After what was an eventful Daytona 500 last weekend, highlighted by Michael McDowell’s first win. Now, this weekend we stay at Daytona where the Cup Series drivers will now race the road course. Last year’s race on the Daytona Road Course was won by none other than the Road Race Maestro Chase Elliot. Elliot led 34 of 66 laps in last year’s race and there is no reason why he cannot do that again on Sunday. The running order top-five are Elliot, McDowell, Austin Dillion, Denny Hamlin, and Kevin Harvick. But enough of that, time to pick your lineup, and let’s go racing!
Below is a lineup that we believe can provide the best value for the O’Reilly Auto Parts 253 at Daytona International Speedway Road Course on 02/21/2021 (DraftKings Values)
| Driver #1 | Chase Elliot | $ 10,700 | $ | ||
| Driver #2 | Alex Bowman | $ 9,000 | $ | ||
| Driver #3 | Kurt Busch | $ 8,600 | $ | ||
| Driver #4 | $ 7,500 | $ | |||
| Driver #5 | $ 7,200 | $ | |||
| Driver #6 | $ 7,000 | $ |
Below is a lineup that we believe can provide the best value for the O’Reilly Auto Parts 253 at Daytona International Speedway Road Course on 02/21/2021 (Fanduel Values)
| Driver #1 | Chase Elliot | $ 14,000 | |
| Driver #2 | Alex Bowman | $ 9,000 | |
| Driver #3 | Kurt Busch | $ 9,000 | |
| Driver #4 | $ 8,000 | ||
| Driver #5 | $ 7,000 |
Chase Elliot: There is not much to say here. Chase Elliot has dominated road races the last three years. In eight Cup Series races, Elliot has won five of them, placed top five in six, top 10 in seven races, and has led 231 laps. His laps led total is more than the next two drivers; Martin Truex Jr. (142) and William Byron (71) have combined. With Elliot on the pole this week, this feels like a race where he could lead almost every lap. Elliot is turning into a great driver but he is already the best road race driver. For me, I will put Elliot in my lineup no matter the cost. 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 10 days ago.
Alex Bowman: After winning the pole for the Daytona 500 last weekend, Alex Bowman was treated to some Daytona luck and was involved in the lap 15 collision that took out a fair share of drivers. In eight races on road courses, Bowman has two top-five finishes, four top 10 finishes, and has led two laps. Bowman also has the DFS advantage of starting in the very back for this race. Bowman could be in for a lot of point differential points. From his starting position, I do not see why Bowman couldn’t race his way into the top 15 or even top 10 to go along with his 9.63 average finish at road races.
Kurt Busch: It always blows me away that Kurt Busch continues to be looked at as a middle-of-the-pack driver. Busch can drive. Busch will start this race in 17th and has plenty of potential to contend at the end of the game. Take this pick as my dark horse pick for the week. In his last eight road races, Busch has two top-five finishes, five top 10 finishes, and has an average finish of 10.13. Busch also comes at a very reasonable price.
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Below is a lineup that we believe can provide the best value for the O’Reilly Auto Parts 253 at Daytona International Speedway Road Course on 02/21/2021 (DraftKings Values)
| Driver #1 | Chase Elliot | $ 10,700 | $ | ||
| Driver #2 | Alex Bowman | $ 9,000 | $ | ||
| Driver #3 | Kurt Busch | $ 8,600 | $ | ||
| Driver #4 | Tyler Reddick | $ 7,500 | $ | ||
| Driver #5 | Cole Custer | $ 7,000 | $ | ||
| Driver #6 | Bubba Wallace | $ 6,300 | $ |
Below is a lineup that we believe can provide the best value for the O’Reilly Auto Parts 253 at Daytona International Speedway Road Course on 02/21/2021 (Fanduel Values)
| Driver #1 | Chase Elliot | $ 14,000 | |
| Driver #2 | Alex Bowman | $ 9,000 | |
| Driver #3 | Kurt Busch | $ 9,000 | |
| Driver #4 | Erik Jones | $ 8,000 | |
| Driver #5 | Tyler Reddick | $ 7,000 |
Tyler Reddick: After a great rookie season Tyler Reddick is looking to make another splash in the NASCAR Cup Series. Reddick finished 2020 with three top-five finishes and nine top 10 finishes. He is in for a good year. In the Busch Clash Reddick was able to turn a sixth place start into a fourth-place finish. In Reddick’s career, he has an average finish of 15 on road races. The sophomore is a really good driver and this could be his time to get his first win.
Erik Jones: In the first couple of races of the year, Erik Jones has shown that changing teams wouldn’t affect his performance. After being involved in the big crash on lap 15 of the Daytona 500 Jones in his number 43 car for Richard Petty Motorsports will be back to get back into the top 10 or even five. Jones has had some great success the last three years on road courses with three top-five finishes in eight races. Jones was the reigning Busch Clash Winner from 2020 before Kyle Busch won earlier this year. Jones showed he could climb the latter in the Go Bowling 235 at this same track last year as he started 20th and finished 11th. I think at his price this week he is a good value pick.
Cole Custer: In his rookie season Cole Custer was able to get his first career win, which for rookies is not the easiest thing to do. Custer raced on-road tracks twice last year. He did manage a ninth-place finish which is promising for him this week. In the Xfinity Series in 2019 Custer finished fourth and 13th in road races. I don’t see why Custer cannot compete for a top 10 finish in this Sundays race.
Bubba Wallace: There is a lot of hype about the new 23XI team owned by Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan and driven by Bubba Wallace. Wallace was right in the mix on the last lap of the Daytona 500 before wrecking on the last lap. Wallace has two top-five finishes at Daytona in his last six races. With a second-place finish to show off with. Wallace has not had the most success on road races but with his new team and new ride this could be the race we see a large improvement.
