Blu-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 400: NASCAR DFS Picks

In our Blu-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 400 preview, we discussed Martinsville Speedway, the shortest track on the NASCAR circuit. We also talked about the importance of a qualifying position (QP) for such a track.

Friday afternoon’s qualifiers created a plethora of lineup possibilities for tonight’s race under the lights. Chase Elliott took pole position and was the only driver to complete a lap in less than 19.7 seconds, finishing in 17.694 seconds. When asked about it, Elliott discussed the importance of having the first choice on the pit box, which matters immensely on this short of a track.

Blu-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 400 DFS Picks

If you’re looking for some race day recommendations, I’ve got you covered for both FanDuel and DraftKings. If you’re playing season-long, even if I am not sure of the independent salaries in your league, I’ll give you a variety of choices I like.

One note: Remember that a qualifying position (QP) is crucial concerning NASCAR fantasy. FanDuel rewards laps led with only 0.1 points, but you earn or lose 0.5 points for place differential. On DraftKings, it’s even starker: Laps led is 0.25 points, whereas place differential is +/- 1 point.

Let’s look at who I consider being a good value in Martinsville today.

Martin Truex, Jr., starting in 20th position, is a gift from the DFS gods to us, and we should accept it with open arms. It is rare for the most expensive driver on the slate to be a good value, but his lower QP creates an almost-guaranteed positive outcome as long as he finishes the race. There are ways to build a winning lineup that doesn’t include him, and there is good reason to fade him a little in GPPs, but overall, there are more reasons to have him this week because of the QP.

On FanDuel, I like the combination of Daniel Suarez and Austin Dillon in the $6,000-range to allow for salary flexibility in the other three slots. Over on DraftKings, Ty Dillon fills in at the low cost of $5,500 and runs well on short tracks; with his QP of 34, he has nowhere to go but up, so you don’t have to worry much about negative numbers from him. In addition, I like Denny Hamlin starting in 25th for both the positional value and the fact that I think he is still a viable option to win the whole thing.

Chase Elliott is also listed as a value on DraftKings because his prowess at this track should have him leading a high number of laps. In season-long leagues where laps led is worth a lot of points, Elliott is a must for tonight’s race.

It’s fun to go racing under the lights, so make sure you tune in for the excitement at Martinsville tonight. Here are two lineups I will be entering, one for each site. If you want to talk fantasy racing, hit me up on Twitter at @thewonkypenguin.