifth in 2014's race. Lastly, Michael McDowell finishes the lineup and can offer fantasy owners valuable points for his tendency to finish better than his start at this particular track.
