NASCAR DFS Trucks: Lucas Oil 150

NASCAR DFS Trucks: Lucas Oil 150

This article is part of our NASCAR DFS series.

Lucas Oil 150

Location: Avondale, Ariz.
Course: Phoenix Raceway
Format: 1.0-mile oval
Laps: 150

NASCAR Trucks Lucas Oil 150 Race Preview

The 2022 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series reaches its conclusion this week at Phoenix Raceway in the Lucas Oil 150. Ty Majeski, Zane Smith, and Chandler Smith join 2021 defending series champion Ben Rhodes as the final four championship contenders vying to hoist the trophy this week in the winner-take-all battle. Chandler Smith won the race from pole last season, but it was Rhodes who finished third to claim his first title. He is hoping to successfully defend it this Friday night, too. This weekend's race will be the 32nd time the Trucks have tackled Phoenix, and 21 different drivers have visited Victory Lane. It is the third time the track will host the season finale after moving from Homestead-Miami Speedway, where the Trucks last raced and Majeski won to claim his final four position. The season's biggest prize is up for grabs this Friday as the final championship contenders go head to head to earn the right to call themselves champion.

Key Stats at Phoenix Raceway

  • Number of races: 31
  • Winners from pole: 7
  • Winners from top-5 starters: 23
  • Winners from top-10 starters: 29
  • Winners from 21st or lower starters: 0
  • Fastest race: 108.014 mph

Previous 10 Phoenix Winners

2021 - Chandler Smith
2020 - Sheldon Creed
2019 - Stewart Friesen
2018 - Brett Moffitt
2017 - Johnny Sauter
2016 - Daniel Suarez
2015 - Timothy Peters
2014 - Erik Jones
2013 - Erik Jones
2012 - Brian Scott

Phoenix Raceway is a unique 1.0-mile oval that could be compared to multiple different tracks on the schedule. The circuit's relatively flat and different radius turns have even made some compare it to a road course. For these reasons, this weekend's setups will tend to be a compromise between different sectors of the circuit. The flat layout and lack of an out of bounds line allows drivers to try many different lines to suit their machine's handling as well as to make passes. Track position is still a critical factor, though. Teams can use strategy to gain spots on track, which means different choices during pit stops could come into play depending on the timing of cautions. Teams will have to stay on top of adjustments throughout the race, but they also have to be ready to adapt their plans and avoid mistakes if they want to stay up front. The easiest way to the front at Phoenix is qualifying well and starting there, though. Only once has the track produced a winner that started lower than 11th spot in this series.

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DraftKings Value Picks for the Lucas Oil 150 (Based on Standard $50K Salary Cap)

DraftKings Tier 1 Values  

Chandler Smith - $11,000
Zane Smith - $10,800
Ty Majeski - $10,600
John Hunter Nemechek - $10,400

DraftKings Tier 2 Values  

Ben Rhodes - $9,900
Grant Enfinger - $9,700
Stewart Friesen - $9,500
Christian Eckes - $9,300

DraftKings Tier 3 Values

Matt Crafton - $8,900
Tyler Ankrum - $8,700
Derek Kraus - $8,500
Matt DiBenedetto - $8,300

DraftKings Long-Shot Values

Johnny Sauter - $7,800
Hailie Deegan - $7,000
Rajah Caruth - $6,800
Timmy Hill - $6,500

NASCAR DFS Picks for the Lucas Oil 150

Zane Smith - $10,800
Carson Hocevar - $9,100
Derek Kraus - $8,500
Johnny Sauter - $7,800
Hailie Deegan - $7,000
Rajah Caruth - $6,800

Smith will race for the season championship this week at Phoenix, which is a just reward for a very good season. He could be a valuable option for fantasy players this week, too.  With three victories this season and finishes of second and fifth in his two prior Phoenix races he is one of this week's top selections. Smith will be giving it all he has in an effort to claim this championship, and that means he'll be aiming to score his fourth victory of 2022. Carson Hocevar should make another top selection for fantasy rosters this week. While not in the championship running. he did pick up his first Phoenix top-10 finish last season. He finished ninth in this race last season and was 12th last time out at Homestead. The battle for the top nonplayoff finisher in the standings is being led by Derek Kraus. He holds a nine-point advantage over Tyler Ankrum heading into this week's finale and finished 15th or better in four of the last five races. He was 15th in this race last season. Those looking for experience this week should consider Johnny Sauter. He won this race in 2017 and finished 11th or better his last six starts at the track. The current year has been one of growth and progress for Hailie Deegan. She has two top-10s on her resume as well as an Xfinity Series start to show for it. This will be her second Phoenix start in the series and she finished 17th last season. Another up and coming driver in NASCAR is Rajah Caruth. He has been gaining experience in both Trucks and Xfinity and finished fourth in an ARCA Series race at Phoenix earlier this season. This will be his first start at the track in the Trucks.  

The author(s) of this article may play in daily fantasy contests including – but not limited to – games that they have provided recommendations or advice on in this article. In the course of playing in these games using their personal accounts, it's possible that they will use players in their lineups or other strategies that differ from the recommendations they have provided above. The recommendations in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of RotoWire. C.J. Radune plays in daily fantasy contests using the following accounts: DraftKings: cjradune, RaceDayScore: cjradune.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
C.J. Radune
Radune covers NASCAR, Formula 1 and soccer for RotoWire. He was named the Racing Writer of the Year by the Fantasy Sports Writers Association in 2012 and 2015.
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