This article is part of our NASCAR DFS series.
Monster Energy All-Star Race
Location: Concord, N.C.
Course: Charlotte Motor Speedway
Format: 1.5-mile quad-oval
Laps: 80
Race Preview
Instead of points this week, drivers and teams will battle for a paycheck and bragging rights in the annual Monster Energy All-Star Race. The weekend is the traditional homecoming at Charlotte Motor Speedway, where teams and drivers get to have a bit more fun versus the high-pressure need to deliver points on a weekly basis. The action is still serious, though. A big payday is on hand for the night's winner, and teams will want to learn as much as they can before hitting the track again in two weeks for the Coca-Cola 600. This week's Monster Energy Open and All-Star races are a chance for the drivers to hit the track with the sole focus of winning. NASCAR tweaked the format and rules package for 2018, and 17 drivers are directly eligible for entry into the feature. Drivers who've won a race in 2017 or 2018, along with former All-Star winners competing full-time in the series, and series champions also competing full-time are eligible. Additionally, winning one of the three stages in the preceding Open race, or the fan vote, will put a driver in the show. Qualifying is also unique, too. Each driver will make three laps of the speedway with a four-tire pit stop in the middle, giving the crews a direct hand in the starting lineup. This all combines to produce one of the most fun nights each year, and the on-track action hardly ever fails to disappoint.
Key All-Star Race Stats
• Number of previous races: 33
• Winners from pole: 4
• Winners from top-5 starters: 19
• Winners from top-10 starters: 24
• Winners from 21st or lower starters: 2
Last 10 All-Star Winners
2017 - Kyle Busch
2016 - Joey Logano
2015 - Denny Hamlin
2014 - Jamie McMurray
2013 - Jimmie Johnson
2012 - Jimmie Johnson
2011 - Carl Edwards
2010 - Kurt Busch
2009 - Tony Stewart
2008 - Kasey Kahne
The rules package for this year's All-Star Race is a bit of an unknown. The cars will be fitted with restrictor plates, like at Daytona and Talladega, and aerodynamics will be shaken up with a different spoiler and splitter. NASCAR made the changes to give trailing cars an aerodynamic advantage and to increase passing. If everything works out as planned we should see sling-shot moves into the turns, especially turn 3, as drivers draft one another down the straights. A similar package was used in last year's Xfinity series race at Indianapolis and produced a record number of leaders and lead changes. The race format will also promote strategy tradeoffs. The final stage is only 10 laps long, so track position will be a priority on everyone's list. This could produce a number of different pit options toward the end of the third stage as teams jockey for an advantage. Additionally, NASCAR Overtime will be in effect for all stages, meaning no stage will end under caution, which would throw a wrench in some well-laid plans. Kyle Busch won last year's race, and most wins have come from the front row. Additionally, with the limited number of laps and unique format, fantasy owners need to focus on picking the winner. Fewer laps mean less points available for laps led, and fewer runners means fewer points for finish differential. Due to the unique format of this week's competition I've picked top values from the Open race in the long-shot category since there is no guarantee they'll make the main event.
DRAFTKINGS VALUE PICKS (Based on Standard $50K Salary Cap)
DraftKings Tier 1 Values
Kevin Harvick - $10,000
Kyle Busch - $9,700
Kyle Larson - $9,400
DraftKings Tier 2 Values
Martin Truex Jr. - $9,200
Joey Logano - $8,900
Clint Bowyer - $8,300
DraftKings Tier 3 Values
Denny Hamlin - $7,600
Ryan Blaney - $7,300
Kurt Busch - $7,000
DraftKings Long-Shot Values
Chase Elliott - $8,000
Erik Jones - $6,600
Daniel Suarez - $6,100
MY PICKS THIS WEEK
Lower-Risk Lineup ($50K Salary Cap)
Kevin Harvick - $10,000
Kyle Busch - $9,700
Kyle Larson - $9,400
Ryan Blaney - $7,300
Kurt Busch - $7,000
Matt Kenseth - $6,000
It isn't hard to choose Harvick to win this season's All-Star race. He has won just about everything else so far, and another large check added to the spoils is a good motivator for him. He won the event in 2007. He's also very likely to lead laps. Fantasy owners can't go wrong selecting Kyle Busch and Larson to back him up, too. The pair has been blistering fast in recent races, and both are excellent on 1.5-mile ovals. Busch has started on pole in the event three times and won it last year. Larson won the Showdown in 2016 and led 40 laps on his way to the runner-up spot last season after starting on pole. Blaney has two Open races to his credit and won a segment last year to advance to the All-Star Race later that night. He led one lap before finishing 11th. Another former All-Star winner in this roster option is Kurt Busch. He won in 2010, and has finished third, fifth and fourth in the last three editions of the race. Finally, Kenseth rounds out this stout field. With one race back under his belt he should see Saturday as an opportunity to shine. He won this event with Roush in 2004 and would love to deliver something for the team to rally around with another win on Saturday. Expect him to use strategy to be up front at the end.
Higher-Risk Lineup ($50K Salary Cap)
Martin Truex Jr. - $9,200
Joey Logano - $8,900
Clint Bowyer - $8,300
Jimmie Johnson - $7,800
Denny Hamlin - $7,600
Jamie McMurray - $5,800
While any driver in the All-Star race could win Saturday night, there are arguably more chances being taken in the higher-risk lineup. Truex is probably the most confident selection. He has been quick this season and won the Showdown in 2010 but hasn't yet won the All-Star race. Logano has been on an upward swing recently and won this race in 2016. He finished eighth last season. I would also expect Bowyer to be a threat. He won a stage in last year's Open to advance to the feature race but ended up 13th at the end of the night. It is almost certain that Johnson and Chad Knaus will be playing pit strategy to move forward Saturday night, and they are among the best at that game. Don't let his lack of results so far this year fool you; he has four All-Star wins, and this format could play right into his strengths. Surprisingly, Hamlin is priced lower than Johnson. He won this event from pole in 2015, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see him leading the contenders to the checkered flag this time, too. The final selection is 2014 All-Star winner McMurray. He won the Showdown in 2013 and finished fifth last year. With a teammate like Larson and the unique rules package for this week, he's definitely capable of snatching a victory.
