NASCAR DFS Picks for the Pinty’s Truck Race on Dirt on March 27, 2021

This could turn out to be a very interesting race to watch on Saturday night. There is quite a mix of Cup, Xfinity, and Truck Series drivers who will be partaking in this race. There is going to be a lot of drivers who have never raced against the competition before, meaning there could be a lot of bumping and grinding. Oh, and did I mention that this race will be on dirt. If you follow dirt racing, the cars are built very different. Dirt cars are open wheel with a massive spoiler. There are quite a few drivers who wonder how their heavy cup racing cars will fair on the new surface. Hence of course why we have seven Cup Series drivers in this race, trying to learn the racetrack. Now, not every race has a favorite, this race does, and he is a heavy favorite. Kyle Larson is quietly known as a dirt racing phenom, in his year off last year he spent his time on dirt tracks and won a lot of races. Well he is back this year and is already having an excellent 2021 season. Larson is really expensive and I do not know if there are many lineup combinations that can fit him in your lineup, but if you want to take a risk and pick him I do not think you will be disappointed. 

I should mention that there is little to no reference material for this race. You are likely going to have to go with your gut. This might be a race where you just sit back and watch, but if you are like me and love to play DFS, here are my picks for this weekend’s Dirt Race at Bristol.

Below is a lineup that we believe can provide the best value for the Pinty’s Truck Race on Dirt at Bristol Motor Speedway on 03/27/2021 (DraftKings Values)

The favorites in this race are the following: Kyle Larson ($11,500), Chase Briscoe ($11,000), Stewart Friesen ($10,500), Sheldon Creed ($10,000), and Bubba Wallace ($9,700). I think at the top of your lineup you are safe picking any of the following drivers while staying under or around $21,000 for the two. Now of course you really need to find value at the back end of your lineup. I am going to pair Friesen and Creed at the top of my lineup. 

Stewart Friesen: As I mentioned earlier, a guy like Larson may be considered the best dirt racer and get a lot of the attention, but do not by any means count our Stewart Friesen. Friesen has been racing on dirt tracks his whole life, he grew up one dirt, was raised on dirt, and has quite the dirt racing resume. Friesen in his long career has over 300 wins on dirt modified races. That is pretty good, I would even say elite. Friesen also has an El Dora win in the Truck Series. Not many drivers in this race have a win on dirt to begin with and Friesen has over 300. Friesen has just as good or better chances of winning this race as anyone. 

Sheldon Creed: As one of the more dominant drivers in the Truck Series the last few years Sheldon Creed should be a dominant driver in this race. Creed has a long history on dirt tracks just like Friesen. Before Creed raced stock cars, he ran in both the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series and the Stadium Super Trucks Series, both on dirt. In the last Truck Series race at El Dora Creed finished second to Friesen. Creed has also participated in the ARCA Series dirt races four times where he has three top five finishes (Second, Second, fourth) and has placed top 10 in all four. Creed’s familiarity with dirt racing makes him a favorite this week and I do not think you will be disappointed with having him in your lineup this week. 

The only potential knock against Friesen and Creed this weekend is if the track races like an asphalt track and you could see the likes of Martin Truex Jr or Kevin Harvick dominate this race. 

Below is a lineup that we believe can provide the best value for the Pinty’s Truck Race on Dirt at Bristol Motor Speedway on 03/27/2021 (DraftKings Values)

Matt Crafton: As one of the series’ steady veterans you can always count on Matt Crafton to race his heart out. Coming into Bristol dirt racing weekend Crafton has said that he has put it a lot of work to prepare for this race. Outside of his win last year at Kansas, his last win came at El Dora, for a dirt race in 2017. Crafton started second in the race and led 24 laps. Crafton was able to beat some notable dirt racers, Stewart Friesen, Chase Briscoe, and Christopher Bell. As the 2020 season rolls along, Crafton has had a good start. In four races Crafton has one top five finish, while finishing top 10 in three of four races. Specifically, at Bristol the last three years Crafton has finished 10^th, seventh, and eighth respectively from 2020-2018. I think Crafton is priced well for this race, he provides a lot of value and has shown he can win on dirt. 

Grant Enfinger: Here is a driver who I think is being extremely undervalued this week. Grant Enfinger finished the 2020 season with four wins, eight top-five finishes, 13 top 10 finishes, while leading 156 laps. In three races so far in 2021, Enfinger has a top 10 finish at Las Vegas. Enfinger has raced at the dirt track El Dora three times in his career. In those races his worst finish has been fourth. That is pretty good if you ask me. Enfinger has also raced on the dirt tracks in the ARCA Menard Series where he three wins. Enfinger has consistently showed that he is an excellent dirt racer and I think he provides huge value this weekend. Enfinger is a classic example of a bang for your buck pick that helps you insert one of the top drivers like Friesen or Creed in your lineup while staying under budget. 

Todd Gilliland: In his fourth season, full-time with the NASCAR Truck Series, Todd Gilliland has been off to a decent. In four races, he has finished 31st, fourth, 13^th, and 17th. Overall, not bad. Now to get to dirt racing, Gilliland has raced twice in the Truck Series on Dirt at Eldora. In those two races, he finished 22^nd and fifth. I am going to focus on the race where he finished fifth in 2019. Gilliland started the race eighth and finished fifth. He has also won a couple dirt racing championships in his career when he was younger and used to race on dirt as a midget driver. There is a lot of value in this pick, his low price and history make him very appealing. 

Hailie Deegan: Currently in her rookie season in the NASCAR Truck Series, Hailie Deegan has yet to break the top 20 in a race. In the 2020 ARCA Menard season Deegan finished third in points and was awarded the Series Rookie of the Year award. She earned four top five finishes and 17 top 10 finishes. Deegan again is one of the few drivers that have won a dirt race in the past in a stock car. Deegan won at the Las Vegas Dirt Track in 2019. That’s more than most of the field. She also was the 2016 Lucas Oil Off Road Driver of the Year. Deegan comes at a very low price. A price that helps you get some top of the line drivers into your lineup this week. Take the value with her this week and go win yourself some money. 

Now go win your matchup and let us know how you did. Or if I picked every driver that will be in that lap 32 crash, I encourage you to let me hear it. Either way come find us on Twitter (@FantasyDFSX).