Fansided

Draft Kings daily picks: Fantasy NASCAR lineup for Auto Club 400

By Nick Tylwalk

FONTANA, CA - MARCH 17: (R-L) Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Busch Beer Ford, and Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 Interstate Batteries Toyota, talk in the garage during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Auto Club 400 at Auto Club Speedway on March 17, 2018 in Fontana, California. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
FONTANA, CA - MARCH 17: (R-L) Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Busch Beer Ford, and Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 Interstate Batteries Toyota, talk in the garage during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Auto Club 400 at Auto Club Speedway on March 17, 2018 in Fontana, California. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /
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FONTANA, CA – MARCH 17: Kurt Busch, driver of the #41 Haas Automation/Monster Energy Ford, stands in the garage during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Auto Club 400 at Auto Club Speedway on March 17, 2018 in Fontana, California. (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images)
FONTANA, CA – MARCH 17: Kurt Busch, driver of the #41 Haas Automation/Monster Energy Ford, stands in the garage during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Auto Club 400 at Auto Club Speedway on March 17, 2018 in Fontana, California. (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images) /

Average drivers (between $8,000 and $9,000)

Kurt Busch ($8,600) – Cue the Imagine Dragons, because Busch has made us a believer (believer!). With all of Stewart-Haas looking strong at the moment, and would be coming into this race with three straight top-10s if not for a somewhat random wreck at Las Vegas. His California win is a lifetime ago and we’re not saying he’ll contend for a victory, but he feels like a safe pick who will get you a solid finish.

Erik Jones ($8,200) – Other than the part about a previous win here, since Jones is still looking for his first Cup Series victory, lots of what we said about Kurt Busch applies to Jones as well. He’s been solid for three straight weeks and is almost like the previous driver of the 20, Matt Kenseth, in that you don’t notice him much but he’s in the top 10 by the end. Jones qualified fourth so there’s some risk if he gets caught up in something or has mechanical issues.

Clint Bowyer ($8,000) – Here’s your upside play from the average salary group. Bowyer finished third at Fontana in 2017, and Stewart-Haas Racing wasn’t firing on all the cylinders it is now. He’s starting 26th, and like Hamlin, he’s nearly guaranteed to be zooming past some of the cars starting in the 10 spots ahead of him. We like him more than we have in any race so far this season.