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How to Win your NASCAR DFS: Part One Scoring and Contests

Matt Sallows writes about NASCAR DFS
DOVER, DELAWARE – AUGUST 22: Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Wurth Ford, drives during the NASCAR Cup Series Drydene 311 at Dover International Speedway on August 22, 2020 in Dover, Delaware. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images/Pool via Icon Sportswire)

DFS is a great way to enjoy NASCAR racing and fantasy sports for the hobbyist, the enthusiast and the serious gambler. Over this series of articles, I am going to detail just what it takes to win at NASCAR DFS. NASCAR DFS is unique in that car manufacturers, track length, and track surface are all common variables that can change a race in many ways. A winning DFS strategy can be all that is needed to ensure you are in the top of your leagues on either FanDuel or DraftKings. 

When you play DFS NASCAR you will put together a team of six drivers on DraftKings and five drivers on FanDuel that you think will perform well for that race. As a note, drivers on FanDuel are almost always more expensive since you pick one less driver. For each race you will have a salary cap that you must stay under. Each driver has a specific dollar value that is assigned to them for each race. This value can change week by week and based on whether you choose to use FanDuel or DraftKings. 

On both FanDuel and DraftKings your goal is to create the best possible scoring lineup while staying under the salary cap. You will need to find the right mix of expensive and non-expensive drivers. Generally, I like to think that drivers with a price of greater than $9,000 are expensive picks and drivers below $8,000 are either cheap or value picks. Prior to picking your lineup you will need to decide which type of contest you want to participate in. The different types of contests are included below:

  • 50/50s and Double Ups: Where your goal is to score better than half of the contestants to double your entry fee.
  • Multipliers: You need to beat a certain number of people to multiply your entry fee. For example, you could multiply your entry fee by three or even five times.
  • Head to head: One user versus one user. Player with the highest score wins.
  • GPPs: These are guaranteed prize pools which usually offer massive top prizes regardless of how much you bet.
  • Leagues: Smaller GPP pools with regularly smaller prize amounts and fewer contestants. 

Scoring of course is a large part of NASCAR DFS. On the two sites FanDuel and DraftKings there are similarities on how racers are scored. Before we dive into how each is scored, think about how each differs or if your strategy would change. 

DraftKings Scoring

  • First Place:                              46 Points
  • Second Place:                          42 Points
  • Third Place – Last Place:       41-4 Points           
  • Place Differential:                    +/- 1 Points
  • Fastest Laps:                            0.5 Points
  • Laps Led:                                0.25 Points

FanDuel Scoring

  • First Place:                              43 Points
  • Second Place:                           40 Points
  • Third Place – Last Place:        38-1 Points           
  • Place Differential:                    +/- 0.5 Points
  • Laps Completed:                      0.1 Points
  • Laps Led:                                0.1 Points

You will notice that both; although similar have different scoring methods and each can generate their own specific strategy. They also each have a unique category. Laps completed on FanDuel and fastest laps on DraftKings. On DraftKings you may want to consider who had the fastest laps at qualifying and practice to optimize the 0.5 points awarded to the fastest driver each lap. Whereas on FanDuel your strategy might focus on who will complete a full race and finish top five. 

When you play DFS NASCAR you will put together a team of six drivers on DraftKings and five drivers on FanDuel that you think will perform well for that race. As a note, drivers on FanDuel are almost always more expensive since you pick one less driver. For each race you will have a salary cap that you must stay under. Each driver has a specific dollar value that is assigned to them for each race. This value can change week by week and based on whether you choose to use FanDuel or DraftKings.