The Daytona 500 is here, and with it comes the unpredictability of superspeedway racing. DFS NASCAR strategy at Daytona revolves around place differential, avoiding “the big one,” and selecting drivers with high upside. If you’re looking to build the best DraftKings NASCAR lineup, here are the top 15 fantasy NASCAR picks for the 2025 Daytona 500.
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Set your DraftKings fantasy NASCAR lineups here: NAS $1.5M America’s Race [$500K to 1st, Promo Eligible]
1. Brad Keselowski ($9,200) – Veteran Plate Racer with Massive Upside
A Daytona 500 veteran who knows how to work the draft. Starting deep in the field, he has massive place differential upside. If he stays clean, he can finish in the top five, making him an elite DFS play.
2. Alex Bowman ($8,200) – Strong Mid-Tier Option with Place Differential
A Hendrick Motorsports car with strong superspeedway potential. Starting outside the top 20, he has excellent place differential value. A great mid-tier DraftKings pick.
3. Kyle Larson ($9,900) – Elite Driver with Sneaky Daytona Upside
Not traditionally a Daytona specialist, but if he avoids “the big one,” he can work his way forward. Starting outside the top 15, he carries sneaky place differential potential.
4. Martin Truex Jr. ($7,200) – Experienced Driver with High Ceiling
The retiree is one of the most overlooked Daytona DFS plays. Starting deep in the field, Truex Jr. has one of the highest place differential ceilings at Daytona. That being said, his pack-racing luck and results are historically bad.
5. Daniel Suarez ($7,300) – Underrated Daytona Performer
Trackhouse Racing has speed, and Suarez knows how to survive the draft (2024 Atlanta winner). Starting in the back, he has a great shot at gaining 20+ positions, making him a strong DFS value.
6. Ryan Blaney ($9,700) – Elite Plate Racer with Winning Potential
Blaney is one of the best superspeedway drivers in the field. He consistently runs up front at Daytona and has the ability to control the draft. Starting deep in the field, he offers elite place differential upside and race-winning potential.
7. Justin Allgaier ($6,400) – Low-Owned Sleeper with Upside
Allgaier starts just far enough back to offer solid place differential upside without being too deep in the field. He has plenty of superspeedway experience from the Xfinity Series but will likely fly under the radar in DFS contests. If he can avoid trouble and stay in the draft, he has sneaky top-10 potential at low ownership.
8. Helio Castroneves ($6,000) – Intriguing Wild Card Play
Castroneves brings elite open-wheel experience to Daytona but remains an unknown factor in a full NASCAR field. Starting dead-last, he has strong place differential upside if he can adapt to the draft and avoid trouble. His experience in high-pressure situations makes him a risky but intriguing tournament play.
9. Ryan Preece ($6,500) – Deep Sleeper DFS Play
Preece is skilled in the draft and capable of surviving superspeedway chaos. With a deep starting position, he offers massive DFS upside.
10. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. ($7,100) – Boom-or-Bust Play
A former Daytona 500 winner, Stenhouse Jr. is an ultimate high-risk, high-reward DFS option. If he avoids wrecks, he could make a big move up the field.
11. Jimmie Johnson ($6,500) – Veteran Champion with Daytona Experience
The seven-time NASCAR champion returns to the Daytona 500 with a wealth of experience and past success. Johnson knows how to navigate the draft and position himself late in superspeedway races. Stack-in-the-back is the strategy for DraftKings superspeedway contests. Usually, this requires rostering drivers that have never earned a top-10 finish. Johnson is the GOAT.
12. Zane Smith ($5,800) – High-Upside Place Differential Play
Smith rolls off 37th, giving him one of the highest place differential ceilings in the field. Front Row Motorsports has a strong history of building fast superspeedway cars, and Smith has the equipment to capitalize if he can stay out of trouble. With nothing to lose starting from the back, he’s a great DFS tournament play.
13. Michael McDowell ($7,000) – Proven Daytona Performer
McDowell starts 25th — the place differential sweet spot. He won the 2021 Daytona 500 and has finished inside the top 10 in six of the last 12 Daytona races. He no longer drives for Front Row Motorsports, a team known for its superspeedway success, but McDowell is a reliable DFS play with both floor and upside.
14. Noah Gragson ($6,200) – Aggressive DFS Play
An aggressive driver with a knack for moving up at superspeedways. If he stays clean, he could be a steal at this price with strong place differential value.
15. Justin Haley ($6,700) – Deep Sleeper with Superspeedway Success
Haley starts 35th, making him one of the best place differential plays in the field. He has multiple Xfinity Series superspeedway wins, proving he knows how to work the draft and find his way to the front. If he avoids the big wrecks, he has the potential for a massive DFS score at a low salary.
Final Thoughts – Daytona 500 DFS Strategy
The Daytona 500 is unpredictable, and the best DraftKings NASCAR lineups embrace variance. Prioritize place differential, avoid stacking too many teammates, and leave salary on the table to create unique lineups.
Set your DraftKings fantasy NASCAR lineups here: NAS $1.5M America’s Race $500K to 1st, Promo Eligible
