RADIO
For the first time this season, NASCAR is going to a track where teams can decide their own fate -- Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Sure, the usual suspects run up front on superspeedways and road courses, but as we've seen the last two weeks, it can all be gone in an instant. Of course, that can still happen at an intermediate racetrack like Homestead, but many drivers believe the real 2021 season kicks off this weekend (even though there are a combined 11 races on superspeedways and road courses!).
When it comes to picking a daily fantasy lineup (DFS) for Homestead, don't think too far out the box. And, oh yeah, maybe reflect on some stats from drivers running in the Xfinity Series.
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DFS Lineup Picks - DraftKings, FanDuel
Be sure to also check out all of our other weekly NASCAR DFS articles, rankings and and analysis to help you set your optimal DFS lineups.
Denny Hamlin
(DraftKings $9,600 | FanDuel $13,500 | DK SportsBook +500 )
To my surprise, Hamlin is just the sixth-most expensive driver for DraftKings this weekend, at $9,600. FanDuel has the No. 11 team listed as the second priciest driver, while he's the favorite to win the race, according to DK SportsBook.
My advice: Hamlin is a no-brainer at Homestead.
For the fifth straight year, Hamlin will start from the pole at Homestead. Not too long ago (2020), the No. 11 Toyota led more than half the race (137 of 267 laps) en route to the victory. Hamlin is no slouch in South Beach; tied with Greg Biffle for the most wins in track history. He's your layup this weekend.
Martin Truex Jr.
(DraftKings $11,400 | FanDuel $13,500 | DK SportsBook +700)
If Homestead is Hamlin's playground, Truex wants to go for a swing.
Aside from last June's race where Truex ran uncharacteristically bad at Homestead (finished 12th), the New Jersey native had been stout at the track over the previous three races with top-two finishes in all of them. Let's not forget, he won the 2017 championship at the very same track, outlasting Kyle Busch.
In 2018 and 2019, Truex came up just short, losing out to Joey Logano and Busch; where in both races he had the quickest racecar. Sure, the No. 19 car is a bit pricy, but starting ninth, you've got some room to work with.
Kyle Larson
(DraftKings $10,700 | FanDuel $11,300 | DK SportsBook +850)
OK, so obviously you won't be able to have all these big-name drivers on your team, but again the point of this is to help you fill out the lineup. And Larson isn't a shrub at Homestead, either.
No, Larson hasn't found victory lane yet at the 1.5-mile track, but he's been damn close multiple times, rim-riding the wall. That aggressiveness, inches from the wall has speed, and more times than not the California native has overdriven his machine and hurt his chances at a victory.
However, Larson is a solid choice. He's led 45 or more laps in three of his seven starts at Homestead (with two being over 130), so those additional points could benefit your team this weekend.
Tyler Reddick
(DraftKings $8,500 | FanDuel $9,200 | DK SportsBook +2200)
Because Reddick starts 35th, I'm quite surprised the No. 8 car isn't more expensive on either DraftKings or FanDuel. Do yourself a favor: take advantage of that.
With Larson not racing at Homestead in 2020, Reddick was the show. In his first Cup start at the venue, he finished fourth, and was a top-five car all race long. Quite impressive for a rookie.
Now that Reddick has a full year of Cup experience under his belt, expect him to be even more aggressive this weekend. He doesn't have much to gauge off of in Cup at the track, but remember, in three Xfinity starts, he's earned two victories, two championships and a runner-up finish. So yeah, probably a good idea to start the No. 8.
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Aric Almirola
(DraftKings $7,900 | FanDuel $7,800 | DK SportsBook +5000)
We're getting to the point where we want to find quality drivers for valuable prices for your lineup. Look no further than Almirola.
Yes, it might be a short sample size, but in last year's race, Almirola rounded out the top five, which led to a five-race stretch of consecutive top-five finishes. But even more, Homestead is the only intermediate track on the Cup circuit that the Florida native has multiple top-five finishes at.
Through two races in 2021, Almirola hasn't gotten off to the hottest start, sitting tied for 20th in points. Expect his first top-10 finish of the season to come this weekend.
Ross Chastain
(DraftKings $7,400 | FanDuel $6,200 | DK SportsBook +15000)
Homestead is a style of track that fits in well with Chastain's driving style. Similar to Larson and Reddick, the driver of the No. 42 is quite aggressive, which can play dividends at Homestead.
This will be Chastain's first real opportunity in a quality Cup car at Homestead, so we can't look at any of his past Cup numbers. But on the Xfinity side, he had finishes of ninth and third, respectively, last year with Kaulig Racing.
Across the board, Chastain is relatively cheap. The fact he starts 32nd is also a positive for you, because there's almost only one way the No. 42 can go: forward.
Chase Briscoe
(DraftKings $7,200 | FanDuel $7,000 | DK SportsBook +8000)
If you ask Briscoe what is favorite track in NASCAR is, he's going to tell you Homestead. And boy did he put on a show last year in the Xfinity races, rebounding from seven laps down to finish seventh in the first race, while taking the lead late to win the second race.
Everyone knew there would be growing pains for Briscoe his rookie season in Cup. Everyone also knows how solid of a racecar driver he's proven to be over the past few years, developing from ARCA to the Truck Series to Xfinity, now Cup.
So there will definitely be times this season where everyone expected more from the No. 14 Ford; there will also be other times he has a breakout performance. Like Reddick last year, expect one of those performances to come at Homestead.
Corey LaJoie
(DraftKings $5,400 | FanDuel $3,000 | DK SportsBook +75000)
The fact LaJoie is this cheap seems criminal.
Over the offseason, LaJoie has repeatedly said how a lot more is expected from Spire Motorsports this season, as it has an alliance with Chip Ganassi Racing. So you would think, at tracks like Homestead, the No. 7 car will have a chance to showcase its ability.
But for the prices alone, LaJoie is worth taking a shot on this weekend. This weekend will be a good benchmark for what the team has equipment-wise in 2021.
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