Welcome to the second elimination week of the NASCAR playoffs as the drivers head to Kansas Speedway in what should be a fierce "Battle Royale". The racing on Sunday should be at its highest performance due to most of the drivers in the playoffs being superior when running this track. You'll want to make sure you have your barbeque sauce on deck, and you could even take the Sunday to dress up like Andy Reid just to get in the Kansas City spirit (send pics for real if you do).
In my Sleepers and Drivers To Avoid article this week, I listed Daniel Hemric as my top sleeper, and to top off the pick, Hemric won the pole on Saturday. This update does give me a bit of worry about his fantasy production, but there's no doubt that Hemric knows how to get the most out of his Richard Childress Racing Chevy Camaro this week. Another shocker was David Ragan grabbing P2 behind Hemric, qualifying with a speed of 177.842.
Kevin Harvick will be starting in P40 after not posting a qualifying time due to failed inspections. Martin Truex Jr. also failed tech twice, but won't suffer the consequence of having to start from the rear on Sunday. With all these playoff drivers holding the best fantasy averages in Kansas, it should make for a loaded day of production, and the action that comes along with that will be electric.
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DFS Lineup Picks - DraftKings, FanDuel
Kurt Busch #1 (DraftKings $9,000 | FanDuel $9,200)
It's good to be "Back on my Busch-it" after a little while. Busch looked great in practice, and finished inside the Top 10 in both runs.
Busch qualified 15th on Saturday, and using his practice runs mixed with his average of 34 FPTS at this track, I think it's safe to say he will put up some good numbers. Busch is also rolling in a bright-colored paint scheme that he'll want to show off finishing inside the Top 10.
Kevin Harvick #4 (DraftKings $11,000 | FanDuel $14,500)
Harvick may be the fantasy pick of the year with his placement this Sunday. Harvick failed to qualify due to failed inspection that will put him starting in P40.
This is a DFS player's dream come true with a driver that leads fantasy points averages at this track with a total of 69.75 FPTS. Get ready to see Harvick fly through the pack in the first few laps on Sunday.
Clint Bowyer #14 (DraftKings $8,800 | FanDuel $10,000)
Bowyer is on the verge of being knocked out of the playoffs this weekend, and that fact combined with him headed to his home track gives me a strange feeling that something amazing could happen. Bowyer has never won a race at this track, but with all the tough blows he's had this season, he's about due for some good luck.
I don't want to come out and say I'm 100 percent confident he will win this race, but I do know he can put up some good fantasy production. Bowyer had mediocre practice sessions, and qualified 21st, but had a Top 5 finish at this track back in May.
Brad Keselowski #2 (DraftKings $9,600 | FanDuel $12,000)
If anything is going to slam this weekend, it's Brad K starting inside the Top 5. Keselowski should be quick to work his way to the lead early, and rack up those fantasy points in your lineups before anyone else close to him has the chance.
Keselowski also has a hella fast car that posted a speed of 177.667 during qualifying, and he finished every pre-race run inside the Top 5. Go ahead and break out the Miller Lite because they won't be holding back this Sunday in Victory Lane.
More NASCAR DFS Analysis
Be sure to also check out this week's Revvin' Up, a weekly video series by Sean Engel focused on previewing every Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race from DFS perspectives. Sean Engel is a six-time DraftKings NASCAR DFS tournament winner and a 15-year NASCAR veteran.
For any and all fantasy NASCAR questions, find me on Twitter @GarageGuyChase and subscribe to the Garage Guys Fantasy Sports Podcast for Fantasy Football and NASCAR talk. Good luck RotoBallers!
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