DFS NASCAR Advanced Stats for DraftKings, FanDuel: Daytona 500 Lineup Picks (2023)

Our NASCAR “By the DFS Numbers” Race Previews feature a combination of statistical package highlights from Loop Data reports and the RotoBaller Cup Series Research Station. Loop Data, which are the advanced statistics that are electronically recorded by NASCAR to more accurately illustrate how drivers perform, are showcased here as very relevant indicators.

Loop Data stats are useful in DFS NASCAR to tell us which drivers have performed the best at particular tracks. They determine how a driver actually fares without the negative factors of crashes, car issues, and pit problems. The NASCAR Research Station is one of our most important features in the RotoBaller NASCAR Season Pass package. It is a deluxe suite of advanced NASCAR statistics that can help you identify the top drivers and value plays for ideal lineup constructions every week. It includes historical, recent, and projected stats and Loop Data.

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Daytona 500: By The DFS Numbers

Drivers are listed in order of preference for lineup usage overall based on pricing tiers. Research Station indicators are in italics. All Loop Data stats are dating back to 2021 at Daytona International Speedway, covering the last four Cup series events unless otherwise noted. We use DraftKings prices as a basis, but most of what we recommend should also be applied to FanDuel lineup builds.

Denny Hamlin: First among all drivers in Laps Led (118). Hamlin is third in all-time Driver Rating among active drivers at 89.0. He starts 18th, so Hamlin has apparent Place Differential appeal. Tied for the Best Implied Odds to win the Daytona 500 (6%). Projected to finish with the second-most Fantasy Points (43.10).

Ryan Blaney: Tied for the Best Implied Odds to win the Daytona 500 (6%). Three top five finishes at superspeedways in 2022.

Chase Elliott: Second-best Driver Rating of 93.6. He leads in Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 while under Green Flag conditions, 669), is second in Green Flag Passes (984), and third in Laps Led (70). Tied for the Best Implied Odds to win the Daytona 500 (6%).

Joey Logano: Second in Laps Led (78). He has the fourth-best all-time Driver Rating among active drivers at Daytona (88.3). He starts third, so Logano won’t help in Place Differential, but he has a good shot to win the Daytona 500 after winning a qualifying duel. Tied for the Best Implied Odds to win the Daytona 500 (65%).

Kyle Busch: Series-best Driver Rating of 96.7 and second-best all-time DR at Daytona (91.7) among active drivers. He starts 36th and will be the heavily preferred play for Place Differential after he ran so well in the qualifying duels before he was wrecked. He is third in Green Flag Passes (953) and second in Quality Passes (662), two stats that support his tremendous PD potential.

Busch should be the most highly rostered driver in tournaments. At an unpredictable track like Daytona, you should not overexpose your lineups to him in multiple builds.

Bubba Wallace: Leads in Green Flag Passes (1.040). He is fifth-best in Average Running Position (12.4). Wallace is third in Quality Passes (623) and second in Fastest Laps Run (26).

Ross Chastain: His 19% odds to finish in the top five are the best of any driver under $9500 on DraftKings. Four top four finishes at superspeedways in 2022. Chastain starts in the 23rd position.

William Byron: He has 19% odds to finish in the top five. Byron starts in the 21st position.

Research Station Odds and Practice results for the Daytona 500.

Jimmie Johnson: Even with a new team as a part-timer, Johnson has an upside this week. He starts 39th and his 4,614 Quality Passes rank third all-time. Projected to finish with the second-most Fantasy Points (43.10) of any driver below $9500 (43.80).

Kevin Harvick: Fourth in Green Flag Passes (932) and second-best in all-time Fastest Laps Run (136). RotoBaller DFS Pro Jordan McAbee has Harvick finishing third. A 16 percent chance of finishing in the top five is tied for the best among all drivers below $8200 on DraftKings.

Austin Dillon: Third-best all-time Average Finish of 14.7, and he starts 27th. A 16 percent chance of finishing in the top five is tied for the best among all drivers below $8200 on DraftKings.

Austin Cindric: The 2022 Daytona 500 winner has the third-best DR of 93.4. He is also third-best in Average Running Position (11.4).

Erik Jones: His 25% odds to finish in the top 10 are the best of any driver under $7000 on DraftKings Three top six finishes on superspeedways in 2022. Jones starts in the 25th position and he is a prime value play.

Chase Briscoe: His 25% odds to finish in the top 10 is tied for the second-best of any driver under $7500 on DraftKings. Projected to finish with the most Fantasy Points (43.10) of any driver below $9500 (44.20). Briscoe starts in the 23rd position and he is another top-value play.

Ty Gibbs and Justin Haley: Both drivers are among those tied for 23% odds to finish in the top 10, best among drivers below $6000. Gibbs starts 33rd and Haley starts 28th.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr.: Fourth in Quality Passes (593), and he starts 31st.

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