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| Chris Buescher posted a +21-place differential at Pocono last August. |
Kurt Busch – The defending race winner isn’t considered much of a sleeper. We know, but no driver in the mid‐salary range (NASCAR Live under $22; Draft Kings under $9K) brings more value this week at Pocono Raceway than Kurt Busch. Over the last two seasons at Pocono, he has posted the third‐best driver rating (104.5), the sixth‐most laps led (45) and the seventh‐most laps completed in the top 15 (436, 70.6%). He also leads the series in average finish (3.0) in the last three June Pocono races. At his salary this week, he is a steal.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. – Earnhardt has a handful of tracks he performs well at and Pocono is one of them. He swept 2014 races, and in his last two seasons he has posted the fifth‐best driver rating (102.1), has the seventh‐best average running position (11.6), and the third‐best place differential (+26). On top of all of that, he leads the series in average finish (5.67) in his last four starts at Pocono, and has the third‐best average finish (4.67) in his last three June Pocono races. This season, Dale Jr. has posted the 11th‐most average fantasy points scored (31.7) over the last three races. This week is one of his better chances to win, and at his asking price (NASCAR Live under $22; Draft Kings under $9K) all he brings is upside.
Austin Dillon – Dillon comes to the list this week as full‐fledged card carrying member of the sleeper club. If you want to go contrarian this week Dillon might be your guy as he is a solid choice at Pocono. In his last four starts at the Tricky Triangle, Dillon has posted 14th‐best driver rating, 11th‐most laps led (eight), 15th‐best average running position (15.5). Plus, over his last three starts this season, he has posted the ninth‐most average fantasy points scored (35.7). He has found his groove, don’t miss the boat.
VALUE PICKS
Chris Buescher – Buescher will most likely be a popular pick this weekend at Pocono coming off his win there last summer, and rightfully so. In his two career starts at Pocono, he has posted the 21st‐best driver rating (64.0), ninth‐most laps led (12) and the 22nd‐best average running position (22.7). Buescher can also rack‐up points at Pocono with place differential; he posted a +21‐place differential last August. To give you even more confidence in rostering him this weekend, over his last three starts this season he has posted the 19th‐most average fantasy points scored (22.3). If you can fit him on your lineup, lock him in.
David Ragan – Ragan is a solid choice this weekend for high‐dollar lineups. He is ranked 20th in average fantasy points scored (22.2) over the last three races this season. At Pocono in his last four starts, he has posted the 25th‐best driver rating (54.8), and the 20th‐most laps completed in the top 15 (131, 21.2%). Plus, over the last three June Pocono races, Ragan has posted the 20th‐best average finish (21.3). Ragan also posted a +11‐place differential in this event last season. He is underpriced for his potential value.
Darrell Wallace Jr. – Wallace is the ultimate wild card this weekend. His salary is so low what do you have to lose, right? Here are few things to ponder when choosing Wallace this weekend.
1. The No. 43 team has been running fairly well this season posting three top‐10 and eight top‐20 finishes.
2. The No. 43 team has posted the 21st‐best average finish (18.9) thus far this season.
3. The No. 43 team has posted the sixth‐best place differential this season at +55 through 13 races.
4. The best finish of a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver in their series debut in the last 10 seasons was an 11th‐place finish at Charlotte Motor Speedway by Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
5. The best finish by a MENCS driver in their series debut at Pocono was eighth, back in 1974 by Jan Opperman.
6. An MENCS driver in their series debut at Pocono hasn’t finished inside the top‐20 since 1984; when Gene Coyle finished 18th.
Depending on where Wallace starts will determine if the risk of rostering him out ways his potential for reward. But with how the No. 43 team has been running, they most likely will move forward. Good luck.
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