NASCAR DFS Pit Stop: NXS Rinnai 250 – Atlanta Saturday February 23rd

Welcome to NASCAR DFS Pit Stop: Xfinity series edition for Saturday’s Rinnai 250 from Atlanta Motor Speedway. Last week was tough because it seemed like nobody was willing to try to pass, but instead were content to stay in line  and wait it out, which makes for a boring race to watch. This week there is less drafting and there should be more racing.

One thing you’ll notice this week is we have no invaders in this race, so we only have full-time Xfinity series drivers. As with weeks when it comes to the Xfinity series I won’t have the qualifying positions because qualifying takes place the morning of the race. 

NASCAR DFS: Leaders of the Pack 

Christopher Bell ($11,900)

2018 Atlanta Finish: 3rd

Bell will have a fast car this weekend and without drivers like Kevin Harvick and Joey Logano like last year Bell should run towards the front all day. Last season Bell started on the pole and only finished 3rd because of how good Harvick (1) and Logano (2) ran.

Justin Allgaier ($10,800) 

2018 Atlanta Finish: 6th

Allgaier has a good track history here at Atlanta in 8 races in his career here. Allgaier has an average starting position of 17.4, but an average finish of 12. There are only 4 drivers competing this weekend that have led laps at this track in their career with Allgaier leading the pack with 30 laps led. In 8 career starts Allgaier has 4 top 10 finishes and 1 top 5.

Brandon Jones ($9,400) 

2018 Atlanta Finish: 17th

In 3 career races at Atlanta Jones has finished inside the top 17 all three times and has finished ahead of his qualifying  position 2 out of 3 races ( last year being the only race he didn’t). Jones has an average start of 18.7 with an average finish 14.

Noah Gragson ($9,000)

2018 Atlanta Finish: N/A 

Noah Gragson is going to be the Tim Hardway Jr. (if you don’t know what I mean, checkout @2locksports twitter page) for me this NXS season. He has a great team, a great car, and will probably be in every article I write this season, but he deserves to be. At final practice on Friday Gragson with 2nd fastest speed, and he ran that lap in the middle of his 44 lap run so that’s a good sign that he is getting faster when the car gets laps on it. Gragson also ran the fastest average ten lap speed. Depending on his qualifying spot on Saturday there is a good chance he wins this race.

NASCAR DFS : Middle of the Pack

Justin Haley ($8,400)

2018 Atlanta Finish: N/A

There was one car faster than Gragson in practice on Friday, and it was fellow rookie Justin Haley. Haley is coming off a decent showing, finishing 17th at Daytona last week, and he will look to improve that finish this week. While he clearly has a fast car, I will wait and see where he qualifies on Saturday before I decide if I am using him this week. Haley can climb through the field and pull a top 15, or top 10 finish, but if he starts at the top of the field he may be a fade for me.

Ross Chastain ($8,000)

2018 Atlanta Finish: 16th

Chastain had a good showing in last seasons Atlanta race finishing 16th after qualifying in the 24 spot. In final practice on Friday, Chastain finished with the 13th fastest lap. Chastain is one of the many Chevy’s that ruled the day today, with 9 finishing in top 13 of practice today.

Ryan Sieg ($7,300)

2018 Atlanta Finish: 22nd

Sieg is a dark horse candidate to win this race this weekend. With there being no Cup Series invaders there are a lot more options to win, and I put Sieg in that group. Sieg also has a fast Chevy, shown by his 7th fastest practice lap, and also having the 8th best 10 lap average.

NASCAR DFS : Back of the Pack

Gray Gaulding ($6,900)

2018 Atlanta Finish: N/A

Gaulding had a good car last week at Daytona that is not indicated by his 34th place finish and he will look to get back up front this week. After final practice on Friday, Gaulding is sitting with the 19th fastest lap.

Alex Labbe ($5,300)

2018 Atlanta Finish: 18th

Labbe had a good race last season in Atlanta when he started 33rd and finished in the 18th position. After final practice on Friday Labbe is sitting with the 17th fastest lap . At his low price it won’t take much for you to get value out of Labbe, he is my favorite value driver today.

Jeff Green ($5,100)

2018 Atlanta Finish: 40th

Green had his race shortened because of a vibration last year after only 5 laps. This season Green is driving the #93 for RSS racing, which is the family team of Ryan Sieg. If Green can get up with Sieg, who has a fast car, they both could have a great day.

NASCAR DFS: Gander Outdoors Truck Series Picks

Top Tier Drivers:

Kyle Busch $15,000 – Too expensive if he doesn’t win and lead the most last, but he can do that

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Johnny Sauter $10,900 – A good veteran driver who knows this track well

Ben Rhodes $10,400 – Fastest in final practice

Mid Tier Drivers:

Austin Hill $8,700 – One of the best Truck Series drivers with a fast car

Parker Kligerman $8,100 – 3rd fastest 10 lap average

Sheldon Creed $7,800 – Ran 2nd fastest practice time on his 2nd to last lap

Tyler Dippel $7,100 – 7th fastest in final practice

Value Tier Drivers:

Cory Roper $5,900 – Ran 13th in practice

Chad Finley $5,300 – Had a top 20 truck in practice

Thank you for reading my NASCAR DFS article for the Xfinity series and remember to look for my NASCAR Monster Energy Series article on Sunday morning. Also make sure to follow @FantasyCPR for your DFS needs for all sports and remember that all articles are always completely 100% FREE!