As we head into Pocono 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 Pocono Green 225 at Pocono Raceway.
Past Winners/Track Knowledge
It’s time for the NASCAR Series to take their best shot once again at defeating the “Tricky Triangle” at Pocono Raceway. This will be a 225-mile race where the drivers will be tasked with completing 90 laps around the Raceway. Pocono Raceway is a 2.5-mile Tri-Oval, with an asphalt surface. There are varying degrees of banking in each section of the raceway. Turn one has 14-degree banking, turn two has 8-degree banking, and turn three has 6-degree banking. The best part about Pocono 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 50 laps. With Pocono being a storied track with a long history there is a lot of data to sift through as we build out winning lineup.
Below is a lineup that we believe can provide the best value for the Pocono Green 225 at Pocono Raceway on 06/26/2021 (DraftKings Values)
| Driver #1 | Ty Gibbs | $ 10,800 | |
| Driver #2 | Daniel Hemric | $ 9,700 | |
| Driver #3 | $ | ||
| Driver #4 | $ | ||
| Driver #5 | $ | ||
| Driver #6 | $ |
A-List Drivers
Ty Gibbs ($10,800)
The rookie phenom is back racing in the Xfinity Series again as he continues his historic season. In seven races this year Ty Gibbs has two wins, finished top five in six of seven races, and has led 79 laps. You could argue that no one has been better then Gibbs this season based on his sample size and six of seven top five finishes. What’s also wild is that in half the number of races he is tied for fourth in top fives achieved this year. This will be Gibbs first race at Pocono but having his first race at a track this year hasn’t seemed to scare him away once. Gibbs is averaging 58.3 DFS points per race, which is out of this world. He is becoming one of those drivers that you must play each week as he is averaging as much as three times some drivers each week. I am going to give the rookie a shot this week. He also starts 14th which puts him in line for some point differential points.
Daniel Hemric ($9,700)
Driving the number 18 car for Joe Gibbs Racing has worked out well for Daniel Hemric so far in 2021. Hemric enters this race in third place in points with his six top five finishes, nine top 10 finishes and 324 laps led. Although Hemric has not won yet this year, he has been amongst the best in the Xfinity Series. Hemric’s best performances of the year have come at the Daytona Road Course where he finished third, Miami where he finished third, Las Vegas where he was the runner up, and Martinsville where he added another third-place finish. Picking Hemric to be in the top five has been as good as a bet as any other this year. I am picking Hemric to lead a boat load of laps this week. Especially from his sixth place starting position.
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B-List Drivers
Brandon Brown ($8,300)
Before the start of this season Brandon Brown only had one top-five finish and seven top 10 finishes to his name on the Xfinity Series. Now after a hot start to the 2021 season Brown has matched his career performance in 15 races. So far, this year Brown has two top-five finishes at Phoenix Raceway and Charlotte Motor Speedway. To go along with back to back top 10 finishes at the two Daytona tracks and seven top 10 finishes total. This may even be in the realm of a safe pick this week especially for his dollar value. He is driving well and could be in for a top-five or 10 finish again this week. I don’t think you can go wrong with Brown in your lineup this week. Brown offers a lot of flexibility with his price tag.
Austin Hill ($7,500)
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. Now of course Hill is joining the Xfinity Series for his second race of the year after finishing ninth last weekend at Nashville Superspeedway. The exciting part about his last Xfinity Race this year was his 41.9 fantasy points he scored. So far in the 2021 season Hill has four top five finishes, nine 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. Hill comes into this week with three races at Pocono over the last three years where he has one top five finish.
C-List Drivers
Myatt Snider ($7,300)
As one of seven drivers to clinch their spot into the playoffs this year with a win, Myatt Snider is trending to have his best year yet. In his first fulltime season in 2020, Snider had two top-five finishes and six top 10 finishes. So far in 2021, Snider has one win and three top 10 finishes. Snider is trending in the right direction. Snider has raced at Pocono once in the Xfinity Series and the results were great as he finished in fourth place. Snider should be able to race to another top 10 finish this weekend. Snider was also able to lead some laps in last years race with eight. With Snider starting 19th I think he is in for an excellent race from a DFS perspective.
Landon Cassill ($6,100)
With a top-heavy lineup, what you need is value. I see a lot of value this week with Landon Cassillas I try to fit some of the top drivers in the series into my lineup this week. Cassill was a full-time driver in the Cup Series 2011 to 2019, before taking some time off. He returns this year to drive the Number Four for JD Motorsports in the Xfinity Series. In his career Cassill has one top-five finish and 14 top 10 finishes in the Xfinity Series. A top 10 of note is at Talladega in 2019 where he finished ninth. The appeal in Cassill this week is that he will start near the back in 23rd. If Cassill can have a clean race and finish, he is in a very good spot to potentially gain 10 or more spots.
Now go win your matchup and let us know how you did. Or if I picked every driver that will be in that lap 94 crash, I encourage you to let me hear it. Either way come find us on Twitter (@FantasyDFSX).
