This article is part of our NASCAR DFS series.
Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race
Location: Bristol, Tenn.
Course: Bristol Motor Speedway
Format: 0.53-mile oval
Laps: 500
Race Preview
After a week off, the NASCAR Sprint Cup converges on Bristol Motor Speedway. The annual night race is usually one of the most highly anticipated races of the season. The pressure is building as the Chase for the Championship draws near and the tight confines of Bristol Motor Speedway produces constant action on track. Perhaps the greatest pressure this week will be on Kyle Larson. The Ganassi Racing driver is on the cusp of being knocked out of Chase contention by Chris Buescher who has a win in his pocket and is a mere three points from the top 30. That isn't the only storyline to follow this week either. Dale Earnhardt Jr. remains sidelined as he recovers from a concussion, and a handful of other drivers are working hard to snap out of their slumps. The Chase is approaching and this week's race at Bristol could produce fireworks.
Key Stats at Bristol Motor Speedway
• Number of previous races: 111
• Winners from pole: 24
• Winners from top-5 starters: 65
• Winners from top-10 starters: 89
• Winners from 21st or lower starters: 5
• Fastest race: 104.589 mph
Last 10 Bristol Winners
2016 spring - Carl Edwards
2015 fall - Joey Logano
2015 spring - Matt Kenseth
2014 fall - Joey Logano
2014 spring - Carl Edwards
2013 fall - Matt Kenseth
2013 spring - Kasey Kahne
2012 fall - Denny Hamlin
2012 spring - Brad Keselowski
2011 fall - Brad Keselowski
Bristol's high banking and short lap length bunches cars together throughout the entire 500-lap distance. The action comes thick and fast, and any lapse in concentration can end someone's night. Drivers will want to avoid getting caught up in the mistakes of others, while avoiding mistakes of their own. There's no getting around the fact that traffic will be an issue to deal with, so it's imperative that teams put together setups that enable cars to be fast as they move up and down the banking. We saw the high line become the fastest route around the track in the spring, but the cooler temperatures of a night race could change that dynamic. The long pit road can compound mistakes if green-flag stops for repairs or penalties have to be endured. Some drivers will view this week's race as an opportunity to punch their ticket to the Chase, while others will merely hope to survive. Carl Edwards won here earlier this season, but Joey Logano has two wins in the last four.
DRAFTKINGS VALUE PICKS (Based on Standard $50K Salary Cap)
DraftKings Tier 1 Values
Kyle Busch - $10,600
Brad Keselowski - $10,200
Joey Logano - $10,000
DraftKings Tier 2 Values
Carl Edwards - $9,700
Martin Truex Jr. - $9,300
Matt Kenseth - $9,200
Kurt Busch - $9,000
DraftKings Tier 3 Values
Chase Elliott - $8,600
Kyle Larson - $8,500
Jamie McMurray - $7,600
Ryan Newman - $7,400
DraftKings Long-Shot Values
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. - $6,700
Casey Mears - $6,100
Chris Buescher - $5,900
MY PICKS THIS WEEK
Lower-Risk Lineup ($50K Salary Cap)
Carl Edwards - $9,700
Matt Kenseth - $9,200
Kurt Busch - $9,000
Tony Stewart - $8,300
Jamie McMurray - $7,600
Trevor Bayne - $6,200
After his domination of Bristol's spring race earlier this season it isn't hard to imagine why Edwards would lead the lower-risk lineup for Saturday's race. His teammate Kenseth has been one of the best drivers in recent history at the track as well. The pair has eight track wins between them, and both should be leading laps Saturday night. Kurt Busch equals his younger brother with five track wins, and he has been having a successful season to date. Busch also finished third at Bristol earlier this season. In his final season, Stewart is definitely ratcheting up the intensity. He missed the spring Bristol race due to injury, but has four top-five finishes in the last five races before last week's break. McMurray is in contention for a spot in the Chase for the Sprint Cup, and he also took home a 13th-place Bristol finish earlier this year. Bayne has seen a huge lift from Roush Fenway Racing's recent development. He ran fifth at Bristol in the spring and took his fifth top-10 finish of the season into the off week with him. He should be brimming with confidence this Saturday night.
Higher-Risk Lineup ($50K Salary Cap)
Kyle Busch - $10,600
Martin Truex Jr. - $9,300
Chase Elliott - $8,600
Kyle Larson - $8,500
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. - $6,700
Chris Buescher - $5,900
The current favorite to win Saturday's race leads the higher-risk lineup. Busch has been spectacular at Bristol, scoring five wins and 13 top-10s from 22 career starts. He crashed out in the spring, and will be anxious to make another visit to Victory Lane at one of his best tracks. Truex hasn't had the level of success at Bristol that Busch has, but he continues to improve. The current season has been his best to date and he should be able to improve upon his spring finish of 14th. Finishing inside the top five in his first Spring Cup race at Bristol was no small feat for Chase Elliott. It was a mature performance from one of the rising stars in the series and fantasy players should see this week's race at one of his best opportunities to visit Victory Lane as a rookie. Larson is still in the hunt for his first series win, too. At Bristol he has had some poor luck, but he does have three finishes of 12th or better from just five starts at the track. Fantasy players looking for bargains shouldn't have to look further than Stenhouse. He has one of the best average finishes at the track among active drivers along with a 16th-place finish earlier this season. Finally, Buescher is determined to make the Chase in his rookie campaign. His win at Pocono gives him one foot in the door, and now he just needs to push himself through the threshold. He should be working hard for a top-20 finish this week.
