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DraftKings NASCAR: 2015 Axalta 400 Fantasy Analysis

By Rich Pelesky

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DraftKings NASCAR: 2015 Axalta 400 Fantasy Analysis

Aug 3, 2014; Long Pond, PA, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Alex Bowman (23) pulls out of pit road during the GoBowling.com 400 at Pocono Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Welcome back to FantasyCPR’s coverage of the 2015 Axalta 400 at Pocono Speedway to be held on Sunday, June 7th. Whether you are a fantasy racing player or just a NASCAR fan, let us be your one stop shop for all the information you need to prepare you for NASCAR races in the 2015 season. Go to our Fantasy NASCAR Hub at https://fansided.com/category/nascar-fantasy/ and bookmark it!

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NASCAR: Denny Hamlin not the big winner at Pocono
NASCAR: Denny Hamlin not the big winner at Pocono /

Beyond the Flag

  • NASCAR: Kyle Busch reveals ideal retirement seasonBeyond the Flag
  • NASCAR: Denny Hamlin penalty could come back to haunt himBeyond the Flag
  • NASCAR: Denny Hamlin ties all-time unwanted recordBeyond the Flag
  • NASCAR: Major recurring issue not a factor at PoconoBeyond the Flag
  • NASCAR: Recurring issue may not be a factor at PoconoBeyond the Flag

    • If you haven’t joined DraftKings yet and want to play in these exciting contests, use this link to sign up and you will earn a 4 free entries ($25 value) for any sport (one $12 ticket, two $5 tickets, and one $3 ticket). Sign up today and DraftKings will match your initial deposit up to $600. Now, let’s look at the Field.

    Next: The Field: Qualifying Order with DK Salaries

    May 1, 2015; Talladega, AL, USA; Sprint Cup Series driver Kurt Busch (41) during practice for the Geico 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

    Qualifying Order (NOTE: This does not reflect any moves to back of the field that may be put in place by NASCAR for certain cars for the start of the race):

    1. #41 Kurt Busch, Haas Automation Chevrolet ($12,500, 3rd)
    2. #19 Carl Edwards, Arris Toyota ($10,300, 12th)
    3. #78 Martin Truex Jr., Furniture Row Chevrolet ($11,100 9th)
    4. #24 Jeff Gordon, AXALTA/Penn State Chevrolet ($11,300, 8th)
    5. #4 Kevin Harvick Budweiser/Jimmy John’s Chevrolet ($14,000, 1st)
    6. #3 Austin Dillon, Dow Chevrolet ($8,900, 20th)
    7. #2 Brad Keselowski, Miller Lite Ford ($11,700, 5th)
    8. #11 Denny Hamlin, FedEx Ground Toyota ($11,600, 6th)
    9. #48 Jimmie Johnson, Lowe’s Patriotic Chevrolet ($13,400, 2nd)
    10. #18 Kyle Busch, M&M’s CrispyToyota ($11,000, 10th)
    11. #22 Joey Logano, Shell Pennzoil Ford ($11,500, 7th)
    12. #5 Kasey Kahne, FARMERS Chevrolet ($10,800, 11th)
    13. #31 Ryan Newman, Grainger Chevrolet ($9,500 16th)
    14. #1 Jamie McMurray, CESSNA Chevrolet ($9,700, 15th)
    15. #42 Kyle Larson, Target Chevrolet ($10,100, 14th)
    16. #27 Paul Menard, Schrock/Menards Chevrolet ($8,700, 22nd)
    17. #17 Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Zest Ford ($7,900, 26th)
    18. #13 Casey Mears GEICO Chevrolet ($7,900, 26th)
    19. #20 Matt Kenseth, Dollar General Toyota ($10,200, 13th)
    20. #88 Dale Earnhardt Jr., Nationwide Chevrolet ($12,200, 4th)
    21. #55 David Ragan, Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota ($8,800, 21st)
    22. #10 Danica Patrick, GoDaddy Chevrolet ($8,000, 25th)
    23. #15 Clint Bowyer, Jack Link’s/Big Machine Records Toyota ($9,200, 17th)
    24. #9 Sam Hornish Jr., Medallion Bank Ford ($7,800, 28th)
    25. #43 Aric Almirola, Nathan’s Famous Ford ($8,300, 23rd)
    26. #47 AJ Allmendinger, Clorox Chevrolet ($8,200, 24th)
    27. #16 Greg Biffle Ortho Ford ($9,000, 19th)
    28. #14 Tony Stewart, Bass Pro Shops/Mobil 1 Chevrolet ($9,100, 18th)
    29. #33 Ty Dillon, Yuengling Chevrolet ($7,400, 31st)
    30. #51 Justin Allgaier, SEMChevrolet ($7,400, 31st)
    31. #46 Michael Annett, Sherwin Williams Chevrolet ($7,100, 37th)
    32. #40 Landon Cassill, Interstate Moving Services Chevrolet ($7,200, 35th)
    33. #6 Trevor Bayne, AdvoCare Ford ($7,700, 29th)
    34. #7 Alex Bowman, Accell Construction Chevrolet ($7,100, 37th)
    35. #38 David Gilliland, MDS Ford ($7,500, 30th)
    36. #34 Brett Moffitt, Dockside Logistics ($7,000, 38th)
    37. #23 J.J. Yeley, Dr. Pepper/Heinz ($7,200, 35th)
    38. #98 Josh Wise, Ford ($7,000, 38th)
    39. #35 Cole Whitt, Ford ($7,300, 33rd)
    40. #26 Jeb Burton, Maxim Fantasy Sports Toyota ($7,000, 38th)
    41. #83 Matt DiBenedetto, Burger King Toyota ($7,300, 33rd)
    42. #32 Travis Kvapil, VISONE RV PARTS Chevrolet (Not Listed)
    43. #62 Brendan Gaughan, Chevrolet ($7,000, 38th)

