NASCAR DFS: Building an Optimal Lineup for Sunday's Consumers Energy 400

Typically running back-to-back NASCAR Cup Series races in consecutive days at Michigan International Speedway would be dreadful. But after Saturday's (Aug. 8) thriller, not so much anymore.

As predicted, Kevin Harvick dominated the first event at MIS, putting up big numbers for DraftKings players. For the second race of the doubleheader, the No. 4 Ford is going to be an attractive pick; the car he's running is undefeated and now the fastest thing in the Irish Hills has to come from deep in the field.

But after Harvick there's some wiggle room. Brad Keselowski finished second at his home racetrack for a third time, while there were some surprise names that were quick on Saturday. Let's see who should fill your DraftKings DFS lineup for Sunday's event.

My DFS Lineup - Consumers Energy 400

Kevin Harvick ($11,500)

Career at Michigan: 39 starts, 4 wins, 609 laps led
Average finish at Michigan: 11.4

Did you watch Saturday's race? No. Let me fill you in: Harvick stole the damn show.

Leading a race-high 92 of 161 laps, Harvick earned DFS players 23 additional points for leading laps on Saturday, plus he had the fastest car by far. Surprisingly, his price only went up $500 after that butt-whoopin'.

Expect more of the same on Sunday, as he's got MIS figured out. The No. 4 car has won three of the past four races at the track, earning nine top-five finishes in 13 races at the track since joining Stewart-Haas Racing in 2014. You best center your lineup around Harvick.

Brad Keselowski ($10,500)

Career at Michigan: 22 starts, 0 wins, 252 laps led
Average finish at Michigan: 11.5

As Kyle Busch said following Saturday's race, "It was a race for second." And Keselowski was the guy who won that race.

No, it wasn't what the Michigan native wanted, earning his third career runner-up result, but Keselowski is on a role, earning six consecutive top-10 finishes for the season. In a Zoom call with media on Thursday (Aug. 6), he said in some regards, on paper, this is arguably his best season to date.

There's a good chance the No. 2 team runs up front again on Sunday. Keselowski is methodical, and will likely be better the second time out at a racetrack in consecutive days. It's a high price to have both Harvick and the 2012 champion on your team, but look how it worked on Saturday!

Cole Custer ($7,500)

Career at Michigan: 1 start, o wins, 0 laps led
Average finish at Michigan: 34.0

This lineup is starting to look familiar, isn't it? Yup.

Custer was on pace to score big points in the first race at Michigan, running inside the top 15. However, a late crash halted the No. 41 team to a disappointing 34th-place finish.

Unfortunately, the Mike Shiplett-led team will have a lot of additional work to do before the green flag on Sunday, as the No. 41 is in need of a backup car. But Custer's 34th-place starting position makes him an attractive pick and is quite the steal for his price.

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Ricky Stenhouse Jr. ($7,300)

Career at Michigan: 15 starts, 0 wins, 0 laps led
Average finish at Michigan: 22.4

If you could buy luck, I'm pretty sure JTG Daugherty Racing would have done so a long time ago. The team's dismal season continued in the opening race at MIS, though Stenhouse ran inside the top 15 all race long.

Coming to the green inside the top 12 on a green-white-checkered restart, Stenhouse had a flat tire, having to pit. Unfortunately for the No. 47 team, there were no other cautions in the event, taking the checkered flag in 32nd, not at all indicative of where he ran.

That's good for you, though; I'll tell you why. Stenhouse is running the same No. 47 Chevrolet on Sunday, and he proved what it could do in the opening race of the weekend. Expect him to hustle through the field, capitalizing on a decent finish tomorrow.... or the bad luck continues? It's a risky pick, but I advise it.

Austin Dillon ($6,500)

Career at Michigan: 16 starts, 0 wins, 34 laps led
Average finish at Michigan: 16.9

Strategy, strategy, strategy. On a Stage 3 pit stop on Saturday, Dillon's crew chief -- Justin Alexander -- elected for fuel only, giving the No. 3 track position. The driver took advantage of the gift, after he was running in the low teens in mid-20s previously.

Dillon would be a mainstay in the top 10 for the stage.... until he was spun by Christopher Bell, then collecting Ryan Newman. It's likely the No. 3 Chevy will need to go to a backup car, as he pounded the outside wall.

Regardless, Dillon is credited with a 31st-place finish, meaning he too is starting deep in the field. Ironically, Michigan is one of Dillon's best racetracks on the circuit, scoring a pair of top-five finishes on the 2-mile oval. For $6,500, the No. 3 car is a gift.

Michael McDowell ($6,200)

Career at Michigan: 13 starts, 0 wins, 1 lap led
Average finish at Michigan: 31.6

Don't let McDowell's average finish fool you, four of his 13 races at Michigan were start and parks. Since running at the track with Leavine Family Racing, then Front Row Motorsports, he's been consistently in the 20s.

Good? No. But McDowell is in the midst of a career renaissance in 2020, earning two top-10 finishes on tracks similar to Michigan: Pocono Raceway and Indianapolis Motor Speedway. And in Saturday's event, the No. 34 was solid, until he got involved in the wreck with Dillon and Newman.

Again, McDowell starts far back in the field -- 29th -- and will likely improve on that in the finishing order. Don't be surprised if the No. 34 cracks the top 15 again, earning your team critical points.

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