NASCAR DFS Picks, Tiers & Rankings: 2024 Shriners Children’s 500

Stock car racing’s premiere series stops in Phoenix, the first shorter-flat track of the regular season. Make the most of the 2024 Shriners Children’s 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: 2024 Shriners Children’s 500

Driver As | The Elites

Ryan Blaney has scored a T5 in all four races at Phoenix in the Next-Gen era. Dating back to the Gen 6 car, he’s finished with a T10 in nine of his last 10 races here. If you’re paying up for anyone, make sure it’s Blaney at $11,2000 on DraftKings and $24.24 on Fantrax. Kyle Larson hasn’t been nearly as dominant in the desert, but he was last week in Las Vegas. He’s also scored finishes of P3, P4 and P9 in the Next-Gen era races here, where he didn’t suffer mechanical issues. He’ll be in the mix all Sunday long.

William Byron sits no. 1 in the Phoenix Next-Gen total speed rankings (courtesy of ifantasyrace.com) and won this race a year ago. He’ll be looking to bounce back after a trash bag and a Coors Light ruined his day at Las Vegas last week.

Also, don’t count out Ross Chastain, who represents a serious NASCAR DFS value this week at $9,000 on DraftKings and $23.21 on Fantrax. “The Melon Man” won the championship race here last fall, leading 157 laps and finishing top-three in both stages. That gave him a win, P24 (when Denny Hamlin purposely took him out late in the race), P3 and runner-up finish here in the Next-Gen era. He’ll be somewhat chalky at his price value, but he still belongs locked in lineups come Sunday.

Driver Bs | Point-Getters

Tyler Reddick was scary fast last week and has been in the top five of the total speed rankings in each of the last two fall races. He’s worth a sniff in NASCAR DFS lineups at the price of $8,5000 on DraftKings and $22.58 on Fantrax. Denny Hamlin is No. 1 in the shorter-flat track total speed rankings but has been hit or miss in the desert the last few seasons. That could make him interesting leverage or a higher-salary fade.

Chase Briscoe got his first Cup Series win at Phoenix and followed it up with two top-seven finishes here. However, he had issues in the fall race and has consistently fallen back at the end of recent races, reflected in his 19.5 NASCAR DFS points per race average this season. He’s a true risk-vs.-reward play this week. Chris Buescher posted negative points on DraftKigns last week, finishing P37. However, he finished T5 in the championship race last fall and could be significant leverage this week at $8,300 on DraftKings and $21.36 on Fantrax.

Driver Cs | In the Mix

Josh Berry finished T10 at Phoenix last year in the No. 9 car. It may not be Kevin Harvick in the vehicle, but crew chief Rodney Childers knows how to set up a car for Pheonix. The Cup Series rookie represents one of the best NASCAR DFS values this week at $7,200 on DraftKings and $5.26 on Fantrax. Christopher Bell could unload fast like he usually does at Phoenix. Yet, I’m not buying it, as he’s scored negative points in back-to-back races this season and is hit-or-miss at Phoenix. I would keep an eye on his Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) teammate Ty Gibbs, though. The No. 54 car was the fastest car in the Busch Light Clash at The Coliseum, a loose comp for Phoenix.

Driver Ds | Could Do Worse

Noah Gragson carried my NASCAR DFS lineups last week, scoring an impressive P6 finish in Las Vegas. Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) cars have been known to have speed at Pheonix. I’ll go right back to the well with the Nevada native, who has two T10s this season at the price tag of $6,600 on DraftKings and $7.43 on Fantrax. It’s hard to describe exactly what “it” is, but Carson Hocevar has “it.” He’s averaged 25.7 NASCAR DFS points this season and finished P19 in Legacy Motorsport equipment here last fall.

Driver Fs | The Junk Drawer

John Hunter Nemechek will be in the car twice this weekend, again racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for JGR. The North Carolina native hasn’t finished worse than P22 in any Cup Series race this season and once again represents a NASCAR DFS value at $6,500 on DraftKings and the $5 minimum on Fantrax.

Thanks for reading our NASCAR DFS picks and tiers for the 2024 Shriners Children’s 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.

For more fantasy sports and sports betting content, you can find me on Twitter @Between_SethFF.

*Photo Credit: Gary A. Vasquez – USA TODAY Sports*