This article is part of our NASCAR DFS series.
Toyota 200
Location: Madison, Ill.
Course: World Wide Technology Raceway
Format: 1.25-mile oval
Laps: 160
Race Preview
The playoff picture for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series largely stayed unchanged after Ross Chastain took the checkered flag last week at Charlotte. Zane Smith still leads the table with three wins while Matt Crafton currently occupies the final playoff spot with a 25-point margin back to Tanner Gray in 11th. This week will be the fifth race in as many weeks for the teams as the regular season marches on to World Wide Technology Raceway. Sheldon Creed swept the last two races at the unique 1.25-mile circuit, and the series has the most experience at the track. The prior 21 races at the track produced 19 different winners. However, the only previous circuit victor entered this week is John Hunter Nemechek, who won at the track back in 2017. Only five playoff spots remain to be decided in the final six races of the regular season.
Key Stats at World Wide Technology Raceway
- Number of races: 21
- Winners from pole: 3
- Winners from top-5 starters: 15
- Winners from top-10 starters: 19
- Winners from 21st or lower starters: 0
- Fastest race: 113.726 mph
Previous 10 World Wide Technology Raceway Winners
2021 - Sheldon Creed
2020 - Sheldon Creed
2019 - Ross Chastain
2018 - Justin Haley
2017 - John Hunter Nemechek
2016 - Christopher Bell
2015 - Cole Custer
2014 - Bubba Wallace
2010 - Kevin Harvick
2009 - Mike Skinner
World Wide Technology Raceway is a uniquely configured oval that features different radius turns at each end of the circuit. The track has relatively flat banking, which puts an emphasis on handling. Getting a vehicle's setup correct will be essential to maximizing grip and tire wear. The shallow banking also makes track position an important factor in a driver's success. Almost all of the prior races have been won by drivers starting in the first five rows. No driver has ever won starting lower than 20th, and only rarely has anyone started and won outside of the top five. Only twice in Gateway's 20-race history on the calendar has the race been won by someone starting outside of the top 10, and one of those was Creed's back-to-back wins. Qualifying could be especially important in selecting fantasy rosters this week.
DRAFTKINGS VALUE PICKS (Based on Standard $50K Salary Cap)
DraftKings Tier 1 Values
John Hunter Nemechek - $11,400
Zane Smith - $11,000
Ben Rhodes - $10,700
Carson Hocevar - $10,000
DraftKings Tier 2 Values
Christian Eckes - $9,800
Grant Enfinger - $9,600
Corey Heim - $9,300
Matt Crafton - $9,100
DraftKings Tier 3 Values
Johnny Sauter - $8,900
Ty Majeski - $8,700
Tyler Ankrum - $8,500
Matt DiBenedetto - $8,300
DraftKings Long-Shot Values
Tanner Gray - $7,900
Taylor Gray - $7,000
Tate Fogleman - $6,800
Rajah Caruth - $5,900
My Picks
Carson Hocevar - $10,000
Corey Heim - $9,300
Matt Crafton - $9,100
Matt DiBenedetto - $8,300
Chase Purdy - $7,300
Rajah Caruth - $5,900
As the playoffs approach competition will be heating up for drivers to claim the remaining positions with victories. That growing pressure, along with a number of drivers picking up momentum or having come close to wins already, factors heavily into this week's lineup. Carson Hocevar is one of the drivers aching for a win. He has come close on multiple occasions and needs to get over mistakes and get the job done. He can do that this week after finishing eighth in last year's race. Corey Heim is another driver looking to make an even bigger impression. He won earlier this season at Atlanta, and more wins would certainly go a long way to earning him a full-time ride in the series. He is also with one of the strongest teams in Kyle Busch Motorsports. Crafton is winless so far in 2022, but he is clawing his way into the playoff positions. With 10 top-10s from 18 starts at this track, he could do one better than his runner-up finish in this race last year and get his 2022 win this week. Matt DiBenedetto has gained more solid footing as the season aged and is now 60 points out of the playoff positions. He has three finishes of 11th or better in his last five races. Series regular Chase Purdy has demonstrated his consistency with three top-15s in the last five races. He started 28th and finished sixth in his only prior start at this track in last year's visit. Lastly, Rajah Caruth will make his series debut this weekend. He already made two Xfinity Series starts this season and currently leads the ARCA Series points standings. He is a rising star fantasy players will want to keep an eye on as his career progresses.
