NASCAR By the Numbers: Coca-Cola 600
If the 600 is anything like the All-Star race, it’s going to be a lot of fun to watch, so make sure to tune in Sunday at 6 pm EST on FOX.
Qualifying really mixed things up, and place differential is going to be important for cash games, so make sure to check out my Daily Fantasy Pitstop video for my three favorite cash game plays. With so many laps, getting the dominator points will be important as well.
Martin Truex Jr. – $9,800 – Starting 1st – With Truex starting out front, he’s instantly someone we want to target for dominator points. He had the best 10-lap run in second practice, and doesn’t seem to be falling off a lot. Track position and clean air is very important here at Charlotte. Truex has never won at this track, but comes in with back-to-back top five finishes. He led 131 laps from 10th place in the 600 last season, and I like his chances to lead a lot of laps on Sunday.
Jimmie Johnson – $10,200 – Starting 7th – It’s Charlotte, Johnson has been so good at this track, and I love his upside this weekend. He’s running really well over the long run in practice, and he should be able to take advantage of any kind of long run. Johnson has seven career wins at Charlotte, and he won the 600 in 2014. This 600-mile race uses a lot of endurance, and you have to be able to handle it mentally. Johnson has shown the ability to do this multiple times, and it’s hard not to look at him here. Johnson has the highest driver rating, and the highest average position here at Charlotte.
Kurt Busch – $9,000 – Starting 13th – Kurt really impressed me in practice this week, and his car isn’t falling off like a lot of the other guys. Practice was during the heat of the day, and the race will be a lot different. With that in mind, I think Kurt is a much better tournament play this weekend. Kurt started 14th in this race last season, and led 118 laps, so it wouldn’t shock me if it happens again this weekend. Kurt has the second highest driver rating in the 600 since 2013, and the fourth highest percentage of laps led.
Kyle Larson – $8,400 – Starting 24th – Larson starting 24th presents a ton of value, and I think he’s a great upside play here. He’s been very up or down here, but he comes in with a ton of momentum. He’s been so close to winning the last two races, and had a chance to win the XFINITY race on Saturday. He’s making the top line work, and it could be a huge advantage on Sunday. He’s in a good spot for a top ten, and should be a very solid place differential play.
Value Play
Landon Cassill – $5,900 – Starting 33rd – It’s really hard to recommend a guy under $7,000 this weekend, but I think Cassill is the best of the worst. Clint Bowyer could be a very risky play as well, but I’m having a hard time liking anyone else way down here. In cash games, you can make a very solid lineup with McMurray as your cheapest option. Cassill has finished 23rd in two of the last three races here, and would be a great value play if he can keep that going. He comes in with two top twenty finishes in the last three races.