This article is part of our NASCAR DFS series.
Pocono Organics 225
Location: Long Pond, Pa.
Course: Pocono Raceway
Format: 2.5-mile tri-oval
Laps: 90
Race Preview
The NASCAR Xfinity Series visits Pocono Raceway this week for the sixth time in a Sunday double-header with the Cup Series. Chase Briscoe won last year's trip to Pocono from the third starting position. Harrison Burton and Justin Allgaier will lead the field to the green flag from the front row, with AJ Allmendinger and Brandon Jones behind them on row 2. All four drivers were among the top six finishers last week at Nashville where Kyle Busch grabbed his 100th series win. All five series races at Pocono have produced different winners, and every one of those victors started inside the top 10. Without on-track practice and qualifying to analyze, fantasy players should focus on starting position as well as past history at the track.
Key Stats at Pocono Raceway
- Number of races: 5
- Winners from pole: 1
- Winners from top-5 starters: 4
- Winners from top-10 starters: 5
- Winners from 21st or lower starters: 0
- Fastest race: 135.583 mph
Previous Pocono Winners
2020 - Chase Briscoe
2019 - Cole Custer
2018 - Kyle Busch
2017 - Brad Keselowski
2016 - Kyle Larson
Pocono's long straights and unique corners reward top starting positions. Teams starting outside of the top 10 must focus their attention on ensuring their cars are as fast as they can be while also looking for opportunities to help their drivers gain track position. The 2.5-mile lap distance enables green-flag stops without losing lapa, which makes this race one where strategy can play a significant role in the outcome. The best strategy is a fast car, however. High horsepower enables drivers to pull off passes at the end of the circuit's long straights, and drivers must maximize speed at corner exit to set up those passes, though. Restarts could be the best opportunity to gain positions, but the longer green flag runs will enable leaders to separate themselves from the competition.
DRAFTKINGS VALUE PICKS (Based on Standard $50K Salary Cap)
DraftKings Tier 1 Values
Austin Cindric - $11,000
Ty Gibbs - $10,800
Noah Gragson - $10,600
Justin Allgaier - $10,400
DraftKings Tier 2 Values
Daniel Hemric - $9,700
AJ Allmendinger - $9,500
Harrison Burton - $9,300
Brandon Jones - $9,100
DraftKings Tier 3 Values
Riley Herbst - $8,900
Justin Haley - $8,700
Santino Ferrucci - $8,500
Brandon Brown - $8,300
DraftKings Long-Shot Values
Jeb Burton - $7,800
Austin Hill - $7,500
Brett Moffitt - $6,700
Jade Buford - $5,900
MY PICKS THIS WEEK
Lower-Risk Lineup ($50K Salary Cap)
Austin Cindric - $11,000
Daniel Hemric - $9,700
Justin Haley - $8,700
Jeb Burton - $7,800
Brett Moffitt - $6,700
Landon Cassill - $6,100
Pocono has been a good venue for Austin Cindric. His three starts produced two top-10s, and he led 11 laps and won the opening stage last year. Daniel Hemric lines up sixth for Sunday's race. Like Cindric, he also has two top-10s from three starts at this track and crashed out of last year's race. He finished third in 2018, however. Justin Haley will start Sunday's race in the 11th position. He has one top-10 from two starts at the track, a ninth-place finish in 2019. Jeb Burton has been a reliable top-10 finisher for fantasy rosters this season. He will start Sunday's race in the top five and has a good shot at scoring another top finish for fantasy players. Starting deeper in the field is Brett Moffitt in 17th. It will be his second series start at the track. He finished seventh from the 18th starting position last year. Veteran Landon Cassill finishes off the lower-risk lineup. He has 19 Cup Series starts at the track with a best finish of 14th.
Higher-Risk Lineup ($50K Salary Cap)
Ty Gibbs - $10,800
Harrison Burton - $9,300
Santino Ferrucci - $8,500
Michael Annett - $8,000
Austin Hill - $7,500
Jade Buford - $5,900
Ty Gibbs has been nothing short of sensational in his limited series appearances this season. He will start this week's race 14th and has two wins and six top-10 from seven season starts. Harrison Burton has also been impressive. He already has 10 top-10s, but is still looking for his first win of the year. Starting from pole definitely gives him an advantage this week after he crashed out last year's Pocono visit. Santino Ferrucci will take IndyCar's off weekend to do some Xfinity racing at Pocono. He lines up 26th and has finished in the top 15 in three of his four starts already this year. Veteran Michael Annett's best Pocono finish came last year when he finished fifth. He started 12th that afternoon, but will line up eighth this time. NASCAR Camping World Truck Series regular Austin Hill will also join the Xfinity fray this week. He has the 15th starting position and finished ninth last week at Nashville in his first series start this season. Rounding out the higher-risk lineup is Jade Buford. He is capable of a top-20 finish this week despite starting 29th. Last week's crash at Nashville was his first outside of the top 20 since his engine failed at Dover. Fantasy players should be comfortable choosing him this week.
