This article is part of our NASCAR DFS series.
Go Bowling 400
Location: Kansas City, Kan.
Course: Kansas Speedway
Format: 1.5-mile D-shaped oval
Laps: 267
Race Preview
NASCAR Sprint Cup makes a return to 1.5-mile ovals this week in the Go Bowling 400. Brad Keselowski won last week's GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway to become the latest multiple-race winner in 2016 and further cement his spot in the Chase for the Championship. More good news for Penske Racing is that Keselowski's teammate Joey Logano is the most recent winner at this week's track, Kansas Speedway. The most similar track we've visited in 2016 was Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and that race was Keselowski's first win. While Penske Racing drivers should be strong contenders this week, the Chevrolet-powered cars dominated this race last year. Jimmie Johnson is the defending champion, and Martin Truex Jr. led the most laps in that race. Joe Gibbs Racing drivers continue to be the ones to beat at the moment, though. Kyle Busch scored his second consecutive runner-up finish last week and heads into the week's race with the best 10-race finishing average in the field. Don't forget that Kansas is also the place that stoked the fire between Logano and Matt Kenseth last fall that ultimately ended both of their chances at the championship.
Key Stats at Kansas Speedway
• Number of previous races: 20
• Winners from pole: 4
• Winners from top-5 starters: 9
• Winners from top-10 starters: 11
• Winners from 21st or lower starters: 2
• Fastest race: 144.122 mph
Last 10 Kansas Winners
2015 fall - Joey Logano
2015 spring - Jimmie Johnson
2014 fall - Joey Logano
2014 spring - Jeff Gordon
2013 fall - Kevin Harvick
2013 spring - Matt Kenseth
2012 fall - Matt Kenseth
2012 spring - Denny Hamlin
2011 fall - Jimmie Johnson
2011 spring - Brad Keselowski
Kansas Speedway installed progressive banking in the turns in 2012, and that has produced more open racing than we usually see at 1.5-mile ovals. Three of the last five winners at Kansas have started outside the top 10, and Chevrolet and Ford drivers have split the last five victories. As with any 1.5-mile oval, the teams will focus on handling, tire wear and pit strategy. The ability to pass at Kansas, now greatly improved, allows teams to try different tire strategies as well as race different grooves through the turns. Being a night race should also help teams avoid the tire problems that plagued some of the races we saw earlier this year. The higher grip levels from the cooler track temperature should also produce good, close racing. Don't be surprised to see teams try to stretch fuel mileage or use two-tire stops to gain track position this week.
DRAFTKINGS VALUE PICKS (Based on Standard $50K Salary Cap)
DraftKings Tier 1 Values
Jimmie Johnson - $10,600
Kevin Harvick - $10,400
Carl Edwards - $10,100
DraftKings Tier 2 Values
Matt Kenseth - $9,900
Joey Logano - $9,800
Brad Keselowski - $9,500
Martin Truex Jr. - $9,200
DraftKings Tier 3 Values
Kasey Kahne - $8,200
Kyle Larson - $7,500
Ryan Newman - $7,300
A.J. Allmendinger - $6,900
DraftKings Long-Shot Values
Ryan Blaney - $7,100
Greg Biffle - $6,300
Casey Mears - $6,200
Brian Scott - $5,500
MY PICKS THIS WEEK
Lower-Risk Lineup ($50K Salary Cap)
Kevin Harvick - $10,400
Matt Kenseth - $9,900
Joey Logano - $9,800
Martin Truex Jr. - $9,200
Brian Scott - $5,500
Cole Whitt - $5,200
With the return to 1.5-mile oval racing, we see the return of Kevin Harvick and Jimmie Johnson to the top of the favorites. We go with Harvick in the lower-risk lineup option with his three top-two finishes from the last five Kansas races. Next in this option is Kenseth, who is on the cusp of victory in 2016. He had more bad luck at Talladega, but has two Kansas wins along with a lowest finish of 14th in the last four races at the track. Logano is also in the option due to his five consecutive Kansas top-five finishes, which includes two victories. Martin Truex Jr. has three top-15 finishes in the last three Kansas races, which makes him another great addition to the lower-risk lineup. The roster is then rounded out by Cole Whitt and Brian Scott. Neither of these drivers has extensive Sprint Cup experience at Kansas, but Scott started 16th and finished 12th here last fall, while Whitt has been able to improve his finishing position from his starting spot an average of 5.6 places in his four Kansas attempts.
Higher-Risk Lineup ($50K Salary Cap)
Jimmie Johnson - $10,600
Brad Keselowski - $9,500
Dale Earnhardt Jr. $9,400
Kasey Kahne - $8,200
Paul Menard - $6,700
Michael Annett - $5,300
The higher-risk lineup leads with Johnson, a favorite at the track due to his three track victories and 16 top-10s from 19 starts. Last week's winner Keselowski is next. The Penske driver won here in 2011 and finished in the top 10 in both events here last season. Earnhardt has three top-10s at the track from the last five races, while teammate Kasey Kahne has three top-15 finishes in the same span. The early season hasn't started as strongly for Paul Menard as we have become accustomed to, but he can still be a potent racer. He hasn't failed to finish inside the top 20 at the track for 11 consecutive races, which is great value this deep in the roster. Finally, Michael Annett's average finishing position at this track is a full 11 positions higher than where he starts, which again provides excellent value per salary dollar as your final roster selection.
