Bubba and Yeley failed. I like Bubba for cash games as a value option along with Ty now.
This weekend the Cup series heads to Richmond for the second race of the playoffs. Truex has claimed his spot in the next round, but there’s two more races before the cut off with the Roval looming ahead. Richmond is a short track and also one of the dreaded tech races. The lineup won’t be official until around 4-4:30 tomorrow. I will have updates in the article in case any drivers fail tech. Like I have before I will put recommendations in here according the lineup we have now. The last two tech races we had were uneventful and with this one in the playoffs I’m hoping we get the same uneventful afternoon. Looking for 1-3 dominators this week with 400 laps that gives us 200 points for fastest laps and 100 points for laps led available for dominator points. I expect the playoff drivers who have good points cushions to play it safe and gain stage points and drivers who are outside looking in to take swings in order to get themselves over the cut line.
Joey Logano (DK $10,200 FD $13,000)
At this moment, Joey will be the chalk play tomorrow. Starting 28th pre tech, there is tremendous place differential upside for Joey here. Joey has finished top 2 here in three of the last 5 races and has 10 top 10s in the last 11 races including two wins. Practice won’t be as important this week because it happened during the day and race happens at night. However, Joey had top 10 consecutive lap speed in final practice. If nobody fails tech you should not have a cash lineup that doesn’t incude Joey Logano.
Brad Keselowski (DK $9,800 FD $12,500)
Brad starts from the pole and is great at tracks similar to Richmond. Prime example is the Martinsville race from earlier this season where he got out front and led 446 out of 500 laps. It’s been evident this season in this package that you can pass people through the pack but when it comes to passing the leader, it is almost impossible. Brad is just as good as his teammate with top 11 finishes in his last eight races here. He has also won from the pole here back in 2014 and led 383 laps in the process.
William Byron (DK $8,200 FD $9,500)
Byron has three career Cup starts here, he has finished 13th, 20th, and 12th. At the moment Byron starts 25th and offers up some great place differential with this starting position. Byron’s speed in practice wasn’t the greatest but like I said earlier practice is during the day and the race is at night. The other thing that Byron has working for him is that he has the crew chief of a 7 time champion in Chad Knaus. Adjustments will be made to the car and Byron will finish in or around the top 10 by the end of the night.
Ryan Newman (DK $8,000 FD $7,500)
Another week and another sub-par qualifying performance by Newman. He starts 19th for now and has the speed in his car in order to compete for a top 10. Newman had top 5 consecutive lap speed in final practice. In the last five races, Newman has four top 15 finishes in the last 5 races here. Newman. You know what you are getting from Newman week in and week out and being a playoff driver he will do what he needs to finish near the front.
Ty Dillon (DK $6,200 FD $5,500)
Ty is the value play I’m looking at before tech on Saturday. Ty starts 31st at the moment and has top 20-25 potential. He has 5 career Cup starts here and has 5 finishes between 20-28th in those 5 races. Depending how tech plays out Ty is the safest value play at the price. Ty had top 15 single lap speed an top 25 consecutive lap speed in final practice.
Denny Hamlin (DK $10,600 FD $13,200)
The above drivers are more of my cash plays prior to tech. I think Denny qualified too good to be considered a cash play this week unless he fails tech. Denny has really great track history here at Richmond. In the last eight races here Denny has 7 top 6 finishes with one win. Typically when Denny leads here, he leads a ton of laps. Denny loves the upside of his car this week and said its even better then it practiced where he was at the top of the board in 10 lap consecutive. Denny has done well for me this year when I play him and hoping for the same yet again this week.
