Daily Fantasy NASCAR DraftKings Forecast: 2025 All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro

If you’ve been around this sport for awhile, you know that All-Star Weekend for the NASCAR Cup Series is about one thing and one thing only. It’s not about points, it’s not about having a solid run to hang your hat on.

It’s about winning yourself a cool million dollars. However, you cannot afford to have that kind of mentality when it comes to betting and fantasy racing for this event.

Be mindful that it does in fact count against you for fantasy groups and of course, you’re betting your own money against Las Vegas. Don’t take flyers on drivers like Harrison Burton or Riley Herbst just because you can come away with a huge payday or save some salary cap money.

North Wilkesboro Speedway is an old driver’s track where the equipment matters just as much as the man behind the wheel. So, be smart and go with those who are tried and true, especially on short tracks in this Next Gen era.

Now, let me climb down from my soapbox to recap how things went at Kansas Speedway last week. I got a huge win from Kyle Larson, which helped get me some pocket change, but my fantasy team didn’t fare so well.

Fantasy/Betting Recap: 2025 AdventHealth400

Right On The Money	Lick Your Wounds
Larson (+425) to win	AJ Allmendinger: -2 points scored
Christopher Bell (+105) over Denny Hamlin	Brad Keselowski: 6.6 points scored
Larson: 130 points scored (WOW)	Chase Elliott to finish as top finishing Chevrolet driver

DraftKings Rules of the Road

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 place 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

Denny Hamlin ($10,000)

Yep, I’m not going with Larson this week, and it’s pretty simple why.

Larson will not be present for any track time in North Wilkesboro, which is certainly a disadvantage in and of itself. What’s worse is that he has to start from the rear of the field at a short track at a place that is notorious for difficult passing.

Meanwhile, Hamlin won at Martinsville Speedway earlier this year, which was the last flat short track on the schedule.

I know Hamlin’s had back-to-back DNFs, but he has one of the fastest crews on pit road. He’s a lock this weekend to win.

William Byron ($9,500)

Willy B was certainly on the wrong side of Lady Luck last week, but I don’t see it as something that will harshly affect the momentum this team has.

He’s been the closest Hendrick Motorsports driver to Larson this season in terms of raw speed. I don’t think he’ll be quite able to close the deal here, but with Rudy Fugle at the helm, anything is possible.

I feel confident in saying that he’ll be on the podium.

Chase Elliott ($9,000)

Man, last weekend was a such a heartbreak for this team, it may take them time to recover.

I did like, however, that they finally showed up to the track with signature Hendrick speed, something they haven’t shown much of as of late.

Elliott will have to improve his starting spot in the heats, or it’ll be a tough road to the front, but I think he’s a lock for a solid top five. He was very competitive at Martinsville, and he won The Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium.

Who knows? Maybe he’s poised for a Joey-Logano-type year, where this exhibition propels him into a very hot summer.

Bubba Wallace ($8,300)

Speaking of drivers who’ve had a rough couple of weeks, Bubba is coming off two straight DNFs.

I’m picking him here though, because he’s been very good at this track since its revival. He’s finished as the runner up here, and he has the highest ranked crew in the Cup Series.

He’ll have to win the Open, which I could easily see him doing.

Wallace will finish in the top 10 in the feature and that, my friends, is what matters.

Ryan Preece ($7,000)

With us being at a short track, I gotta go with the ace here.

I’ve raved like a madman for weeks that I think he’ll win his first race soon, and while it won’t be this one, he’ll be a factor.

The odds are stacked against him a bit, as he’ll also have to transfer through the Open or win the fan vote, which will be tough.

If Preece does somehow get into the show, he’s probably going to be in the top 15 at the very least and points will be on the table for you there.

Shane van Gisbergen ($5,300)

Alright, so SVG has been kind of a letdown so far this season, but hey, he’s learning.

And while I know there is basically zero chance at him making the feature, crazier things have happened and he’s shown some signs of being a decent short track driver in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

He’ll have to get the fan vote to make the show in the first place, which I mean, good luck beating Carson Hocevar or Noah Gragson for that one. If he does do it, he’ll at least get you points for the feature.

I top loaded the lineup anyway, so I’m allowed one flyer I guess.

Props and Locks

1. Wallace (+300) to win the Open: As I said, he’s got the best crew and is gifted on flat short tracks. I really think he’s the alpha male in that race, if even if Vegas believes in Ty Gibbs way more.
2. Elliott (+1000) to win the All-Star Race: This team comes off as snakebit, and hey, they really may be. But, what is calling to me, is that he’s got a good return on those odds. He also can be very good when he’s given the opportunity and for awhile last week, he was very good. Hamlin is my realistic pick, but the gambler in me says driver No. 9.
3. Any Open Driver (+1800) to win: I love this. It’s a fun, sexy bet with unlimited possibilities. Let’s say it’s Hocevar or Wallace who gets the win to transfer? They’ve shown the speed to get it done and it’s not out of the realm of possibility to see them figure a way to win from the back.