Clash at Bowman Gray DFS Picks
- RoundersKyle
- Feb 2
- 3 min read
NASCAR is racing at Bowman gray for the first time in the modern era tonight for the Clash to kickoff the 2025 season. We currently have 20 drivers in the clash from heat races last night but we will have a few more join the field after the LCQ just before the main event. We have a 200 lap feature event and we are likely to see a lot of beating and banging on the track as it is hard to pass on the quarter mile short track. We have a lot of unpredictability tonight but track position and keeping your car clean are going to be major factors as the race plays out.
Potential Dominators
Chase Elliott
Denny Hamlin
With track position going to be so important tonight, the guys starting at the front are going to have the best chance to lead a chunk of the laps from the start. Elliott starts on the pole and should get a jump on the field at the start. I would expect him to lead a good amount at the start and be a solid option if he can make it to end up front. Hamlin struggled in practice but seemed to get him car handling better and looked good in the heat race. He will start on the bottom right behind Elliott so he will have a chance to get around Buescher for 2nd at the start. Elliott and Hamlin are likely to be the front drivers to try to pull away from the field at the beginning with the opportunity to lead a lot of the laps.
Place Differential Plays
Ross Chastain
Advancing Drivers from LCQ
Ryan Blaney
Chastain had speed and looked good on track on Saturday. He starts back in 17th and if he can keep his car relatively clean he will be a good option for the race. The drivers advancing from the LCQ will start at the rear of the field so whoever makes it will have the most place differential potential of the night. They also get some more laps to see how their cars are handling so if they can figure some things out in the LCQ, it may not be a disadvantage to them at all. Ty Gibbs is one driver I am looking at that I expect to be a main contender to advance from the LCQ as he starts in 3rd and had good speed yesterday. There won't be a ton of time between the LCQ and the main event so make sure to adjust your lineups as needed before the main event starts.
The highest in points from last season that does not race their way into the main event will make the race as well. Currently that driver is Ryan Blaney and he starts towards the back for the LCQ so I would not be surprised to see him ride around to keep his car clean and take the provisional. If that happens he would start last for the main event and I would expect all the Penske cars to do well in the race tonight.
Cheap and Value Options
Austin Cindric
Carson Hocevar
Todd Gilliland
Cindric looked really good in the practice sessions and was solid in his heat race. He starts back in 16th so he has a lot of room to move forward so if he can get through the field without any damage, I think he can be someone to get towards the front. Hocevar has the aggression to get passes done at this track. There is going to be a lot of moving drivers out of the way and Hocevar will not be afraid to do so. If he can survive, starting 15th gives him a good amount of place differential potential. Gilliland is the last car locked into the main event before the LCQs and had a good run in the heat race. I think he can work his way forward and be a solid option for the race. He will likely be higher owned though as his cheap salary opens up a lot for other top drivers and he will be a target starting back in 20th.
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