This article is part of our NASCAR DFS series.
NextEra Energy 250
Location: Daytona Beach, Fla.
Course: Daytona International Speedway
Format: 2.5-mile tri-oval
Laps: 100
Race Preview
The 2021 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series gets underway this Friday night at Daytona International Speedway in the NextEra Energy 250. Sheldon Creed captured the series title last year in Phoenix and led the series with five total wins. Grant Enfinger won this race last season before the pandemic paused the series. Enfinger learned just last week that he will have to split time in his truck this season after finishing fourth in the championship just last year with four wins. This season the drivers have 22 races to make their marks and work their way into the season-ending playoffs with an eye on a final-four appearance in the season finale. Plenty of new drivers, new teams and expanded race fields for races that forego qualifying, will give fantasy players a lot of new options to consider as they prepare their rosters.
Key Stats at Daytona International Speedway
- Number of races: 21
- Winners from pole: 4
- Winners from top-5 starters: 9
- Winners from top-10 starters: 13
- Winners from 21st or lower starters: 4
- Fastest race: 146.622 mph
Previous 10 Daytona Winners
2020 - Grant Enfinger
2019 - Austin Hill
2018 - Johnny Sauter
2017 - Kaz Grala
2016 - Johnny Sauter
2015 - Tyler Reddick
2014 - Kyle Busch
2013 - Johnny Sauter
2012 - John King
2011 - Michael Waltrip
Enfinger won the annual series visit to Daytona last February. He led 41 of the 106 laps raced and just edged out Jordan Anderson in a race to the checkered flag. Riley Herbst started that race on pole and led the first 21 laps until after the first caution when Enfinger got out front for the first time of the day. Enfinger went on to win the second stage in the race and take the race win. That victory was Ford's first at the track in the series since Tyler Reddick took the checkered flag in 2015. Austin Hill won for Toyota in 2019, but Chevrolet trucks captured the three wins prior. While starting position doesn't have as big of an impact at Daytona as it does on other circuits, no one has started lower than 11th and won this race since Johnny Sauter won from the 25th starting position in 2013.
DRAFTKINGS VALUE PICKS (Based on Standard $50K Salary Cap)
DraftKings Tier 1 Values
Sheldon Creed - $10,600
John Hunter Nemechek - $10,400
Austin Hill - $10,200
DraftKings Tier 2 Values
Ben Rhodes - $9,800
Grant Enfinger - $9,600
Brett Moffitt - $9,400
Zane Smith - $9,100
DraftKings Tier 3 Values
Timothy Peters - $8,900
Stewart Friesen - $8,800
Tyler Ankrum - $8,600
Johnny Sauter - $8,200
DraftKings Long-Shot Values
Parker Kligerman - $7,700
Raphael Lessard - $7,600
Derek Kraus - $7,300
Chase Purdy - $7,200
Hailie Deegan - $6,400
MY PICKS THIS WEEK ($50k Salary Cap)
Sheldon Creed - $10,600
Grant Enfinger - $9,600
Johnny Sauter - $8,200
Raphael Lessard - $7,600
Derek Kraus - $7,300
Hailie Deegan - $6,400
Sheldon Creed enters the 2021 season as defending champion in the Truck Series. He finished ninth at Daytona last season and led a total of 23 laps in two series starts at the track. His practice speed was only 25th fastest, but he will have been focusing on race setup for Friday night's big prize. Grant Enfinger is the defending race winner. He edged out Jordan Anderson to take the trophy last season, which was his third consecutive finish of sixth or better at the track. He had the eighth fastest practice time on Thursday. Three-time Daytona winner Johnny Sauter takes the next spot this week. The veteran is a consistent top-10 finisher at Daytona and has 12 series starts at the track. He was third fastest in Thursday's practice session and should have one of the faster trucks on track in Friday's race. Raphael Lessard finished 12th in the series standings last season with one win at Talladega. He showed he can win on superspeedways with that effort and will bring that confidence to Daytona this week. Derek Kraus started 16th and finished fourth in his only series start at Daytona last season. He went on to finish 11th in the series standings. Finally, Hailie Deegan makes her full-time series debut this week. She moves up from the ARCA series after making her debut in a truck last season at Kansas Speedway when she finished 16th.
