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The NASCAR Cup Series is in Richmond this weekend for the Cook Out 400. This marks a return to racing after two weeks off for the Olympics. It's been great to watch the Olympics, but I also really missed watching NASCAR racing.
The last time we were at Richmond was back in March. Martin Truex Jr. was the dominant driver in that race, but Denny Hamlin got the lead on the overtime restart and went on to win the race, with MTJ fading back to fourth. Can he get revenge this weekend and net the victory?
Below are my NASCAR DFS lineup picks for the Cook Out 400 on DraftKings and FanDuel this week. This slate locks on 8/11/2024 at 5:59 p.m. EDT. If you have any questions or want to talk about NASCAR, you can find me on X at @juscarts.
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DFS Lineup Picks - DraftKings, FanDuel
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Martin Truex Jr.
Starts Second - DK: $10.1K, FD: $13.0K
Time is running out for Martin Truex Jr. if he wants to win a race in his final full-time season in the Cup Series, but Richmond offers one of his best chances of the season. His front-row starting spot gives him a good shot to get out front early and then it's just about minimizing mistakes and running his best race.
Making his final full-time start at Richmond Raceway, Martin Truex Jr. talks about his favorite moment at the track from over the years.
“To finally get one after so many close ones was neat.” pic.twitter.com/C2JcTw76Ob
— Jeffrey Hrunka (@JeffreyHrunka) August 10, 2024
Richmond has been a good track for Truex since he joined Joe Gibb Racing back in 2019. In his 10 starts here since then, Truex has three wins and his worst finish was 11th. He's led over 100 laps in four of those races, including leading 228 of them earlier in 2024. Truex wound up fourth in that race back in March, leading up through the scheduled end of the race before being unable to get it done in overtime as he lost the lead to Denny Hamlin on pit road.
Brad Keselowski
Starts 29th - DK: $9.6K, FD: $9.5K
Before qualifying, Brad Keselowski looked like a favorite to win this race. The driver of the No. 6 RFK Racing Ford comes in his three consecutive top 10s at Richmond, including a sixth-place effort last fall that saw him lead 102 laps, his sixth time leading 100-plus laps at this track.
Going for consistency this weekend: 7th in practice and qualifying for the 17!
Still speed to be found for the 6 car...@FastenalCompany | @BuildSubmarines pic.twitter.com/DfRhSzgZmh
— RFK Racing (@RFKracing) August 10, 2024
Alas, a poor qualifying effort finds him mired back in 29th to start this race. While Chris Buescher won here from 26th last year, the last time a driver started 29th or worse and won at Richmond was back in 2018. It's going to be a tough task for Brad K. However, there's very clear and obvious place differential upside for this team, making him a strong DFS play.
Chris Buescher
Starts Seventh - DK: $8.9K, FD: $10.0K
Chris Buescher, the winner here last fall, starts seventh on Sunday night. The No. 7 car has run well here in this new-gen car, with three top 1s in the last five Richmond races. He led 88 laps in the race last fall as the two RFK cars were just incredibly strong all race long. Buescher was ninth here back in March. Expect him to be in contention on Sunday.
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Tyler Reddick
Starts 10th - DK: $8.8K, FD: $9.0K
Tyler Reddick enters this race on one of the hottest streaks in the Cup Series, posting top-10 finishes in five consecutive races, including a pair of runner-up results in that span.
Richmond hasn't been Reddick's best track as he has just one top 10 here in eight Cup Series starts, but he's found speed here over his last two starts. He won the pole in this race last year and led 81 laps before fading down to 16th, then in March he finished 10th. While I wouldn't pick Reddick to win, I think he runs a solid race and is up in the top 10 for most of the evening.
Todd Gilliland
Starts 23rd - DK: $6.5K, FD: $5.5K
While I wish Todd Gilliland started a little deeper for place differential reasons, I still think he's a strong value option. This No. 38 car has two top 10s in the last three races and a top-20 result in 11 of the past 12 races. This Front Row Motorsports team has shown solid speed lately and Gilliland should be a contender for a top 15.
Justin Haley
Starts 36th - DK: $6.0K, FD: $5.0K
Rumors are swirling right now that Justin Haley's performance this season for Rick Ware Racing has been strong enough for him to be the top candidate to join Rodney Childers in the Spire No. 7 car.
It makes sense, as Haley has turned this No. 51 car from a backmarker into a solid mid-pack ride. He's finished in the top 20 in three of the past four races, and in the last two races has been +15 and +12 in place differential.
Justin sits P14 and heads back on track after making adjustments pic.twitter.com/CCGFLG0Jvd
— Justin Haleys Strongest Soldier (@JFlynn3563) August 10, 2024
That's an important consideration because Haley showed some speed in practice, but struggled in qualifying and will start way back in 36th. There's anywhere from 10-20 points of place differential up for grabs here with this RWR machine.
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