NASCAR Cup Series New Hampshire DFS Picks

The NASCAR Cup Series heads to New Hampshire for the first race of the second round of the playoffs now that we are down to 12 drivers. There are 301 laps this week for drivers to grab dominator points so picking the right lap leaders will be key. We have the same tire that the series has used at North Wilkesboro, Richmond, and Gateway so those tracks should be the best indicator of who might be good this weekend. Track position is going to be important as it has been a lot this season but with a flatter track it will take more finesse to get around and can make it harder to pass and drive through the field.

Potential Dominators

Ryan Blaney

Joey Logano

William Byron

The Penske cars looked the class of the field in practice this week as Logano and Blaney were both really fast and they went out in qualifying and both got on the front row to start the race. I give a little edge to Blaney just because he has been more consistent this season and has been one of the best drivers recently, but it really could be a coin flip on which of these drivers gets out front the most. Logano was really happy with his car and seemed confident for the race and the long run. Both are great plays for this weekend and should be at the top of your list for potential dominators. Byron was the other fast car on the speed charts of the top drivers but he has done that a lot this season and especially recently and not backed it up in the race. He is an option this week but I but the two Penske cars significantly ahead of the field in chances of leading a lot of the race.

Place Differential Plays

Chase Elliott

Christopher Bell

Bubba Wallace

Elliott looked really good in practice on the long run but did not get a good qualifying lap as he starts back in 27th. He has a lot of room to move forward and is a great place differential option with top 5 upside in the race if he can get through traffic and be near the front at the end. If I was picking a favorite coming into the weekend I would have said Christopher Bell as he has been great here and similar tracks in his career. He didn't show much in practice which isn't uncommon for him, but he went out and qualified 19th so he has some room to move forward to get to the front. I still believe he could have a good car this weekend so he is a solid choice to pair with an early lap leader. Wallace is a bit of a tournament play as I think he will go overlooked this week but he has some good results at New Hampshire and has been good on the flat style tracks this season. He starts 14th and wasn't stand out in practice but I think he will be good on the long run and a solid option this week.

Cheap Options

Austin Dillon

John Hunter Nemechek

Daniel Suarez

Noah Gragson

Justin Haley

There were not a lot of stand outs this week for the cheap drivers so I am looking at drivers that have been good on flat style tracks in recent weeks this season. Dillon, Nemechek, and Suarez have all had speed at some of the flat style tracks recently like Richmond and Gateway and they all have big place differential potential this week starting outside the top 25. Dillon and Suarez had solid lap times in practice and if all these guys can get track position and avoid getting lapped early they could be solid cheap options. Gragson was one of the few cheap drivers that had good speed in practice on the lap averages and starts way in the back in 33rd. He should be a solid option to move forward with his upside at his cheap salary. Another good value play but is a little riskier with his 21st starting spot is Justin Haley. Haley has some concern as he has shown speed in practice recently but has not backed it up in the race. He is a risky play as I could see him running top 15 or around 30th or anywhere in between.

BONUS TOURNAMENT PLAY:

Carson Hocevar

Hocevar is a good tournament play this week as he was really good in practice but he starts up in 6th. He will need some dominator points but if he can stay around the top 5 he could be a great play this week.