After slipping and sliding at Eldora Speedway last week, the Gander Outdoors Truck Series leaves the dirt behind and heads to Michigan International Speedway for Saturday’s Corrigan Oil 200. The race will be the first of the season at a two-mile oval for the Truck Series, and if recent history is any indication, an exciting afternoon of racing could be on tap.
The truck bodies punch a big hole in the air down Michigan’s long straightaways, bringing the draft into play and creating passing opportunities on the track’s wide, multi-grooved surface. As a result, the lead has changed hands a lot in races at MIS, and in each of the last three races, there has been three or more drivers to lead double-digit laps. In last year’s race, nine drivers led laps, and five different drivers led double-digit laps.
With just 100 laps on tap and a strong chance that three or more drivers will spend several laps up front, a balanced approach is likely the way to go this weekend. I’m not opposed to rostering one high-priced stud, but I don’t see a top-loaded lineup working out. I’d rather have lineups with four or five drivers that should contend for Top 10s while potentially providing some dominator points.
Qualifying will also play a big role, and I’ll make it a point to target any solid, mid-priced options who start in the middle of the pack or worse. Don’t hesitate to reach out on Twitter at @BPolking after the starting lineup is set with any lineup questions, but in the meantime, check out a closer look at the drivers I expect to roster at DraftKings for Saturday’s Corrigan Oil 200 at Michigan.
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Must-Own Drivers
Ross Chastain ($11,300)
Chastain is enjoying an incredible season, posting three wins and finishing in the Top 10 in 13 of the 15 races. Had he not been disqualified at Iowa, it would be four wins and 14 Top 10s. Chastain currently leads all series regulars in laps led and ranks third in fastest laps run, so he has plenty of upside to go with his high floor. At the very least, you should have tons of exposure to him in cash games.
Grant Enfinger ($11,000)
He has been the model of consistency at Michigan, finishing eighth or better in all three of his starts. Enfinger led 16 laps in last year’s race here, and he has recorded multiple fastest laps in all three trips to MIS. Throw in the fact that he ranks second among series regulars in laps led and fourth in fastest laps run in 2019, and Enfinger looks like one of the safest options to build around this weekend at DraftKings.
Brett Moffitt ($10,500)
Moffit is the defending winner of this weekend’s race, and he will actually be going for a personal three-peat at the track after winning his previous start here in 2016, as well. He has also been a steady source of dominator points all year, and heading into Saturday’s race, he leads all series regulars in fastest laps run and ranks third in laps led. Moffitt should be an excellent building block in all contests.
Difference Makers and Value Plays
Johnny Sauter ($10,200)
He’s in the middle of one of his roughest stretches in recent memory, but Sauter has shown too much upside at Michigan to ignore. He led 16 laps and finished second at MIS last year, and he has three Top 5s, including a win, in his last five starts here, leading double-digit laps in three of those starts. He could be a great pivot to the top options in GPP contests.
Stewart Friesen ($9,900)
After finally getting he monkey off his back and winning his first Truck race last week, Friesen will try to keep the momentum going at Michigan. He has been a bit of a boom-or-bust DFS option this year, but there is no denying his ceiling. Friesen ranks second among Truck regulars in fastest laps run and fourth in laps led, and he led 12 laps and finished eighth at Michigan last year. Keep him mind as a contrarian dominator.
Ben Rhodes ($9,700)
For whatever reason, Rhodes has struggled in qualifying at Michigan but has been able to turn it on during the race. He has a 7.7 average finish in his three starts here, gaining an average of 9.0 starts per race. If Rhodes continues his trend of starting in the middle of the pack, he should be an ideal option to pair with a dominator starting up front.
Matt Crafton ($9,300)
Crafton hasn’t shown the dominator upside of some of the other top Truck regulars this year, but Michigan has been a great track for the veteran. He has reeled off six straight Top 10s here, and he has led double-digit laps in each of the last three races here. Don’t forget about Crafton this weekend.
Christian Eckes ($8,900)
Eckes will get the nod in the Kyle Busch Motorsports No. 51 this weekend, and the youngster has shown he can deliver solid results with elite equipment. He has cracked the Top 10 in five of his eight starts in the Truck Series, finishing fourth at Pocono and sixth at Eldora in his two most recent starts. The Top 5 upside for a midrange price is tough to pass up.
Tyler Ankrum ($8,700)
The surprise of the 2019 season, Ankrum has cracked the Top 15 in eight of his 10 starts for DGR-Crosley this season, logging six Top 10s and three Top 3 finishes. His price tag is starting to creep up, but Ankrum still has a higher ceiling than any of the other drivers in this range.
Anthony Alfredo ($7,900)
Alfredo will get another start for DGR-Crosley this weekend, and after a slow start to the season, he seems to have found his groove. He has finished 12th or better in four of his last five starts, and a borderline Top 10 driver available at this price needs your attention.
Sleeper Specials
Jesse Iwuji ($6,500)
Iwuji will be making his fourth Truck start of the season, and he will be in the Reaume Brothers Racing No. 34. He has a 21.7 average finish in his first three races, and more importantly, he has gained an average of 7.0 spots in those starts. As long as he starts outside the Top 25 Saturday, Iwuji should be a cheap source of 20-plus fantasy points at DraftKings.
Bayley Currey ($6,200)
He has made sporadic starts in all three of NASCAR’s top series, but Currey is typically stuck in underfunded, non-competitive equipment. That won’t be the case this weekend when he makes his second Truck start in the Niece Motorsports No. 44. Ross Chastain has emerged as a title contender for the same organization, and other drivers who have driven the No. 44 this year have shown Top 15 upside.
