NASCAR DFS Pit Stop: Gander RV 400 – Cup Series from Dover

Welcome to NASCAR DFS Pit Stop for Sunday’s Gander RV 400 from Dover International Speedway!  This is the finale of our tripleheader weekend for the first time in a month and if the Trucks and Xfinity races are any indication, it’s going to be a wild race on Sunday. Sunday’s Gander RV 400 is the 11th race of the 2019  season and is the first of two visits to Dover this season. Kevin Harvick is the defending race winner who is winless this season but we are sure he is eager to see if he can make his first trip to Victory Lane in 2019. 

It won’t be easy on Sunday at Dover with a number of drivers to contend with who have enjoyed much success here including Kyle Busch. He has 12 total NASCAR victories in the top 3 series at The Monster Mile, including 3 Cup Series, 5 in the Xfinity Series and 4 in the Truck Series.

NASCAR DFS Vegas Odds :

Kevin Harvick, 11-2
Kyle Busch, 11-2
Jimmie Johnson, 6-1
Martin Truex Jr., 7-1
Kyle Larson, 7-1
Brad Keselowski, 15-2
Chase Elliott, 10-1
Matt Kenseth, 10-1
Joey Logano, 14-1
Denny Hamlin, 20-1

NASCAR DFS – Leaders of the Pack

Kevin Harvick ($11,300)

Qualifying Position: 6th

Harvick is coming off a very unlucky 38th place finish when he got caught up in the 11th lap wreck caused by Bubba Wallace. This season has been sort of like of Talladega went for Harvick, he has a good car every week, but something just goes wrong. Over the last 6 races here at Dover Harvick has led 604 laps and did win this race last season. I think Harvick finally gets that first win of 2019 on Sunday.

Martin Truex Jr. ($10,200)

Qualifying Position: 13

Like Harvick, Truex does have a win here at Dover in recent years, and has run better than all other drivers, with maybe the only exception being Harvick. Truex averaged out with the combined 10th best practice speeds and has an average finish of 6th over the last 6 races at Dover. With an average of 97.3 time run inside the top 15 during the last 6 races here and leading 387 laps and 263 fastest laps Truex loves racing at Dover and should have a great day here.

Chase Elliott ($9,800)

Qualifying Position: 1st

Coming off a big Talladega victory, Elliott followed that up with the pole for Sunday’s race. I don’t generally like taking drivers on the pole, but Elliott has some momentum coming into this race and does have a victory here last fall (the last time we were at Dover). He has a top 10 car in practice this week and has an average finishing position of 4.3 over the last 6 races here.

Other Options: Joey Logano ($11,800)

NASCAR DFS – Middle of the Pack

Denny Hamlin ($9,500)

Qualifying Position: 8th

Hamlin has finished 9th or better in 5 of the last 6 Dover races, including a 2nd place finish in the fall of 2018. In 2019 Hamlin is the only driver that has finished in the top 5 in each of the 4 races with the 750 horsepower rules package (Dover is the 5th race this season to run this package). Hamlin comes in with 4 top 5’s (including a win in Texas) in the last 5 races, with Talladega’s 36th place finish being his only non top 5 in that span.

Kurt Busch ($8,900)

Qualifying Position:  19th

Busch finished fifth in both races last season and does own a win at Dover in the 2011 fall race. Over the last 6 races at Dover Busch has a 14.5 average finish,  but has not led any laps over that span. This season with Chip Ganassi Racing, Busch has an 8th place average finish in the four races with the 750 horsepower rules package, including a second-place finish at Bristol. Starting in 19th position also makes Busch an amazing play, but there is one driver who has a very similar name who may be the best place differential play.

Jimmie Johnson ($8,200)

Qualifying Position: 12th

Johnson finished 36th last fall due to a mechanical failure before the race even started, that finish snapped a streak of 4 straight top 10’s for the driver of the #48 Chevy, which included his 11th win at the track in this event in 2017. This season, Johnson has posted two top 10’s and an average finish of 13.5 in the four races with the 750 horsepower rules package. Johnson also was atop the leader board after final practice on Saturday, and could be one of the top plays on the slate, and may even be able to steal a victory here on Sunday as well.

Daniel Suarez ($7,700)

Qualifying Position: 14th

Suarez has yet to finish outside the top 10 in his 4 career starts at Dover, including a 3rd place finish in this event, his best finish at the 1-mile track.  This season, Suarez has posted 2 top 10’s and an average finish of 14.8 in the four races with the 750 horsepower rules package. Suarez’s Stewart-Haas Ford has looked real fast this weekend, including a 6th best 10 lap average in final practice on Saturday.

Other Options: Ryan Blaney ($9,200), Erik Jones ($8,700), Kyle Larson ($8,000)

NASCAR DFS – Back of the Pack

Paul Menard ($6,900)

Qualifying Position : 18th

Menard continues to just produce good DKFP days at a low price and it is very hard to not use him every week. Menard has 9 straight top 20 finishes this season since Daytona and has averaged 35.7 DKFP over the last 3 races.

William Byron ($6,700)

Qualifying Position : 2nd

Byron has posted a 16.5 average finish in his 2 career starts at Dover, including a 14th place finish in this event last season, which is his best finish. This season, Byron has posted an 18.8 average finish in the four races with the 750 horsepower rules package. Byron is a tough play because of where he qualified, but the Hendrick cars all look real fast this week and he will definitely be low owned which could make him a great GPP dart.

Reed Sorenson  ($5,200)

Qualifying Position: 37th

Sorenson is a price play pure and simple. If you can get 20 points out of Sorenson this week it’ll be a win for you. I plan on rostering him to free up cash for top priced drivers, like a Busch brothers combo or Harvick/Hamlin/Kurt Busch. Since Sorenson qualified in last place we already know his floor is 7 points, which isn’t great but he can only go up from there. There are generally a lot of DNF’s at Dover, as we saw this weekend so if Reed can stay in the race for a while he could get a finish inside the top 30.

Other Options: Ryan Preece ($6,500), Ross Chastain ($6,000)

NASCAR DFS – Place Differential Play

Kyle Busch ($12,400)

Qualifying Position: 22nd

Busch has not had much luck as of late in the spring race at Dover with his last top 10 in this race coming 6 years ago in 2013. Busch has finished in the top 10 in the last nine fall races though so he does have some luck here, including a win in 2017. Busch leads all drivers in wins (2) and average finish (3.2) in the 4 races this season during which the 750 horsepower rules package has run. With another poor qualifying effort from the #18 Toyota team we can roster Kyle knowing we will most likely pick up 10-15 positive place differential points

Other Options : Chris Buescher ($7,300 – Qualified P30)

NASCAR DFS – Roster Construction

For me, I think I will fade Kyle this week just because I don’t know if I am comfortable with the rosters I built with him in. I would rather take Harvick at $1,100 less and use Denny Hamlin and Jimmie Johnson, and Kurt Busch. If you use Sorenson it will free up a good amount of salary for you to make a winnable team in my opinion.

Thank you for reading my NASCAR DFS Pit Stop article this week and make sure you look for my Xfinity Series and Truck Series articles each week they race as well. Be sure to check out Fantasy CPR daily for all your DFS needs, and remember all content is ALWAYS FREE here!