One of the joys of Talladega is that is an ultimate team-based race. The drivers who do the best here often find each other, create drafting lines, and help simplify this long and complex track. As I previewed on Wednesday, seven of the last ten winners have driven Fords, so obviously, this model dominated the qualifiers, and it’s all easy street from here.
Except no Fords are starting in the Top 10.
In a race where teamwork actually makes the dream work (and rhymes, so you know it’s true!), four Toyotas from Joe Gibbs Racing sit in the Top 12. Christopher Bell and Martin Truex, Jr., start in the front row, with Bell having won the pole by running the only lap in less than 53 seconds and topping out at 180.9 mph. The other sets of teammates in the Top 10 are the Hendrick Motorsports pair Kyle Larson (fifth)/William Byron (eighth) and 23XI Racing’s Kurt Busch, and last year’s winner, Bubba Wallace.
However, the other Hendrick Motorsports duo – Chase Elliott and Alex Bowman – intrigue me. They start right next to each other at 27 and 28, which provides fantasy players optimal positional movement points while still having a good chance at victory since they are sequentially paired.
Joey Logano is the first Ford starting in spot 13, while his Team Penske teammates Austin Cindric and Ryan Blaney are 18 and 22, respectively. One of the reasons Ford drivers have been so dominant in the past was their ability to locate and connect quickly, and those three are fantastic options. But don’t overlook the Stewart-Haas Racing trio of Chase Briscoe, Aric Almirola, and Kevin Harvick, who are bunched between Nos. 17 and 24.
Geico 500 DFS Picks
In the two tables below, we’ll first look at the most significant values I see on the board for Talladega in FanDuel and DraftKings. Then I’ll outline two lineups I plan to submit, one for each site. If you have any thoughts, questions, or bragging rights in a contest, reach out to me on Twitter at @thewonkypenguin. And, as always, good luck!
FanDuel Values
| Driver | Salary | QP |
|---|---|---|
| Corey Lajoie | $4,000 | 33 |
| Chris Buescher | $7,000 | 30 |
| Aric Almirola | $7,300 | 23 |
| Alex Bowman | $8,000 | 27 |
| Chase Briscoe | $9,700 | 17 |
| TOTAL | $32,000 |
DraftKings Values
| Driver | Salary | QP |
|---|---|---|
| Cole Custer | $5,600.00 | 29 |
| Chris Buescher | $6,900.00 | 30 |
| Ross Chastain | $7,700.00 | 19 |
| Bubba Wallace | $8,100.00 | 9 |
| Chase Briscoe | $8,800.00 | 17 |
| TOTAL | $37,100.00 |
On FanDuel, I love Bowman at $8,000 starting at 27. Again, he and Elliott begin next to each other, which should afford them immediate team strategy options. He has been running so well in 2022, and at 8K, you can fit him in most lineups. On DraftKings, both Ross Chastain and Chase Briscoe seem to have friendly pricing. I prefer Briscoe if I can only have one, but I plan to have both in at least one Talladega lineup. If you’re in need, look to that grouping in the 20s for positional value opportunities.
FanDuel Values
| Driver | Salary | QP |
|---|---|---|
| Ryan Blaney | $14,000.00 | 22 |
| Austin Cindric | $8,500.00 | 18 |
| William Byron | $10,500.00 | 8 |
| Aric Almirola | $7,300.00 | 23 |
| Chase Briscoe | $9,700.00 | 17 |
| TOTAL | $50,000.00 |
DraftKings Values
| Driver | Salary | QP |
|---|---|---|
| Ryan Blaney | $10,500.00 | 22 |
| Joey Logano | $10,300.00 | 13 |
| Bubba Wallace | $8,100.00 | 9 |
| Austin Cindric | $7,900.00 | 18 |
| Chris Buescher | $6,900.00 | 30 |
| Corey Lajoie | $5,200.00 | 33 |
| TOTAL | 48900 |