RADIO
The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series is back in action this week as the series heads to Las Vegas Motor Speedway. This is the third week in a row that the series has raced, but it'll be off next weekend.
Last week, Cup Series regular Kyle Busch dipped down into the Truck Series and drove to victory lane at Atlanta. Busch is back again this week and is the early favorite. Christopher Bell also dips down from Cup this week. Can any of the series regulars make a run at the two Cup drivers?
Here at RotoBaller, we want to help you make informed decisions about your DFS lineups, which is why I'll be breaking down the slates for the Craftsman Truck Series. Let's look at some NASCAR Truck Series DFS lineup picks for the Victoria's Voice Foundation 200 on DraftKings. Be sure to also check out our NASCAR Premium Tools for Truck Series including our DFS Lineup Optimizer and powerful Research Station. This slate locks on 3/1/2024 at 9:00 p.m. EST.
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Truck Series DFS Preview - DraftKings
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Las Vegas Race Trends
After two weeks at drafting tracks, the NASCAR Truck Series heads to Las Vegas Motor Speedway this weekend. This place is a lot more normal than the first two tracks were, making it a little easier to predict things.
Last March, Kyle Busch dominated this race, leading 84 of the 134 laps. There were just six cautions and 16 lead changes in the race. Of the top 10 drivers at the close of the night, all started 17th or better.
Compare that to Atlanta last weekend. Half of the top 10 finishers started 18th or worse and the driver with the most laps led was in front for 46 laps. Then compare that to Daytona the week before, which saw eight of the top 10 start 19th or worse and no one lead more than 26 laps.
This week will be a lot more predictable. Someone likely leads a ton of laps. The drivers who start near the front will mostly stay there. You'll get some place differential drivers who go +10 or so from the 30s into the 20s or maybe the teens, but it won't be like it's been lately.
Drivers Who Could Dominate
Note: This section was written before qualifying.
Kyle Busch ($14,500) is the obvious candidate to dominate here. Any concerns that this Spire truck wouldn't be as good as his old KBM equipment are out the window after last week's showing, as he led 33 laps and won at Atlanta. Now, he heads to Vegas, where he's been dominant. Busch has run here in the Truck Series six years in a row. His worst finish is second. He's led over 50 laps in four of those races. He really costs a lot of salary space so playing him makes lineup building tough, but he's probably going to win this race.
Kyle Busch Las Vegas Truck Race Day Graphic | @Group_1001 @KyleBusch @SpireMotorsport pic.twitter.com/aANwgM8WTL
— Rolando✭⭕ (@RTR_Graphics97) March 1, 2024
Christopher Bell ($11,500) is a nice pivot off Busch, though. He might not have the same track record, but he's a talented Cup Series driver in good equipment. There's no reason to think he can't challenge Busch in this one, especially when Bell had top fives in both Cup Series races here last year.
Then there's Corey Heim ($10,500) if you want a Truck Series regular. If he qualifies on the first or second row, I could see him getting the lead early. He was fourth in his only start at this track.
Finally, we have Zane Smith ($10,000), who will be in the 91 this week. He was second in this race last year and has three other Truck Series top 10s at Vegas. I would probably rank him fourth of the top contenders, but wouldn't be shocked if he dominates. It's really all about track position.
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Top Place Differential Plays
Check back here after qualifying for thoughts on place differential.
I mentioned Corey Heim as a driver who could dominate this race. Well...he starts 25th, so dominating might be off the table, but the huge place differential upside still makes him a top play. Christopher Bell is in a similar situation, though starting 14th won't offer the same PD upside as Heim.
Beyond this, Layne Riggs down in 21st might be one of the top plays now. This No. 38 truck was really good here last year when Zane Smith was in it.
As for value PD options, Tanner Gray starts 24th and costs $7,200. Dean Thompson starts 23rd and costs $6,900. And then Conner Jones at $5,900 in 26th is another driver I'll have in multiple lineups.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Deep Sleepers
Pre-qualifying thoughts
We won't know more until we see how qualifying shakes out, but just looking through the field and the DraftKings pricing, I think Dean Thompson ($6,900) and Rajah Caruth ($6,700) aren't being priced quite where they should be yet. Caruth in particular has looked strong this season.
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— Spire Motorsports (@SpireMotorsport) February 28, 2024
Jake Garcia ($6,500) is in a really good truck. Bret Holmes ($5,800) has looked solid, but I don't know if I love the truck he's in on a non-superspeedway. Sprinkle play if he starts outside the top 25.
I'm also interested in Connor Mosack ($6,100) and Conner Jones ($5,900) if they start closer to the back. Both are in good trucks, but I'm not sure how well this track suits them.
Post-qualifying thoughts
So, about Caruth—he got the pole for this one. There's a lot of negative place differential downside, but if he can use that clean air at the start to lead double-digit laps, then this could be a great play. Plenty of risk, but I'm high on Caruth as a driver.
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