As we head into Iowa Race Week, we will have to look at drivers’ stats and history from other courses as we build our lineup this week. Another great part about this weekend is we are back to practice and qualifying. This week we are going to focus on finding value by looking at previous top contenders at this speedway. There are quite a few value drivers that you can insert into your lineup. Let’s now take a deep dive into who I think you can insert into your lineup for the Corn Belt 150 at Knoxville Raceway.
Past Winners/Track Knowledge
It’s time for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series to take their best shot winning at Road America. This will be a 75-mile race where the drivers will be tasked with completing 150 laps around the Raceway. Knoxville Raceway is a 0.50-mile Dirt Course, with a dirt surface. This will be the second dirt race this year for the Truck Series after previously competing at the Bristol Dirt Track. This will be the inaugural running of a Truck Series race at the raceway. Knoxville Raceway has a storied history and dates back to 1901. As stage points are becoming more coveted as the year goes on and racers, must win stages to get those oh so valuable stage points, racers will have three stages to try and get points. Stage one is 40 laps, stage two is 50 laps, and stage three is 60 laps. With Knoxville Raceway being a the second stop this year on dirt, we have a great reference point in the earlier dirt race at Bristol. Just like the race earlier this year, starting position will be determined by heats starting Friday night. Let’s sift through the data as we build out our winning lineup.
Below is a lineup that we believe can provide the best value for the Corn Belt 150 at Knoxville Raceway on 07/09/2021 (DraftKings Values)
| Driver #1 | Ben Rhodes | $ 9,300 | |
| Driver #2 | Todd Gilliland | $ 8,900 | |
| Driver #3 | $ | ||
| Driver #4 | $ | ||
| Driver #5 | $ | ||
| Driver #6 | $ 5,400 |
A-List Premium Price Drivers
Ben Rhodes ($9,300)
Before I even get into how he has done at this racetrack or how he did last year, just put Ben Rhodes in your lineup and move on. Rhodes is one of two drivers with more than one wins this year, along with John Hunter Nemechek. Rhodes pulled off wins at the first two races at Daytona this year. He then followed that up with three other top five finishes this year and had been electric all year. Rhodes was extremely close to winning at the last dirt race this year. Rhodes has been dynamite this year and for what it is worth he was pretty good last year too. I will say only, but how is he only worth $9,300 this week, blows me away. It must be that he finished second in the only other dirt race this year. The value here is astounding, not very often do you get the second-place driver in points for only $9,300. As I started earlier, just put him in your lineup and move on, you do not see value like this often.
Todd Gilliland ($8,900)
In his fourth season, full-time with the NASCAR Truck Series, Todd Gilliland has been off to a good start, currently in fifth place. In 13 races, he has finished 31st, fourth, 13th, 17th, fourth, sixth, sixth, 15th, first at Circuit of Americas, fifth, seventh, second, and seventh. It was exciting to see Gilliland get his second career win earlier this year. Gilliland has been good as of late, as you can see by his now five straight top 10 finishes. Overall, not bad. Gilliland has consistently the last two years raced to many top 15 performances. He has been constantly getting better and could be just around the corner from getting his third win of his career. In 2020 Gilliland finished with four top-five finishes, 10 top 10 finishes, and 98 laps led. A downgrade from his 2019 production but we all know 2020 was a difficult season for many reasons. Gilliland will look to add another top 10 finish to further bolster his claim to being a top five driver in the Truck Series. 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.
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B-List Value Drivers
Austin Hill ($8,700)
As a Truck Series driver who is still looking for his first win of the year; Austin Hill comes into this race on a bit of a hot streak in that Series. Ever since the Truck Series left Daytona Hill has finished top 10 in every race but Darlington, where he finished 13th. So far in the 2021 season Hill has five top five finishes, 10 top 10 finishes and surprisingly only 14 laps led. Plus, a top 10 finish in the Xfinity Series. Hill was a dominant racer in the 2019 and 2020 seasons where he had six wins, 18 top five finishes, 30 top 10 finishes and led 557 laps. One of Hill’s top 10 finishes this year came on dirt earlier this year.
Grant Enfinger ($8,500)
Picking part-time drivers in DFS has its pros and cons, but with how well Grant Enfinger has raced this season, honestly how can you not pick him. So far, in 2021 Enfinger has four top five finishes and seven top 10 finishes. I think it goes without saying that Enfinger’s best year in the Truck Series was 2020. As a full time, driver, he finished the season with four wins (Daytona, Atlanta, Richmond, and Martinsville), eight top-five finishes, 13 top 10 finishes, and 156 laps led. The four wins were a career high. I do not see why Enfinger cannot get into the top 10 this weekend. If he does you will be happy, he is in your lineup. 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 in your lineup while staying under budget.
Zane Smith ($8,100)
Statistically, I would say that Zane Smith is having a rather irregular 2021 season. So far in 2021, Smith has one top five finish, nine top 10 finishes while also leading 43 laps. He has been a little below his 2020 numbers where he had two wins, seven top five finishes, 13 top 10 finishes, and led 376 laps. It should only be a matter of time until Smith is able to break the top five again and even potentially get his first win of the year. Earlier this year in the Pinty’s Truck Race on Dirt Smith was able to finish seventh. A great effort by him. I really think Smith can repeat his success this week. Great value here.
C-List Sleeper Drivers
Austin Wayne-Self ($5,400)
Austin Wayne Self was finally able to put it all together at Darlington where he had his best finish of the year of ninth place. This was Self’s second top 10 of the year after he finished in 10th at the Bristol Dirt Track. Wayne Self put together another good performance at the Circuit of Americas where he turned a 29th place start into a 16th place finish. Wayne Self is likely to start in the back of the pack again this week which will put him in line to rack up point differential points if he can work his way into a top 15 or better finish, something he has done four times already this year. Self has also finished top 20 in all but two races. Self also comes with a dirt racing background. Look at this as a deep sleeper pick with boom potential.
Now go win your matchup and let us know how you did. Or if I picked every driver that will be in that lap 113 crash, I encourage you to let me hear it. Either way come find us on Twitter (@FantasyDFSX).
