This article is part of our NASCAR DFS series.
Quaker State 400 Available at Walmart
Location: Hampton, Ga.
Course: Atlanta Motor Speedway
Format: 1.5-mile quad-oval
Laps: 260
NASCAR Quaker State 400 Available at Walmart Race Preview
One week after racing through the streets of downtown Chicago, the NASCAR Cup Series turns its attention to Atlanta Motor Speedway and superspeedway-like drafting action. Australian Supercars veteran Shane Vin Gisbergen's historic win at Chicago leaves the playoff standings relatively unchanged, and the number of drivers still capable of joining the top 16 through a win or points continues to leave everything on the table. Eight races remain for drivers to firm up those playoff positions and anything is possible this week at Atlanta.
Joey Logano dominated the spring race at the track from pole position. He led 140 laps that afternoon to claim his first win at the track and his first and only win of the 2023 season. Hendrick Motorsports will be working hard to make sure that doesn't happen again, though. That organization won both races at the track last season, and Logano's victory came at the time the Chevrolet-powered teams were the favorites. Chevrolet has won the last two races heading into the weekend, and the manufacturer has their sights set on returning to their early dominance when they won four consecutive races to start the season.
Key Stats at Atlanta Motor Speedway
- Number of races: 118
- Winners from pole: 16
- Winners from top-5 starters: 64
- Winners from top-10 starters: 92
- Winners from 21st or lower starters: 8
- Fastest race: 166.633 mph
Previous 10 Atlanta Winners
2023 spring - Joey Logano
2022 fall - Chase Elliott
2022 spring - William Byron
2021 fall - Kurt Busch
2021 spring - Ryan Blaney
2020 - Kevin Harvick
2019 - Brad Keselowski
2018 - Kevin Harvick
2017 - Brad Keselowski
2016 - Jimmie Johnson
Atlanta's reconfiguration with steeper banking has dramatically changed the track's racing to put it more in line with Daytona and Talladega than the other 1.5-mile ovals on the calendar. The closer racing creates the packs of traffic that challenge drivers to be in perfect every moment. That closeness also has generated more cautions. As drivers work to maneuver through the pack and become more aggressive, the tendency for crashes to occur ramps up. Unfortunately, the passes throughout the pack haven't translated as readily to passes for the lead. Winners have tended to lead around 100 laps on their way to Victory Lane now, which means most of the action happens deeper in the field. Like the other superspeedways, quick work on pit road is an advantage and that can mean the difference between winning and losing this Sunday. With clean air at the front of the field being one of the biggest advantages, teams will be vying to qualify as well as possible or make gains through that pit work. Those that miss the mark on Saturday will be forced to find a way to do something that hasn't happened much at Atlanta recently - make a pass for the lead.
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DraftKings Value Picks for the Quaker State 400 Available at Walmart (Based on Standard $50K Salary Cap)
DraftKings Tier 1 Values
Kyle Busch - $10,500
Chase Elliott - $10,400
Kyle Larson - $10,200
Joey Logano - $10,100
DraftKings Tier 2 Values
Denny Hamlin - $9,900
Ryan Blaney - $9,700
William Byron - $9,500
Ross Chastain - $9,400
DraftKings Tier 3 Values
Brad Keselowski - $9,000
Chris Buescher - $8,600
Tyler Reddick - $8,500
Bubba Wallace - $8,300
DraftKings Long-Shot Values
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. - $7,900
Ty Gibbs - $7,600
Austin Cindric - $7,300
Austin Dillon - $6,400
NASCAR DFS Picks for the Quaker State 400 Available at Walmart
Lower-Risk Lineup ($50K Salary Cap)
Kyle Busch - $10,500
Ryan Blaney - $9,700
Bubba Wallace - $8,300
Ty Gibbs - $7,600
Aric Almirola - $7,500
Austin Dillon - $6,400
Kyle Busch's (DK $10,500, FD $12,500) pairing with Richard Childress Racing pushes him to the top of superspeedway consideration. The team has consistently produced some of the most capable cars in the draft, and with Busch's skill behind the wheel he should be poised for a top finish. He is a two-time Atlanta winner and, more importantly, finished 10th in the March race with seven laps led. Ryan Blaney (DK $9,700, FD $9,500) is another driver that rises to the top of the selections at superspeedways. He won at Atlanta in 2021 and led laps in each of the last three races at the track. With five finishes of seventh or better from his last six Atlanta starts, Blaney offers big potential this week. Similarly, Bubba Wallace (DK $8,300, FD $8,200) is known for his abilities in the draft. He worked his way to 15th in the standings with four top-five finishes this season. Last week's street course did not play to his strengths, but this week's trip to Atlanta will. Wallace has no top-10 Atlanta finishes, though. He was 27th in the spring after crashing. If he avoids the trouble he should be in contention for the top 10 this week.
Ty Gibbs (DK $7,600, FD $8,000) also brings top-10 potential to lineups this week. He impressively drove from the 35th starting position in March to a ninth-place finish. That was one of his five top-10 finishes so far in 2023, and after claiming another last week at Chicago he should be full on confidence. Superspeedway potential is not stranger to Aric Almirola (DK $7,500, FD $5,200), either. Almirola's luck has not been great in 2023, but he has found the most success in his career in pack-style racing. That is just what Atlanta delivers, and this week could be Almirola's chance to turn this difficult season around. This race could also favor Austin Dillon (DK $6,400, FD $6,000). Like Almirola, he is another driver looking for a turn of fortune. His success in the past at Daytona is indicative of his potential this week. He will have to move beyond last week's missed opportunity at Chicago, though.
Higher-Risk Lineup ($50K Salary Cap)
Chase Elliott - $10,400
Ross Chastain - $9,400
Alex Bowman - $8,100
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. - $7,900
Austin Cindric - $7,300
Corey Lajoie - $6,500
Chase Elliott (DK $10,400, FD $11,000) is still seeking the victory that would put him into the championship playoffs. There would be no better place to get that job done than at his home track. He won this race from pole position last season and only failed to finish in the top 10 at the track twice in his nine series starts. Elliott has been inching toward Victory Lane in recent weeks. This could be the breakthrough. Ross Chastain (DK $9,400, FD $11,500) got his breakthrough win at Nashville, but that won't diminish his chances this week. He finished second in two of the last three Atlanta races and led a total of 79 laps in the span. Chastain's aggressive driving style can pay dividends in the draft, and that is where his potential to perform well this week comes from. A driver hoping Atlanta can help his change his fortune is Alex Bowman (DK $8,100, FD $7,800). Bowman is 20th in the championship standings and has been relatively inconsistent since returning from injury. He is looking for consistent top-15 finishes. The Hendrick success at the track last season could give him a boost this time. He finished 14th in the March race.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (DK $7,900, FD $6,800) is another superspeedway racer that fantasy players should consider at Atlanta. He already had success this year at Daytona and is looking to build consistency and momentum for the playoffs. He only has one prior top-10 at this track, but has led laps in every start since the reconfiguration to a superspeedway. Another Daytona 500 winner poised to perform this week at Atlanta is Austin Cindric (DK $7,300, FD $5,800). With a top-10 finish last week at Chicago, Cindric has the chance of back to back weeks at tracks that suit his strengths. Cindric has led laps in the last two Atlanta races and finished third and 11th in those starts. Lastly, Corey Lajoie (DK $6,500, FD $4,500) should be seen as a value play at Atlanta. He has a knack for being in the mix at the end of superspeedway races and Atlanta is evidence of that. Having never scored a top-10 at the track prior to its reconfiguration, he now has two top-fives in the three races since.
