The NASCAR Cup Series Jack Link’s 500 at Talladega is on Sunday and DraftKings is offering a new way to play fantasy NASCAR. The game is simple. Build a “Pick Set” (2+ drivers) and decide if they will outperform their stat projections. Here is some advice to help build your DraftKings Pick6 Pick Sets for the NASCAR Cup Series Jack Link’s 500 at Talladega.
Ryan Blaney: Finishing Position – 8.5
Pick6 Play: Better
It’s Talladega—anyone can wreck, but not everyone can earn a top 10. Blaney isn’t just anyone. He avoids wrecks and consistently finishes inside the top 10. This is a simple proposition: are you for or against Ryan Blaney? If he wrecks, it’s a loss. If he doesn’t, it’s a Pick6 for “Better.”
The stats speak for themselves. Although superspeedway stats are less reliable than those for standard oval tracks, Blaney’s pack racing performance is unmatched. His 35% top-10 finish rate may seem concerning, but it’s among the best in the field. This is one of those weeks where picks feel like a coin flip across the board. Blaney can be faded due to the volatility of superspeedways, but that strategy applies to all drivers. At the end of the day, it’s common sense: who runs well at Talladega, Daytona and Atlanta? The answer is Blaney and Team Penske.
Denny Hamlin: Finishing Position – 10.5
Pick6 Play: Better
This is similar to the Blaney pick: the number doesn’t matter. The real Pick6 question should be, “Will Hamlin wreck?” That’s how pack racing works at superspeedways like Talladega. Frame it this way: “Who is least likely to DNF?” Hamlin is the first driver who comes to mind. Forget the Pick6 numbers. The top drivers from top teams who survive will earn a top-10 finish. It’s that simple—and that unpredictable. Hamlin could wreck, but statistically, he has one of the lowest DNF rates in the NASCAR Cup Series at superspeedways.
For NASCAR insight and quick DFS help, follow Pearce Dietrich (@Race4thePrize) on Twitter.
What is DraftKings Pick6?
Pick6 is a peer-to-peer fantasy variant where you build a lineup (your “Pick Set”) of at least two players and select whether or not you believe each will outperform their listed stat projection. Enter your Pick Set in Pick6 contests to compete against other users. Get enough picks correct and win a share of cash prizes.
How to Play DraftKings Pick6
Create a Pick Set
Create a Pick Set by choosing at least two players from the same sport and Pick Group (a set of picks available from a group of set competitions). For each player, simply select if you think they’ll have more or less than their listed stat projection. In each Pick Set, you cannot pick the same player twice and you must pick players from at least two different teams.
Enter an Amount
Once you finalize your Pick Set, choose your entry fee amount. Your entries will be automatically distributed into available contests, subject to your confirmation.
Sweat Your Picks
When the games go live, use the My Picks tab to follow your picks in real time to track how your players are performing against their projections and how they stack up against other users.
Compete for Prizes
Make enough correct picks and win a share of the contests’ guaranteed prizes. Any prizes won will be credited to your DraftKings account after contests are finalized.
Play at DraftKings Pick6 or by downloading the DraftKings Pick6 app on Apple or Google!