    Next: Axalta 400 Fantasy Strategy

    Axalta 400 Fantasy Strategy: Although my race picks will not be released until after the final practice sessions on Saturday, here is a sneak peek at some of the trends that will factor into my selections:

    More from FanSided

    Aug 3, 2014; Long Pond, PA, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. (88) kisses his girlfriend Amy Reimann on victory lane after winning the GoBowling.com 400 at Pocono Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

    1. This race is on a unique 2.5 mile, triangle-shaped track that has a turn over a tunnel that helps make the track extremely bumpy. While it will give drivers fits and threatens to makes them loose it also them more opportunities to pass.
    2. Strongly consider drivers that have a good history in this race. Also consider drivers with a good history at big tracks with long straightaways.
    3. Chevy has dominated this race recently with 8 cars in the Top 10 in the Spring 2014 race and 6 of the Top 10 in the Spring 2013 race.
    4. Hendricks Motorsports (Chevrolet) have won last 5 races here with all 4 drivers (Kasey Kahne, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, and Dale Earnhart Jr.) winning at least once.
    5. Jeff Gordon (6) has the most Pocono Cup wins all-time. Denny Hamlin is second among active drivers with four wins.
    6. Pocono has a large pit area so positioning and traffic is not as important as at other tracks. Nevertheless, Kevin Harvick is serving a penalty as will have last choice of pit stall.
    7. The large track at Pocono allows for more cars on the lead lap: 29 finished on lead lap in the Spring 2014 race and 31 finished there in Spring 2013.
    8. The Pole Winner in the last two Spring races has performed very well as Hamlin finished 4th in 2014 and Johnson won the 2013 race from the pole while leading 128 of the 160 laps.
    9. This was the small group on entrants for a Cup race this year – all 43 qualified.
    10. 9 of the last 12 winners of Pocono Cup races started in the Top 12.

    Next: General NASCAR Strategy for DraftKings Contests

    General DraftKings Strategy: The next thing to consider while filling out your teams is the DraftKings scoring system. DraftKings owners will draft a team of 5 drivers with a $50,000 Salary Cap. Scoring will be based on several factors including a driver’s Finishing Position, Place Differential, Fastest Laps, Laps Led, and Pass Differential. Please refer to the Daily Fantasy NASCAR Strategy Guide by DraftKings that breaks down the specific rules and point calculations that govern these contests.

    The salaries used are set weekly for each contest before qualifying and practice and are based on the overall strength of each driver/team/car for that particular race. The calculations that DraftKings use to determine drivers’ salaries are based on a driver’s ability to score fantasy points and as such consider all the five aforementioned factors. Since NASCAR is a new Daily Fantasy game, DraftKings has made it easier for players to understand the scoring system by listing a driver’s Fantasy Points Per Race (FPPR) next to a driver’s salary that shows a driver’s performance to date (including 2015 races that did not have DK contests). The following are some of the factors that determine a driver’s salary and something that a fantasy player should look at:

    Apr 18, 2015; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions fans pose for a photo with the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Penn State-branded Axalta Chevy to be driven by Jeff Gordon at Pocono Raceway in June prior to the start of the Blue White spring game at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

    1. A Driver and/or Team’s current level of speed and performance this season.
    2. A Driver and/or Team’s history at that specific track and race.
    3. A Driver and/or Team’s history at similar tracks and races.

    However, because these salaries are set prior to qualifying and practice, there are many things that can change a driver’s relative fantasy value before the race starts. Some things to consider:

    1. Qualifying and practice speed are a good (but not the only) indicator of a driver’s projected performance and factor largely in a driver’s potential to maximize points in the Finish Position, Fastest Laps, and Laps Led categories.
    2. The DraftKings points system is unique and emphasizes both in-race performance as well as finishing position. So it is paramount to target at least some drivers that start further back in the field yet can compete as a top-performing car. This will get you points in the Place Differential and Pass Differential categories.
    3. Considering a Driver’s Pit Crew proficiency is also important as drivers with fast cars can earn more points in the Pass Differential category during green flag racing due to lost track position during pit stops.

    We will be back on Saturday evening with our Axalta 400 Fantasy Picks!

    Next: Axalta 400 at Pocono Fantasy Picks for DraftKings NASCAR Contests