The NASCAR Cup Series Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona is on Saturday night 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 Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr: Finishing Position – 12.5
Pick6 Play: Worse
This is not gambling or classic daily fantasy sports. A Stenhouse win pays well at the book. He’s a strong DFS NASCAR pick due to his track history and potential for double-digit place differential points, given his poor starting position (qualifying was canceled due to rain). There’s risk but significant upside—unlike Pick6, which is all risk.
Stenhouse is the quintessential checkers-or-wreckers driver, the archetype of chaos. No other driver better embodies the unpredictability that will unfold Saturday night at Daytona. Stenhouse is aggressive, confident and desperate.
This is the final race of the regular season, Stenhouse’s last chance to secure a playoff spot. He won’t settle for 11th. It wouldn’t be surprising if he sacrifices a top-10 finish to chase the win on the final lap. Stenhouse has superspeedway victories, but more often, he spins out.
Kyle Busch: Finishing Position – 9.5
Pick6 Play: Worse
This is similar to the Stenhouse pick. Busch is in a comparable position: He needs a win, and nothing else matters. A wreck is inconsequential. This applies to nearly half the field, creating landmines everywhere. Busch’s aggression increases his DNF probability. Being surrounded by drivers in similar situations turns the race into a warzone. Correctly picking a driver to simply finish the race should pay better than 2-to-1 odds. Selecting a desperate driver to earn a top-10 finish should pay significantly better than 2-to-1. Betting on them to wreck is the safer choice—ironically, wrecks are the safe bet.
This strategy can be applied broadly. A Pick6 card filled entirely with “worse” picks makes sense.
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 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 can not 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!
