Welcome to the Monster Energy Cup Series Preview. This week we will be looking ahead to the Cup Series race at Watkins Glen. 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! You can follow myself Ryan Larkin on twitter @Larkin8
Race Info
Watkins Glen is the second road course race of the 2019 season. The track is just under 2.5 miles long and runs clock-wise. The 2018 engine package will be utilized meaning 750 hp. Due to length of the track there are a low number of total laps. Also, the length of the track opens up the strategy game with teams pitting early to make sure they stay out front if caution were to come out. This can shake up the field for a period of time and mix up the lap leaders. Due to road racing being such a departure from the normal oval racing action we see weekly it is important to get as much info as possible on every driver. The DFS Army Research Station is the best place to get all the practice and track history info for each driver. Since the introduction of stages the road course races have run relatively caution free which has resulted in long run speed being key.
Cars will be impounded after qualifying on Saturday and inspected Sunday morning when the garage opens. The starting lineup will be unofficial until inspection is complete. Cars that do not pass on the first attempt will have their qualifying times disallowed.
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Quick Facts
Date: August 4th
Practice 1: Saturday 10:35 am ET.
Practice 2: Saturday 1:05 pm ET.
Qualifying: Saturday 6:40 pm ET.
Race: Sunday 3:00 pm ET.
Laps: 90 Stages: 20/40/90
Drivers: 40
Defending Champion: Chase Elliott
AVG. # of Cautions: 4 excluding stage breaks
AVG DNF’s: 3 per race
Lineup Building
Dominator / Top Tier
At only 90 laps you will want to play a max of two dominators but realistically only one dominator will be needed. Outside of last year we have actually seen the lead be shared by quite a few drivers with nobody leading more than 30 laps. This essentially makes it more about finishing position upside and place differential rather than being reliant on dom points. The obvious favorite to win this race is Martin Truex Jr. Truex in the last five road course races has 3 wins, a 2nd and got wrecked heading into the last corner while leading the Roval race last fall. He is a clear step above everyone on these tracks. Chase Elliott was able to take it to him last year here at The Glen and has shown great spend on the road courses as well. Other top contenders for the win will be Kyle Busch and Joey Logano.
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Mid to Low Tier
As normal any driver who offers great place differential is important. Being a specialty race track certain drivers have better upside than normal. Guys like Daniel Suarez, Mcdowell and Buescher all have run well here. Although Buescher has run good almost everywhere this year. With the elite plays being so expensive it will be important to make the most of those group hopefully hitting on value plays with top 15 or even top 10 ability. In general the Gibbs cars all seem to be better than most on the road courses giving extra value to Erik Jones, Denny Hamlin and affiliated team of Matt Dibenedetto.
Punts
The bottom tier cars have a much better chance of staying on lead lap. This keeps them in the race all the way until the last lap. While only a couple drivers posses top 25 potential on their own if there are a couple late race incidents these punts can gain a handful of spots boosting their overall value. Kligerman, Lajoie and Ty Dillon look to be the best plays under $6,000.
I will be giving my Fanduel Top Plays in a VIP article prior to the race.
I will also answer any questions you may have in the VIP Slack!
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.