Enjoy Illinois 300: NASCAR DFS Cup Series Targets at Gateway

For the first time ever, we will experience NASCAR DFS action as the Cup Series visits World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway in Madison, Illinois for the Enjoy Illions 300. The name is a mouth full, and the track may be a hand full when it comes to the racing and the series’ first-ever visit to Gateway, deep in the heart of the American midwest.

Some of these drivers have never raced here in any series, while others have had success in the Camping World Truck Series in recent years. Still, nonetheless, the new NextGen car will present drivers with a unique challenge when they take the green flag on Sunday afternoon.

The track under its current configuration measures 1.25 miles in length. Gateway provided the St. Louis area with its first taste of one of NASCAR’s premier series in 1997 when it began hosting Xfinity Series races until they were removed from the schedule in 2010 when the track was sold and closed prior to purchase, reconfiguration, and re-opening. The Truck Series has raced here every year besides two, (2011 and 2013) since 1998.

In terms of how the track is driven and raced, many compare it to Nashville and Pheonix. The drivers will be shifting every lap once they take the green flag on Sunday as they become accustomed to the racetrack over its 300 miles. With an asymmetrical configuration, one set of turns banked at 11 degrees with the other two at 9, and its long straight away parallel to Illinois Route 203, things will certainly be interesting.

So what do we do for NASCAR DFS?

We’re going to go through our top-5 targets on Drafkings and see if we can help you make some money as we kick off the summer months!

NASCAR DFS Targets on Draftkings at Gateway

#5 Kyle Larson – ($11,300)

It seems like every week the defending series champion has some sort of issue, and it seems like every week he, crew chief Cliff Daniels and Hendrick Motorsports find a way to overcome and almost win the race. Larson will start from p.15 on Sunday afternoon and will undoubtedly make his way forward. This gives us the ever-valuable place differential bonus points, as well as a potential dominator that can gain you more bonus points via fast laps and laps led.

He’s always expensive, and he’s always worth paying up for in NASCAR DFS.

#1 Ross Chastain – ($10,000)

Playing Ross Chastain in NASCAR DFS is no longer a value or sleeper pick. Over the last month, he has been the best driver in the series statistically and it’s looking unlikely that he cools off as the summer months heat up. He won the Truck Series race here in 2019 and ran second in Cup Series competition at Nashville last year.

With @RossChastain now second in the Cup Series point standings, @TeamTrackhouse haulers are in the No. 2 team position in the garage (moving past JGR this week). pic.twitter.com/EfzGx1xSzB

— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) June 3, 2022

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Look for the watermelon man to back near the front on Sunday. He will roll off the grid from p.10 and is priced at $10k.

#24 William Byron – ($9,800)

While Gateway is a very unique track, it does have an obvious trait — it’s flat. With that in mind, we move on to our next target by going back to a Hendrick driver with William Byron. Byron runs well at other flat tracks like Richmond, Martinville, and the previously mentioned Pheonix. Additionally, he ran third at Nashville in 2021 after having the best car all day.

Perhaps what is most appealing, however, is the fact that he starts 24th on Sunday. What does that provide us in NASCAR DFS? Place differential bonus points.

Byron is an excellent play at sub $10k on Draftkings. My only question is, what will his ownership be in GPPs?

#6 Brad Keselowski – ($7,100)

Playing Brad Keselowski still doesn’t feel great if I’m being honest, but you have to roll the dice in tournaments for NASCAR DFS.

Bad Brad has more starts at Gateway than any other active driver in Sunday’s race, with nine total between Xfinity and Trucks. His average finish is 10.67 and he’s won here in Xfinity and Trucks — although hopes of him getting a top-10 at this point in 2022 seem like a pipe-dream. It is possible, however, and Keselowski starts deep in the field on Sunday from p.30.

Brad Keselowski will likely be a quality mid-tier pick at WWTR.

Tons of races at Gateway under his belt including Truck and Xfinity wins.

One of his better races of 2022 was at Richmond. 13th, 12.9 avg running position, 8th best Total Speed Ranking.

— Ryan (@ifantasyrace) May 30, 2022

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While others likely shy away, I’ll be playing him in GPPs, maybe even cash too.

#38 Todd Gilliland – ($4,900)

Going back to drivers with experience at World Wide Technology Raceway, we have to mention Front Row Motorsports driver, Todd Gilliland. In total, he has five career Camping World Truck Series starts at Gateway that provided up and down results. He finished 21st in 2017, ran 2nd in 2018 and 2019, then had a couple of tough runs in 2020 and 2021.

His average finish is 15.6, he starts from p.22 and has a decent shot at a top-15. In terms of salary relief options, Gilliland is my favorite target on DraftKings at $4,900.

Good luck this weekend!

Be sure to follow me on Twitter at @Nate_FFL and @TeamRiseOrFall for continued NASCAR DFS coverage and advice, as well as any late-breaking news prior to the green flag at Gateway. Also, be sure to check out all the other great NASCAR DFS content at TeamRiseOrFall.com.