Welcome to the Cup Series Setup for Fanduel. Here we will be breaking down the best plays for Fanduel purposes. My name is RyanLarkin88 and you can follow me @Larkin8 on twitter. This week the Cup Series is at Kentucky Speedway. The VIP Member Research Station and Domination Station will be ready to go for you to help create your lineups so be sure to check that out. Also, jump in the NASCAR VIP Slack and get some great insight into this weeks race.
This week is another one of those impound events. Picks are made before inspection with who I believe are best plays based on qualifying. Obviously an elite play starting in rear is a fantastic play if not stated here.
Top Tier Plays
Brad Keselowski
Brad has won here 3 times in 8 career Kentucky races. He has been incredibly fast all weekend with the fastest single lap in final practice as well as 3rd and 4th in 10 lap average in both practices. He starts 3rd so not much place differential here but he is a legit threat for win.
Joey Logano
Logano was a step off His teammate Keselowski in practice but that does not worry me one bit. He is starting 12th so he offers place differential where Keselowski doesn’t and I believe he is another strong contender for the win. Penske cars look great.
Alex Bowman
Bowman is now up to $11,200 so he is official a top tier driver. Dude has smashed had these intermediate 1.5 mile tracks this year including winning at Chicago last time out. He starts 22nd and I don’t see any reason he can’t contend for a top 5 or even another win.
Value Plays
Erik Jones
Erik Jones comes in at $8,800 which just seems way too low. He starts 21st and is a strong top 10 contender. He has raced at Kentucky twice in the Cup Series finishing 6th and 7th.
Ryan Blaney
Going to lead off with the fact Blaney was the clear cut fastest car late in the race in Chicago. Team Penske has been really fast on these tracks all year and I fully expect Blaney to have the speed to move towards the front. $10,400 is a little high for a value play but Starting 15th gives him some strong place diff upside. He finshed 2nd here last season as well. Lots of positive signs with Blaney.
Jimmie Johnson
Johnson’s last four 1.5 mile races have seen finishes of 4th, 8th, 6th and 5th. Jimmie along with all the HMS cars have been strong on this style track. He starts 13th and cost $9,700. This feels like the perfect place for him to get low ownership but knockdown another strong top 10 run.
Low Tier/Punts
Chris Buescher
If it is not broke don’t fix it. Buescher is just flat out out performing everyone of his contemporaries on the 1.5 mile tracks this year. Starting 26th with top 15 upside makes him a very solid play at only $6,500
Ty Dillon
I don’t love Ty by any means but there are very few strong plays in this area. He starts 27th and I believe he can sneak his way up to the 20th position. While this isn’t a massive point total it is solid and at $4,500 could be the right play if you need to go with multiple top tier plays. Super cheap.
This will conclude this edition of The Monster Energy Cup Series Setup for Fanduel. If you would like to reach out and talk NASCAR Follow me on twitter @Larkin8 and join me as well as our other DFS Army NASCAR contributors (Brady Miller, Taco, and NillyJay) in the NASCAR coaching channels.