This article is part of our NASCAR DFS series.
Bank of America ROVAL 400
Location: Concord, N.C.
Course: Charlotte Motor Speedway
Format: 2.28-mile road course
Laps: 109
Race Preview
Kyle Busch and Brad Keselowski are the only two drivers breathing easily this week with their spots in the round of 12 secure with victories. This week's race holds many unknowns, which puts extra pressure on an already stressful situation as drivers maneuver to advance in the playoffs. This is the first time the championship fight includes a road course race, the first race on Charlotte Motor Speedway's road course, and it just happens to be the final race of the round of 16. The entire playoff field was hoping to be securely in the next round prior to this weekend, and the 14 who are not will be feeling the heat. The season has already seen two road course races, with Chase Elliott and Martin Truex Jr. prevailing in those contests. This course will be different, and the added pressure of the playoffs should only add to the spectacle. Denny Hamlin, Erik Jones, Jimmie Johnson and Clint Bowyer are currently in the danger zone, but only 35 points segregate 16th in the standings from ninth. Fantasy owners can expect every point to be hard fought this week.
Key Stats at Charlotte Motor Speedway (road course)
• Number of previous 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
Last 10 Road Course Winners
2018 Watkins Glen - Chase Elliott
2018 Sonoma - Martin Truex Jr.
2017 Watkins Glen - Martin Truex Jr.
2017 Sonoma - Kevin Harvick
2016 Watkins Glen - Denny Hamlin
2016 Sonoma - Tony Stewart
2015 Watkins Glen - Joey Logano
2015 Sonoma - Kyle Busch
2014 Watkins Glen - A.J. Allmendinger
2014 Sonoma - Carl Edwards
The Charlotte Motor Speedway infield road course is a combination of the oval and the infield. The layout is 2.28 miles in length and features 17 turns. Teams have been testing the layout since the summer, and many have come away saying that they expect chaos. Part of what makes the circuit so daunting is the lack of runoff room normally seen at other courses. Being situated inside a preexisting oval with immovable walls means little room to add gravel pits or extensive areas of grass to allow cars to slide and return to action. Any off-track excursion this weekend will likely involve contact, which could drive the attrition rate higher than we've seen at most races. Also, the strategies teams will employ haven't had multiple iterations of trial and refinement. We are likely to see a wide array of pit and tire strategies that attempt to maximize point gains and put drivers in position to advance. Practice and qualifying will be key indicators for fantasy owners to pay close attention to as they determine their lineups. The short lap count and twisty nature would, at least preliminarily, suggest drivers starting at the front are most likely to finish out front.
DRAFTKINGS VALUE PICKS (Based on Standard $50K Salary Cap)
DraftKings Tier 1 Values
Kevin Harvick - $11,700
Kyle Busch - $11,400
Martin Truex Jr. - $11,100
DraftKings Tier 2 Values
Chase Elliott - $10,500
Kyle Larson - $10,100
Clint Bowyer - $9,500
Kurt Busch - $9,000
DraftKings Tier 3 Values
Joey Logano - $8,800
Daniel Suarez - $8,100
A.J. Allmendinger - $7,700
Alex Bowman - $7,100
DraftKings Long-Shot Values
Trevor Bayne - $6,500
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. - $6,200
Michael McDowell - $6,100
Daniel Hemric - $5,600
MY PICKS THIS WEEK
Lower-Risk Lineup ($50K Salary Cap)
Kyle Busch - $11,400
Kurt Busch - $9,000
Jimmie Johnson - $8,600
A.J. Allmendinger - $7,700
Erik Jones - $7,400
Daniel Hemric - $5,600
Kyle Busch is arguably one of the more predictable fantasy plays in this weekend of unknowns. Busch is an excellent road racer with wins at Watkins Glen and Sonoma. He was quick in practice, and fantasy owners should expect him to move forward from his qualifying spot. Brother Kurt Busch took the first pole at this course and is a great road course racer in his own right. He doesn't have a Watkins Glen victory, but he has won at Sonoma. This weekend could be Johnson's opportunity to get back to form. He was fast in practice and qualified well. Fantasy owners should look for him to outperform recent expectations on Sunday. What road course lineup would be complete without Allmendinger? He lost his ride this past week but remains one of the best on these types of circuits. Jones has also shown speed this weekend and could be one of the most underrated road course racers in the series. He starts 12th on Sunday. The biggest surprise so far has been Hemric. The future driver of the No. 31 machine was among the top 10 in practice and qualifying, and will start Sunday's race 11th. He got the hang of this circuit early, which makes him one of the biggest values available for fantasy players this Sunday.
Higher-Risk Lineup ($50K Salary Cap)
Martin Truex Jr. - $11,100
Chase Elliott - $10,500
Daniel Suarez - $8,100
Alex Bowman - $7,100
Chris Buescher - $6,700
Trevor Bayne - $6,500
Truex is always a threat at the road course races, and that is why he heads the higher-risk lineup for Charlotte. He will start 13th but should be one of the more reliable options among the playoff contenders this weekend. Elliott is the most recent road course winner in the series, and he out qualified most of his playoff competition to start fourth on Sunday. Fantasy players should always keep an eye on Suarez when the schedule offers a road course race, and this week is no different. He has had a relatively quiet weekend so far, but should be clean and smooth throughout what could be a race of attrition on Sunday. Bowman had a terrific qualifying effort, and will start third for his sixth road course race in the series. He has one top-10 finish at Sonoma, but may be confident of adding another this week. Buescher and Bayne both would be drivers that fantasy owners should expect an uptick from this week. Both had great qualifying and practice efforts, and will be eyeing this week's race as an opportunity to put their names among the championship contenders. This is a week fantasy owners should take advantage of their lower salary costs.
