Stockcar racing’s premiere series returns to Darlington for a Labor Day Weekend nightcap. Make the most of the 2023 Cook Out Southern 500 with our NASCAR DFS picks and tiers.
We reveal our “Tire Tiers” and betting cards live every Thursday at 8:30 p.m. EST on our YouTube series, “The Backroad.” Be sure to tune in, enjoy the race and reach out if you have any questions.
(DFS prices are courtesy of DraftKings and Fantrax)
NASCAR DFS Picks, Tiers & Rankings: 2023 Cook Out Southern 500
Driver As | Fast Thoughts
I’ll do whatever it takes to get both Martin Truex Jr. and Denny Hamlin in my NASCAR DFS lineups. Truex Jr. has won the first race of the Cup Series Playoffs three times. He also dominated the spring race, scoring the fastest lap, most laps lead (145) and second-best total speed ranking (courtesy of ifantasyrace.com). Hamlin is No. 1 among active Darlington wins and average finish (7.7). He had a jank setup here in the spring and still managed to finish 12th. That’s the floor, with the ceiling being a dominating performance.
Driver Bs | Fast Thoughts
Brad Keselowski was eighth in the total speed rankings and finished fourth at Darlington in the spring. As hot as Roush Fenway Keselowski (RFK) Racing has been, he’s a NASCAR DFS value at $8,700 on DraftKings and $23.70 on Fantrax. That’ll do. Bubba Wallace has back-to-back T10s at Darlington and should be amped up for his first playoff appearance. And while William Byron maybe wasn’t the best car when he won Darlington in the spring, he was No. 2 in total speed rankings and green flag speed. The No. 24 also has T10s in five of his last eight Darlington races.
Driver Cs | Fast Thoughts
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was ninth in the total speed ranking and finished 13th in Darlington I. He always has the potential for differential NASCAR DFS points because of his lackluster qualifying. Tyler Reddick underperformed in the spring but has the sixth-best average finish at Darlington among active drivers (12.5).
Driver Ds | Fast Thoughts
Aric Almirola is a dark horse I’m targeting for my Darlington NASCAR DFS lineups. The No. 10 car has the 12th-best average finish since 2020 here, including two T10s and six T20s. At $6,700 on DraftKings and $15.11 on Fantrax, he’s an affordable leverage play. Ty Gibbs has finished 15th and 16th in his two Darlington starts, so at least you know he shouldn’t burn your lineup. Same for Harrison Burton, whose worst finish in three starts is P21, and best is sixth in the spring.
Driver Fs | Fast Thoughts
The F-Tier is thin this week. If I’m targeting someone in it, give me Austin Dillon. The driver of the No. 3 car has a respectable 36.7% T10 rate at Darlington, despite finishing 34th earlier this year here.
Thanks for reading our NASCAR DFS picks and tiers for the 2023 Cook Out Southern 500 Check out more of our racing content and other written work here at In-Between Media, or head over to our YouTube channel to get your fix via video.