As we head into Indy Road Course Race Week, we will have to look at drivers’ stats and history from other courses as we build our lineup this week. This week we are going to focus on finding value by looking at previous top contenders at road races the past couple of years. 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 Verizon 200 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Past Winners/Track Knowledge
It’s time for the NASCAR Series to take their best shot winning at the Indy Road Course. This will be the first time the Cup Series has raced at this road course in its history. This will be a 199.998-mile race where the drivers will be tasked with completing 82 laps around the Raceway. The Indy Road Course is a 2.439-mile Road Course, with an asphalt surface. This racecourse is home to 14 unique turns that will push drivers to the limit. The best part about the Indy Road Course is that each turn has its own set of challenges that the drivers must overcome. 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 20 laps, stage two is 20 laps, and stage three is 42 laps. Let’s look at how drivers have fared at similar tracks to build our winning lineup.
Below is a lineup that we believe can provide the best value for the Verizon 200 at the Brickyard atIndianapolis Motor Speedway on 08/15/2021 (FanDuel Values)
| Driver #1 | Chase Elliot | $14,000 | |
| Driver #2 | William Byron | $11,000 | |
| Driver #3 | $ | ||
| Driver #4 | $ | ||
| Driver #5 | $ |
A-List Premium Price Drivers
Chase Elliot ($11,000 DK, $14,000 FD)
There is not much to say here. Chase Elliot has dominated road races the last three years. In 13 Cup Series races, Elliot has won seven of them, placed top five in 10, top 10 in 11 races, and has led 317 laps. His laps led total is almost more than the next two drivers; Martin Truex Jr. (180) and Kyle Larson (148) have combined. Elliot is likely going to start near the front this week, and like so many road races this year, has the feels that he could lead almost every lap, once he can get to the front, which for Elliot likely won’t take long. Elliot is turning into an elite level driver, but he is already the best road race driver, potentially ever. For me, I will put Elliot in my lineup no matter the cost at a road race. He is expensive but it will be worth your investment. Also, good to keep in mind that Elliot was under a mile away from winning the Busch Clash at the start of the year and won the road race at Circuit of Americas and Road America this year. And that he has won four of the last six road races. And he is coming off a second-place finish last week at Watkins Glen.
William Byron ($11,000 FD)
I think the value for William Byron is justified this weekend especially with how he has raced so far, this year. In 2021 s far, Byron has one win at Homestead-Miami, eight top five finishes, 15 top 10 finishes, and a has led 245 laps. After winning at Miami, Byron followed up with finishing top 10 in 11 straight races and top 10 in 12 of 16 races. Byron finished sixth at Watkins Glen last weekend which was his best finish this year at a road course. Byron is becoming one of the elite drivers in the cup series. I think Byron can be right in the mix of things by race end and at his price point I think he has a lot of value.
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Alex Bowman ($8,400 DK, $9,200 FD)
At the start of the year, I was a little unsure if Alex Bowman had what it took to step into Jimmie Johnsons shoes and drive the number 48 car for Hendricks motorsports. Bowman did however have a very successful 2020 that saw him finish sixth in points and a top-eight overall finish. Bowman won one race in 2020 as well as adding six top-five finishes and 15 top 20 finishes. Bowman has five Cup wins with Hendrick over the past three seasons. Bowman has three wins this year after winning a couple weeks ago at Richmond, Dover, and Pocono. I am a little shocked that Bowman comes this cheap. You would think that three races won this year would make his price point sky high. But who are we to complain, Bowman could be the best value pick of the week? Easy pick for a guy who averages a top 11 finish on road courses over the last three years. Bowman has two top five finishes and seven top 10 finishes on road courses over the last three years. This is great value, make sure you take advantage.
B-List Value Drivers
Chase Briscoe ($7,900 DK, $8,500 FD)
All year I have been very excited to see what rookie Chase Briscoe can do in this Number 14 Stuart Haas Racing Ford this season. He has not had the success I thought he might have had out of the gun, but he will come around. Briscoe finished his Xfinity career in 2020 with nine wins, four more then the five-race goal that he set for himself. He was especially great at road courses the last three seasons where he had two wins, three top five finishes, six top 10 finishes and led a series most 135 laps. Yeah, he was good. Briscoe has shown so far that he may need a couple of races to adjust to the new challenges that driving in the Cup Series presents, however, his 2020 success could indicate otherwise. Chase should still be a lock for contention for the Sunoco Rookie of the Year award and could very well be in the mix for a playoff spot in 2021. Look for him to have a good race this weekend. All you need to do is win one race, right.
Tyler Reddick ($7,600 DK)
I have been enjoying everything I have seen from Tyler Reddick since he burst onto the scene in 2018 and 2019 winning eight races in the Xfinity Series while also being back-to-back champion those two years. Reddick moved up to the Cup Series in 2020 and had a great rookie season with three top-five finishes and nine top 10 finishes. For me, anytime I see Reddick at this price range I think why not insert him into my lineup. With that as well, I don’t mind the price point for him either. Reddick has raced well in the Xfinity Series on road courses in the last three years. He has three top five finishes, four top 10 finishes, and top 20 in five of six races. In the Cup Series he has top 10 finishes in three of four road races. I think Reddick provides a lot of value for his middle of the pack price point.
Matt DiBenedetto ($7,400 DK, $7,000 FD)
As for star power, you are not getting that with Matt DiBenedetto. However, you are getting a driver who has finished on average better than he started in 23 races this year, while also adding two top five finishes and five top 10 finishes. After a up and down start to the season he has placed top 15 in the last five races including a top 10 finish at Road America. DiBenedetto will likely start this race near the middle of the pack now that we have qualifying back. I could see him being on the cusp of getting into the top 10 this week which could mean that he will be in for some point differential points. In 13 road races over the last three years DiBenedetto has one top five finish, three top 10 finishes and has finished top 20 in eight of them.
Now go win your matchup and let us know how you did.
Or if I picked every driver that will be in that lap 79 crash, I encourage you to let me hear it.
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