The field is set for Saturday’s race with Austin Cindric and Jeb Burton on the front row. Let’s jump into this week’s top Xfinity NASCAR DFS picks on DraftKings for the EchoPark 250 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
DraftKings NASCAR Xfinity EchoPark 250 DFS Picks
Austin Cindric, 1st ($10,900)
It is odd how things that happen in Cup Series races matriculate their way down into the Xfinity Series. The trend for pole sitters in Cup races has been poor of late in regards to their laps-led numbers. Oddly, that trend has manifested itself here in Xfinity, with the past three pole sitters leading totals of six, four and 12 laps. Those pole sitters weren’t shabby drivers either; we are talking the likes of Noah Gragson, Cole Custer and Christopher Bell.
There is some risk of Cindric losing the lead early. However, when you gaze down this starting grid, who is a legitimate threat to pass Cindric? A.J. Allmendinger could be one, but with all things equal, I’ll take the reigning champion in a Penske car versus Allmendinger in Childress-esque equipment.
A.J. Allmendinger, 3rd ($10,300)
Speaking of Allmendinger, last year’s Atlanta winner, and most recent intermediate-oval winner, is starting in third. While his two finishes don’t bear it out, Allmendinger has been perhaps the best driver in the Xfinity Series at 1.5-mile ovals. Now he returns to the venue where he won last year, starting from the 30th position and leading the third-most laps.
The key to Allmendinger as a dominator isn’t merely a trend of unfortunate pole sitters. It’s his history with Atlanta and knowing how to get on the brake, on the gas, and in the process, take care of his tires. There is a lot of youth in this field that does not know how to approach this precious balance for optimal longevity. Allmendinger does; he made it work last year, and we should expect the same from him on Saturday.
Tommy Jo Martins, 15th ($4,900)
If you are in this salary range looking for a cash play, head on down to the Cody Ware section. However, if you are looking to round out a tournament lineup with a lower-owned option, I’m intrigued by Martins this week. Due to his high-ish starting position, DraftKings gave him a punt price just under $5,000. Yes, Martins could have a mechanical failure or cut-down tire and really sabotage a GPP lineup with negative points.
That all said, Martins has shown promise with his family-owned team. Since the two Daytona races, Martins has finished 19th, 15th and 17th. If all Martins does is stay on the lead lap, hold his position and get a little racy if a late caution comes out, he’ll easily finish with 5x value. Furthermore, Martins doesn’t carry the underlying start-and-park risk that Bayley Currey and Timmy Hill have. Martins is driving for a paycheck to keep this team running.
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Martin Truex Jr., 18th ($11,300)
The two-time Xfinity champion (2004 and 2005) makes his return to the Xfinity Series, filling in for Kyle Busch in the Joe Gibbs All-Star Car. This will be Truex’s first Xfinity start since 2010, but it’s not like that matters.
The math on playing Truex is very simple: You get a severely underpriced, top-tier Cup talent, driving in a Joe Gibbs car, with place differential. By all means Truex should be north of $12,000, if not closer to the $14,000 mark. Quite frankly, if DraftKings is going to price Busch at $14,000 starting second in the truck race, why is Truex only $11,300 with more place differential in a longer race? Truex is where every cash or tournament lineup should start.
Cody Ware, 28th ($4,500)
This week Rick Ware has his son Cody in the No. 17, sponsored by Nurtec. Everything I’ve seen from Rick Ware Racing in the Xfinity Series tells me they plan on competing on a weekly basis. This salary for Cody Ware makes no sense. Ware might not have the ceiling of J.J. Yeley, but in this equipment, Ware is still an 18th- to 23rd-place driver. If that’s what he gives us Saturday, he will be the quintessential punt play in all formats.
[MARCHMADNESS]
Noah Gragson, 30th ($11,500)
Although I believe the optimal lineup is going to be based around two dominators, I can make the case you don’t really need any. That is if you don’t consider Truex or Gragson typical dominators due to their starting positions and place differential.
Gragson may be our highest-priced driver, but he’s not so overly priced that he’s incapable of hitting his ceiling. Starting 30th gives him a great floor based on his place differential. Furthermore, we have seen him lead laps in back-to-back Atlanta races, and he was well on his way to victory at the last high-tire-wear track (Homestead) we visited before he and David Starr crossed paths. If you are making a head-to-head case of Gragson versus Truex, at near similar prices, it comes down to if Gragson’s 12 extra positions outscore Truex’s potential dominator points.
David Starr, 40th ($5,900)
At this point I feel like Starr deserves a weekly spot in Xfinity columns to keep you abreast of his viability. This week he transitions back from Hattori to Carl Long’s No. 13 according to the latest entry list. His sponsor is listed as “Ford,” which in turn means there is none. You do the math on Starr’s prospects this weekend. He may pick up place differential, but it will be from early attrition.
However, at this price tag I’d rather play Landon Cassill, who might just pull off a top-20 finish. This salary implies competition from Starr, something I can’t guarantee based on his owner and lack of sponsorship. And due to his starting position, Starr receives $5,000 regardless of how high he finishes, as do the other drivers starting 37th and back. There is little financial incentive for Long to have Starr do anything but start and park.
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