After a successful exhibition at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, the new NASCAR Cup Series will start its season on Sunday with the 2022 Daytona 500. It’s the most famed event in stock car racing and will feature 43 drivers in the Daytona 500 field. It’s also one of the toughest races of the season for NASCAR DFS players because of the unpredictability of superspeedway racing.

There’s a big wreck lingering around every corner at Daytona International Speedway, but there’s also quantifiable skill in avoiding “The Big One,” and that’s what you’re looking for in your 2022 Daytona 500 DFS picks. Denny Hamlin is a three-time Daytona 500 winner, which could make him a popular option for NASCAR DFS lineups at “The Great American Race.” Before locking in any NASCAR DFS picks for the 2022 Daytona 500, be sure to check out the optimal NASCAR at the Daytona DFS strategy and advice from SportsLine’s Mike McClure. 

McClure has won almost $2 million in his career as a daily Fantasy pro, and his NASCAR DFS driver pool, projections and advice can help you score a big win on Sunday.

McClure’s top NASCAR DFS picks produced in a big way during the 2021 NASCAR season. His model, which simulates every race 10,000 times, called seven outright winners last year, including five of Kyle Larson’s wins. It also was high on Kyle Busch at the 2022 Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum where he went on to finish second. Anybody who has followed his picks has seen some huge returns.

Now, he’s turned his attention to Sunday’s 2022 Daytona 500. He’s only sharing his picks and NASCAR DFS driver pool here.

Top 2022 Daytona 500 NASCAR DFS picks

For NASCAR at Daytona, we can tell you McClure is high on William Byron. The 24-year-old is already starting his fifth season in the NASCAR Cup Series and coming off a career-best 10th-place finish in the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series standings. Byron had an impressive 12 top-five finishes last season and also captured his second win at the Dixie Vodka 400.

Byron’s first victory came at the historic Daytona International Speedway in the 2020 Coke Zero Sugar 400, so he knows what it takes to stay out in front of “The Big One” at Daytona. He also finished second at the 2019 Coke Zero Sugar 400 and has led at least 10 laps in four of his last seven starts at Daytona.

Part of McClure’s optimal NASCAR DFS strategy also includes rostering Kurt Busch. After spending the last three seasons with Chip Ganassi Racing, the 43-year-old joins 23XI Racing in the No. 45 Toyota Camry for the 2022 NASCAR season. It will be Busch’s 23rd year in the NASCAR Cup Series.

Busch won the 2004 NASCAR Cup Series championship and has a total of 33 wins in a Cup car. He’s won at least one race the last eight seasons and won the 2017 Daytona 500 despite leading just one lap. Busch knows how to pick his spots and could be a solid value play for NASCAR DFS strategy at the 2022 Daytona 500.

How to set 2022 NASCAR at Daytona DFS lineups

McClure is also targeting an undervalued driver set to return plenty of value. He’s in a prime position to make a run at the checkered flag and comes at a price that won’t break the bank. You can see who it is, and every other pick, right here.

So what are the top NASCAR DFS picks for Sunday’s 2022 Daytona 500? And which value driver is a must-roster? Visit SportsLine now to see DFS millionaire Mike McClure’s complete driver pool for DraftKings and FanDuel, and cash in big on NASCAR DFS.