Daily Fantasy NASCAR DraftKings Forecast: 2024 Cup Series Championship Race

After a tough week for the sport following last Sunday’s (Nov. 2) controversial finish at Martinsville Speedway, only one thing matters: Who is going to be the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series champion?

Tyler Reddick, Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano and William Byron will enter Phoenix Raceway this Sunday (Nov. 10) to answer that very question.

However, there are also millions of fantasy players out there who are in the same position as the Championship 4. You’ll need at least one, maybe two of the title contenders to lock up your own victories.

Championship weekend also brings with it one last opportunity to make some money on fun, sometimes off-beat wagers that are out there right now.

Now, before we get into this week, let’s look at how things went last week.

RIGHT ON THE MONEY	LICK YOUR WOUNDS
Chase Elliott (103.1 points scored, finished second)	Christopher Bell +1,100 to win (finished 22nd)
Ross Chastain (52.3 points scored, finished eighth)	Bubba Wallace +800 to finish top three (finished 18th)
Austin Dillon (42.7 points scored, finished seventh)	Martin Truex, Jr. (11.6 points scored, finished 24th)

On the fantasy side of things, it was a fantastic race weekend for me at Martinsville. Elliott snagged the most points scored of any of the picks I’ve made this season by leading a season-high 81 laps and coming home second.

As for my bet slip, the less said about that, the better.

Here’s the DraftKings rules breakdown for those who need the details:

Drivers will be awarded points based on their finishing position, position differential, fastest laps and laps led. The driver who wins the race scores 45 fantasy points, while second gets 42 points, third gets 41 points and so on, at least through the top 10. The 11th-place finisher scores 32 points, 21st gets 21 and 31st gets 10.

However many spots drivers lose or gain on the track are added or subtracted from their score. If the driver leads a lap, they will earn 0.25 points for each lap led and 0.45 for each fastest lap.

Fantasy Forecast

1. Tyler Reddick ($10,500)

Time and time again during these playoffs, Reddick has proven his championship mettle.

Driver No. 45 first proved it at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL. Many drivers would have folded after picking up the suspension damage he snagged early on in the event. Reddick didn’t, instead putting on an incredible drive en route to a berth in the Round of 8. He responded to the pressure again at Homestead-Miami Speedway, entering that race in a must-win situation and answering the bell with a last-lap pass for the ages.

Of course, there’s a chance Reddick will get in his own way a third time around this weekend at Phoenix. But his 23XI Racing organization has a penchant to rally behind its driver.

That leaves Reddick, based on pure momentum alone, to be my pick to win this race and his first Cup championship — and he should be yours, too.

2. Ross Chastain ($9,300)

The man behind one of the most controversial moments in the history of NASCAR found himself swept up in more of it this week, part of the race manipulation scandal that plagued the final laps of the event.

It can’t be ignored, though, that Chastain had a great run at the Paperclip. He finished eighth, 14 spots up from where he started.

Chastain’s also the defending winner of the championship race at Phoenix. Despite the fact he enters without crew chief Phil Surgen for this event, part of the penalties handed down from Martinsville this week, I fully expect the No. 1 team to be a factor.

3. Brad Keselowski ($8,600)

Keselowski was mighty impressive early in the race at Martinsville, leading a race-high 170 laps. That’s a big reason he’s getting the nod this week.

Not only is this team armed with momentum, the driver has a good record at Phoenix, to boot. Keselowski has an impressive 13.6 career average finish across 30 career starts and finished fourth at this track in the spring.

The only thing holding this pick back? Keselowski has never won at Phoenix.

4. Chase Briscoe ($8,300)

For the final time, the flagship No. 14 Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing will take to the track before the organization closes its doors after Phoenix. Briscoe and company will want to show well, riding off into the sunset on a high note.

He’s absolutely SHR’s best chance at a good result this week, boasting a win there in 2022 and a top-10 finish back in the spring. I predict a nice jolt of momentum that Briscoe will take with him as he moves to Joe Gibbs Racing for 2025.

5. Austin Cindric ($7,500)

Cindric is riding a wave of momentum himself after finishing fourth at Martinsville last Sunday. While most of the resources at Team Penske will likely be funneled to his teammates at Phoenix, don’t count out the No. 2.

Cindric’s lone win this season was at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway. That track has a lot in common with this one.

Look for Cindric to be a dangerous sleeper this week.

6. Jimmie Johnson ($5,400)

It wouldn’t be a championship weekend without Mr. Seven-Time. Though Legacy Motor Club has struggled mightily this season, it’s hard to pass up on the living legend.

Four of Johnson’s 83 career wins have come right at Phoenix, though you shouldn’t count on 84 coming this week. He has a good chance at a solid run this weekend, regardless; at some point, Johnson’s past success should click with the Next Gen chassis.

Prop Bets & Locks

1. Reddick (+330) to win the championship: I’m definitely doubling down on this. Of all four teams, the No. 45 has proved it’s the one that can handle any kind of adversity thrown its way. Sure, it’s an even year and Logano could walk away with it, plus Blaney has all the momentum. It just feels like Reddick is the right play here.

2. Justin Allgaier (+150) to win the NASCAR Xfinity Series championship: Speaking of adversity, very few drivers across the three top divisions of the sport have encountered as much as Allgaier throughout their career. I can’t help but feel that it’s finally his time.

3. Martin Truex Jr. (+2,000) to win: This weekend marks the end of one of the most unlikely Hall of Fame careers in the history of NASCAR. Despite rarely showing the ability to contend over the past 10 weeks, the No. 19 team definitely has it in them to send the 2017 champion out in style. This victory isn’t a lock by any means, though; instead, it is a fun final bet to cap off the 2024 season.