The NASCAR Cup Series heads to World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway for the 2026 Enjoy Illinois 300, the second race of the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. This FanDuel lineup takes a stars-and-value approach, pairing three expensive drivers with two salary-saving options.
The race is scheduled for 240 laps around the 1.25-mile Gateway oval, making it an interesting DFS event. Gateway is a relatively flat, technical track where braking, tire management and long-run speed can be extremely important. NASCAR is also using the same tire configuration that was used for last year’s race, which should give teams useful data heading into Sunday.
The lineup features Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano, Chris Buescher, Zane Smith and Tyler Reddick.
Denny Hamlin | $13,500
Hamlin is the centerpiece of this FanDuel lineup and one of the strongest plays on the entire slate.
The No. 11 Toyota enters Gateway with an excellent combination of track history and current-season performance. Hamlin is the defending winner of the Enjoy Illinois 300, and NASCAR’s current statistics show him with 949 career laps led at Gateway, the most in the field. He also has 14 top-five finishes at the track.
That makes Hamlin particularly attractive on FanDuel, where laps led are an important source of upside. FanDuel awards points for finishing position, place differential and laps led, meaning a driver capable of controlling the race can put together a massive score.
With 240 laps on the schedule, Hamlin does not necessarily need to lead half the race to be valuable. A strong qualifying position, a top-five finish and 50-plus laps led could put him in position to be one of the highest-scoring drivers on the slate.
DFS outlook: Elite dominator candidate and one of the safest high-priced plays.
Joey Logano | $12,500
Logano provides another high-end driver with tremendous Gateway history.
The Team Penske driver has been remarkably consistent at this track. In his four previous Cup starts at Gateway, Logano has finished inside the top five every time. That type of track-specific consistency makes him one of the most attractive options on the board.
Logano’s value becomes even more appealing on FanDuel because this lineup is not relying entirely on place differential. Instead, the strategy is to roster drivers capable of finishing near the front and potentially accumulating laps led.
Logano also gives the lineup some protection. Even if he does not dominate, another top-five finish would provide a strong foundation alongside Hamlin and Reddick.
DFS outlook: Excellent combination of floor and upside, particularly attractive for cash games and smaller-field tournaments.
Chris Buescher | $7,500
Buescher is the first major salary-saving piece of the lineup.
At $7,500, he allows the roster to spend heavily on three premium drivers. That is important because FanDuel’s Gateway strategy tends to favor strong cars capable of running toward the front. FanDuel’s own NASCAR analysis has classified Gateway as a track where front-running drivers and lap leaders have historically been particularly important.
Buescher currently sits 11th in the Cup Series standings entering the race, so this isn’t simply a punt play.
The key for Buescher is his starting position. If he qualifies outside the top 15 but has competitive practice speeds, his place-differential ceiling becomes much more interesting. If he starts closer to the front, the emphasis shifts toward finishing position.
DFS outlook: Mid-range value with enough equipment and talent to provide tournament-winning upside.
Zane Smith | $5,200
Smith is the biggest salary saver on the roster.
The $5,200 price allows this lineup to fit three drivers who could realistically contend for the win. That’s an appealing construction, but Smith is also the riskiest selection.
The key is starting position. On FanDuel, place differential can make a lower-priced driver extremely valuable if he starts deep in the field and moves forward. FanDuel’s NASCAR research specifically identifies place differential as one of the primary sources of upside in NASCAR DFS.
Smith therefore becomes much more attractive if qualifying puts him toward the back while his practice numbers suggest the car has legitimate race pace.
DFS outlook: High-risk, high-reward value play whose starting position could dramatically change his DFS value.
Tyler Reddick | $11,000
Reddick completes the three-driver premium core.
The No. 45 Toyota has been one of the fastest cars in NASCAR this season, and Reddick currently sits fourth in the Cup Series standings.
He also has impressive statistics at Gateway, including the best average starting position in the current field according to FOX Sports’ track statistics.
Reddick’s $11,000 price is significant, but this lineup is banking on his ability to finish near the front and potentially lead laps. If he qualifies near the top, the place-differential upside is limited, but his finishing-position and laps-led potential become much more important.
DFS outlook: Strong tournament play with legitimate winning and dominator potential.
FanDuel DFS Strategy
The biggest takeaway from this lineup is that it is built around front-end performance rather than simply chasing place differential.
That is a logical strategy at Gateway. FanDuel’s historical analysis found that Gateway has produced more front-centric optimal lineups than many other NASCAR track types. The analysis of previous Gateway races showed strong representation from drivers starting near the front, while the average perfect lineup accumulated substantial laps-led production.
That makes the Hamlin-Logano-Reddick combination particularly appealing.
The major variable is qualifying. If one of the three expensive drivers qualifies farther back than expected, his value can actually increase because of place-differential potential. Meanwhile, Smith and Buescher become much more attractive if they qualify deep enough to have realistic position-gain upside.
Gateway also presents an interesting equipment-management challenge. NASCAR says teams will have 12 tire sets available, including nine new sets for the race, and the track’s unique characteristics put additional heat and stress on the tires.
That makes long-run speed and pit strategy worth monitoring before lock.
Final FanDuel Lineup
Denny Hamlin – $13,500
Joey Logano – $12,500
Chris Buescher – $7,500
Zane Smith – $5,200
Tyler Reddick – $11,000
Overall, this is an aggressive FanDuel tournament build that puts a lot of faith in three high-end drivers. If Hamlin, Logano and Reddick combine for strong finishes and significant laps-led production, Buescher and Smith don’t need to dominate to make the lineup work.
The final piece of the puzzle is qualifying. Watch Saturday’s practice and qualifying closely before locking the lineup, especially for Buescher and Smith. Gateway is a track where starting position can significantly change a driver’s FanDuel ceiling. The Enjoy Illinois 300 is scheduled for Sunday, September 13, with the race going 240 laps.