DFS NASCAR: Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 Track Breakdown

The Monster Energy Cup Series moves on to Atlanta Motor Speedway this Sunday for the Folds of Honor Quiktrip 500.  This Sunday also marks the first 1.5-mile or intermediate distance track on the schedule. With it being a one-stop track on the schedule, there are only a couple of races to look at data from in the last few years, so for the top-15 section, I have compiled the data to show histories at all 1.5-mile tracks in the last two years. Jimmie Johnson has won both of the last two races here and along with Dale Earnhardt Jr. are the only two drivers with two top-five finishes. Like at most of these length tracks, there are only a couple of drivers that dominate the laps led category, so looking to get at least one on the roster will be a priority.

Track Data

Key Drivers at 1.5-mile Tracks

Drivers to watch this week:

Jimmie Johnson: As mentioned above, JJ has won the last two times the series stopped in Atlanta but the numbers are better than that. He has also started an average of 28^th in those two races meaning he has the best positional differential mark in the field. JJ is second in the field with 144 laps led as well. There is a reason he is the most expensive driver this week in DK, he’s fourth most in NL, and he should be treated like it.

Kevin Harvick: Harvick, as typical on a lot of tracks, leads the field in the laps led category with 247 in the last two races. He also barely missed out on being another driver with two top-five finishes, having finished second and sixth. Harvick comes in $400 less than the aforemention Johnson in Draft Kings but is the most expensive driver in NASCAR Fantasy Live at $28.

Chase Elliot: The youngster’s home track is this week as he grew up in Dawsonville Georgia. Last year, his rookie campaign, he showed well here having finished eighth after starting 24^th and posted a Loop Rating of 95.5. In the 14 races held on 1.5-mile tracks last year, he has three top-fives and seven top-10s to his credit already. If that trend keeps up, he could notch his first Cup series win this week and at $9,300 on DK and $26.50 on NL he’s worth the price.

Matt Kenseth: Fresh off a disappointing run in the Daytona 500, Kenseth turns his attention to a track that he’s run well at in the past. Top-five in laps led here and with a top-five finish in the last two years sees the driver of the number-20 car as a sneaky pick this week. He also has 16 top-10 finishes at the last 23 intermediate tracks he’s run on.

Kyle Busch: The younger, and still winless at Daytons, Busch brother missed the 2015 race while recovering from a fractured leg, but in 2016 he came roaring through the pack to conclude the race in the third spot. He started 39^th in that race. This would give him the best positional differential in the field, but it’s just one race so, we’ll give it to JJ. Kyle is the second and third most expensive driver on DK and NL respectively, but depending on practice and qualifying, may not be worth that come Sunday.