Welcome to the Monster Energy Cup Series Preview. I’m Ryan Larkin and you can follow me on twitter @Larkin8. This week we will be looking ahead to the Cup Series race at Kentucky. If you are just finding the DFS Army and are not a VIP member sign up and use code LARKIN to save 20%!! Our DFS Army VIP members get access to the Domination Station and Research Station post qualifying. Also, VIP members get access to our VIP Slack and direct contact to the NASCAR coaches. Come join the best team in NASCAR DFS!
Race Info
The Cup Series kicks off the second half of the season this week in Kentucky. Kentucky is a 1.5 mil track so the 2019 aero and engine rule package will be in use once again. Kentucky was repaved a few years ago and has been relegated to a one lane track since that time. Due to this NASCAR and the track officials determined that it would be best to put down the PJ1 traction compound in the upper grooves of the track. This was done in an effort to produce more side by side racing. There is an expectation of long runs with very few natural cautions. Long run speed is always important in these situations. This week is an impound race with inspection happening post qualifying the day of the race. This means any team that fails inspection will have their qualifying time disallowed and fill start from the rear of the field. They will also be scored from the rear of the field for DFS purposes.
Quick Facts
Date: July 13th
Practice 1: Friday 11:30 am ET.
Practice 2: Friday 1:30 pm ET.
Qualifying: Friday 6:05 pm ET.
Race: Saturday 7:30 pm ET.
Laps: 267 Stages: 80/160/267
Drivers: 40
Defending Champion: Martin Truex Jr
Lineup Building
Dominator / Top Tier
Most lineups should look to play 2-3 dominators. There is likely to be some strategy plays with 2 tires on pit stops or if we get cautions mixed in between stages drivers pitting early and staying out at stage break. This will be what helps mix up the lap leaders through out the race. Harvick has been the fastest car on this track type all year and certainly should have similar speed again this week. Bowman has also been incredibly fast on this track type even winning last time out. The dominators we normally think of in Kyle Busch and Truex have struggled on these tracks as of late. The DFSArmy Research station is the best place to find past track history as well as recent history on a particular track type.
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Mid to Low Tier
Lots of top 10 potential below $9,000. Due to track position being at a premium I like drivers starting towards the front a little more than usual but as always place differential is the most important thing. The Hendrick cars have really put a lot of energy into running well on this track type and it has been paying off as of late. Bowman won at Chicago with all four cars finishing in the top 10. All 4 should be good again. Blaney, Jones, Bowyer and Suarez are other strong contenders.
Punts
Punts are going to have very little upside this week. Only way for any of these guys to really pay off would be if there were a lot of DNFs. It is definitely possible given the single lane nature of the track but the large amount of downforce the cars have this year have made them incredibly stable. The drivers are simply not wrecking as much this year which is leading to more and more long green flag runs.
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This will conclude this edition of The Monster Energy Cup Series Preview. If you would like to reach out and talk NASCAR Follow me on twitter @Larkin8 or of course Become a VIP member and join me as well as our other DFS Army NASCAR contributors (Brady Miller, Taco, and NillyJay) in the NASCAR coaching channels.