Before the start of the NASCAR Hall of Fame 200 at Martinsville Speedway last Friday Grant Enfinger was on the outside looking in on the playoff race. Enfinger entered the race in a must-win situation after he dealt with engine issues at Texas Motor Speedway which dropped him into the sixth spot in the standings. This was his fourth win of the season after winning earlier this year at Daytona International Speedway, Atlanta Motor Speedway, Richmond Raceway, and then Martinsville Speedway. Enfinger with his win will join Sheldon Creed, Brett Moffitt, and Zane Smith in the Championship Four race this week at Phoenix Raceway. It was n exciting race that was cultivated by its final 10 laps of chaos. Martinsville has always been notorious for its rough-and-tumble high-action brand of racing. Enfinger was able to hold off Ben Rhodes by 0.8 of a second. Rhodes would have moved on to the next round if he had of been able to get past Enfinger. Major lap leaders on the day were Creed with 65, Enfinger with 49, Johnny Sauter with 39, Smith with 20, and Raphael Lessard with 10. The biggest surprise or unexpected turn of events on the night was when regular season winner Austin Hill had his night finished on lap 117 of 200. It was a difficult end to a great season and title bid for Hill who had led in points since week two of the season.
Today’s free pick is the driver of the Halmar Friesen Racing Number 52 Stewart Friesen ($8,600 DK). Friesen is the reigning champion of the fall NASCAR Gander RV and Outdoors Truck Series race at Phoenix Raceway. In last years race Friesen was assessed a penalty at the very beginning of the race and wound up racing all the way to the front to win the race. Friesen has raced at Phoenix three times since the start of the 2017 season. In those three races he has one win in 2019, two top five finishes, 3 top ten finishes and has led 44 laps. His average start has been sixth place and his average finish has been fourth place. This season Friesen has three top five finishes and 11 top 10 finishes. This race would be an excellent way for Friesen to get his first win of the year in the season’s conclusion.
Starting at $5 per week subscribers can expect to find high value plays that are well priced on DraftKings. We have DFS Potential Dominators, DFS Place Differential Options and who to avoid for the upcoming Lucas Oil 150.
This is it, it is finally here, Championship weekend at Phoenix Raceway. Four drivers will race for the title over 150 laps this weekend. In starting position order, Grant Enfinger ($9,200 DK), Zane Smith ($9,800 DK), Sheldon Creed ($11,000 DK), and Brett Moffitt ($10,700 DK) will compete for the coveted championship. Of these drivers, only Moffitt has won at Phoenix before.
Potential Dominators
Brett Moffitt: The driver of the Number 23 GMS Racing Chevrolet Brett Moffitt ($10,700 DK) will start this week’s race in the fourth position. Moffitt is currently in the championship four and is racing to in the title Friday night. Moffitt has had an excellent season this year. He has one win at Kansas Speedway, 10 top five finishes, 15 top 10 finishes, and has led 391 laps. Outside of last week’s race at Martinsville, Moffitt has placed top five in seven of the last 10 races and top 10 in all but one. Moffitt has raced at Phoenix twice since the start of the 2017 season where he has placed first and 10th. In those two races his average start was 8.5 and his average finish was 5.5. Moffitt will be racing with two other GMS Racing teammates also in the Championship Four. This week is winner take all and I believe that Moffitt can get there.
DFS Place Differential Options
Austin Hill: This year’s regular season Champion, the driver of the Number 16 Hattori Racing Enterprises Toyota Austin Hill ($9,600 DK) will start off the Lucas Oil 150 in the 17th position. Hill has had a good year where he has two wins at Kansas Speedway and Las Vegas Motor Speedway, 11 top five finishes, 17 top 10 finishes and has led 348 laps. After finishing 35th at Martinsville Speedway in the final race of the round of eight, I expect Hill to want to try and prove that he should have been in the final four race this week. Starting late in the race gives appeal to Hill from DFS point of view. Hill having the most top five finishes this year makes him an attractive place differential point option, especially if he can race into the top five again this week. Phoenix Raceway has not been the kindest track to Hill in his career where he has only one top 10 finish, but I think this is the race that Hill can turn that around.
Johnny Sauter: Starting 16th for this week’s Lucas Oil 150 is Johnny Sauter ($7,800 DK). Sauter has the fifth most race wins in the NASCAR Truck Series with 24. Sauter has yet to find victory lane this year but he does have three top five finishes, eight top 10 finishes and has led 79 laps. At Phoenix Raceway Sauter has seen success over his career, he has one win, five top five finishes, nine top 10 finishes and has led 21 laps. Recently since the start of the 2017 season Sauter has raced in the top 10 in all three races. His average start being 11.7 and his average finish being 5.33. Look for Sauter to be able to crack into the top 10 or even top five for this weeks Lucas Oil 150.
DFS Picks to Avoid
Sheldon Creed: Starting third for the Lucas Oil 150 is playoff driver Sheldon Creed ($11,000 DK). Straight up, Creed has been excellent this year, his four wins and 560 laps led are all Truck Series highs for the year. At Phoenix however, Creed has not found the same success. In two races at Phoenix Raceway in his career Creed has an average Starting position of 9.5 and an average finishing position of 11. His two races ended up in 10th and 12th place finishes. At the tracks twin Richmond Raceway Creed has only managed a finish of 13th. Creed may be in the playoff hunt, but these short flat tracks have not been friendly to him in his career.
MY TOP-FIVE OVERALL AT PHOENIX RACEWAY
- Brett Moffit
- Matt Crafton
- Grant Enfinger
- Zane Smith
- Stewart Friesen
