This article is part of our NASCAR DFS series.
Go Bowling 250 & Virginia is for Racing Lovers 250
Location: Richmond, Va.
Course: Richmond International Raceway
Format: 0.75-mile oval
Laps: 250
Race Preview
NASCAR's Xfinity Series visits Richmond International Raceway this week for its fourth double-header weekend of the season. It will be the first time the series visits the track this season, and races are running out for drivers to stake their claims on a playoff position. They have two shots to make their case this weekend in Richmond before next week's regular-season finale at Bristol Motor Speedway. Brandon Jones won last week at Darlington. It was his third win of the season. He will start Friday night's first race at Richmond on the front row alongside Ross Chastain. Eight drivers are locked into the playoff field with four spots left to be claimed in the next three races.
Key Stats at Richmond International Raceway
- Number of races: 72
- Winners from pole: 14
- Winners from top-5 starters: 45
- Winners from top-10 starters: 57
- Winners from 21st or lower starters: 7
- Fastest race: 108.415 mph
Previous 10 Richmond Winners
2019 fall - Christopher Bell
2019 spring - Cole Custer
2018 fall - Christopher Bell
2018 spring - Christopher Bell
2017 fall - Brad Keselowski
2017 spring - Kyle Larson
2016 fall - Kyle Busch
2016 spring - Dale Earnhardt Jr.
2015 fall - Chase Elliott
2015 spring - Denny Hamlin
Statistics at Richmond Raceway favor drivers starting inside the top 10. As with most short-tracks on the schedule, passing is the name of the game. Track position versus fresh tires will be the decision teams need to focus on throughout the race distance. At Richmond, drivers have room to try different lines, but spend the majority of the lap turning. The track exposes weak handling machines, and the short lap makes pitting off strategy less attractive since heading to pit road under green guarantees drivers will lose laps to the leaders. Fantasy owners should focus on drivers starting inside the top 15, and drivers with fast cars on Friday likely will be the ones to watch Saturday afternoon, too.
DRAFTKINGS VALUE PICKS (Based on Standard $50K Salary Cap)
DraftKings Tier 1 Values
Kyle Busch - $17,000 Friday, not entered Saturday
Chase Briscoe - $11,500 Friday, $11,300 Saturday
Austin Cindric - $10,900 Friday, $11,700 Saturday
Justin Allgaier - $10,400 Friday, $9,900 Saturday
DraftKings Tier 2 Values
Noah Gragson - $9,800 Friday, $10,200 Saturday
Ross Chastain - $9,500 Friday, $10,800 Saturday
Jeb Burton - $9,300 Friday, $9,100 Saturday
Justin Haley - $9,100 Friday, $9,400 Saturday
DraftKings Tier 3 Values
Brandon Jones - $8,900 Friday, $9,700 Saturday
Brett Moffitt - $8,600 Friday, $8,500 Saturday
Myatt Snider - $8,200 Friday, $8,100 Saturday
Michael Annett - $8,000, $8,900 Saturday
DraftKings Long-Shot Values
Alex Labbe - $7,700 Friday, $8,300 Saturday
Riley Herbst - $7,400 Friday, $7,900 Saturday
Brandon Brown - $7,100 Friday, $7,800 Saturday
Vinnie Miller - $6,700 Friday, $6,400 Saturday
MY PICKS THIS WEEK
Lower-Risk Lineup ($50K Salary Cap)
Austin Cindric - $10,900 Friday, $11,700 Saturday
Noah Gragson - $9,800 Friday, $10,200 Saturday
Myatt Snider - $8,200 Friday, $8,100 Saturday
Michael Annett - $8,000 Friday, $8,900 Saturday
Riley Herbst - $7,400 Friday, $$7,900 Saturday
Matt Mills - $5,700 Friday, $5,600 Saturday
Austin Cindric is likely to be a top fantasy option both Friday and Saturday. The Penske Racing driver finished second in both Richmond races last season. He has five wins so far this season and is focused on winning the championship. Noah Gragson will start fourth Friday night. He finished second here in 2018 and was seventh last fall. Myatt Snider is working hard to earn a spot in the playoffs and is coming off of a 10th-place finish at Darlington last week. Friday's race will be his first series start at the circuit. A driver with plenty of Richmond experience to consider is Michael Annett. He has four top-10s from 15 series starts at this track and finished ninth here last fall. Riley Herbst has one series start at this track, which was ended in a ninth-place finish. Herbst starts eighth in Friday's event. Matt Mills will start 22nd in Friday's race and finished 28th in both races at the track last season.
Higher-Risk Lineup ($50K Salary Cap)
Kyle Busch - $17,000 Friday, Not entered Saturday
Brandon Jones - $8,900 Friday, $9,700 Saturday
Alex Labbe - $7,700 Friday, $8,300 Saturday
Vinnie Miller - $6,700 Friday, $6,400 Saturday
Josh Williams - $5,000 Friday, $6,600 Saturday
Stephen Leicht - $4,700 Friday, $4,700 Saturday
Fantasy players will only be able to select Kyle Busch for Friday's race since he's not entered for Saturday. Busch will start 29th and may be the only exception to the rule for drivers starting outside of the top 15. He has six series wins at the circuit and he has led at least 78 laps in each of his last four series starts at the track. Brandon Jones has two Richmond top-10s from eight series starts. He has three wins so far this season, including last week at Darlington. Alex Labbe will start Friday's race 15th and has an average finish of 18.5 from his two series starts at the track. Vinnie Miller's four Richmond starts produced a best finish of 27th, which is in line with where his 2020 results have been thus far, too. Miller start's 34th on Friday and could offer finish differential points if he matches that average. Josh Williams starts 12th Friday and has one previous Xfinity start at this track. He finished 15th at Darlington last week and could be a reliable top-20 this week as well but may be a safer play on Saturday. Stephen Leicht finished 18th in the spring race here last season. He starts 35th on Friday but achieved that 18th-place finish from 32nd, which gives us some confidence ahead of Friday's race.
