The NASCAR Cup Series heads to World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway for the 2026 Enjoy Illinois 300, and this DraftKings lineup takes an interesting approach by pairing one of the strongest drivers in the field with several mid-tier values. The six-driver lineup uses $49,600 of the $50,000 salary cap, leaving just $400 on the table.
The lineup features Denny Hamlin, Zane Smith, Riley Herbst, Chris Buescher, Chase Briscoe and Joey Logano. With Gateway presenting a unique combination of short-track racing, long green-flag runs and limited passing opportunities, the key to DFS success will be balancing finishing potential with place-differential upside.
The 2026 race is the 28th points-paying event of the Cup season and the second race of the NASCAR playoffs. Hamlin enters as the defending winner at Gateway, while Christopher Bell comes in after winning at Darlington to open the postseason.
Denny Hamlin: $10,500
Hamlin is the anchor of this lineup and arguably the safest high-dollar option. At $10,500, he carries the highest salary on this particular roster, but there is a very good reason for spending up.
Hamlin won this race last season, and his recent Gateway record is outstanding. According to DraftKings’ weekly fantasy analysis, Hamlin has finished first, second and second in his last three Gateway starts, giving him a remarkable 1.7 average finish over that stretch.
The screenshot also gives Hamlin a 56.6 FPPG average, easily the highest projected fantasy production among these six drivers.
That combination makes Hamlin the driver most likely to provide the lineup with a strong finishing score while also competing for laps led and fastest-lap points.
DFS outlook: Excellent
Zane Smith: $6,100
Zane Smith is one of the lineup’s biggest salary-saving plays at just $6,100.
The No. 38 Ford gives the lineup some necessary salary flexibility, allowing it to include three expensive drivers. Smith’s displayed 23.0 FPPG isn’t spectacular, but the price makes him useful if he can simply stay out of trouble and finish around or above his starting position.
This is an important DFS concept at Gateway. You don’t necessarily need every inexpensive driver to finish in the top 10. If a $6,100 driver gains several positions and avoids a disastrous finish, he can provide enough value to make the more expensive pieces work.
Smith should be viewed as a value-and-survival play rather than a likely race winner.
DFS outlook: Solid value
Riley Herbst: $5,500
Herbst is the true salary-saving play in this lineup.
At $5,500, he is the cheapest driver selected, while the screenshot shows him averaging 20.0 DraftKings fantasy points. The goal here isn’t necessarily to expect a huge fantasy score. Instead, Herbst needs to avoid losing significant positions and ideally gain a few spots.
His inclusion allows the lineup to roster Hamlin, Briscoe and Logano simultaneously.
Herbst is also part of the 2026 Gateway entry list in the No. 35 23XI Racing Toyota.
For tournaments, that makes him an interesting low-cost piece. If he exceeds expectations, the lineup gains significant value relative to rosters that spend more heavily on the lower salary tier.
DFS outlook: GPP value
Chris Buescher: $7,600
Buescher might be the quietest pick in this lineup, but he could also be one of the most important.
At $7,600, he’s priced below many of the obvious premium options, while his screenshot shows 28.0 FPPG and 11 top-10 finishes in the relevant statistic displayed by DraftKings.
DraftKings’ pre-race analysis also highlights Buescher as an under-the-radar Gateway option. He has recorded three top-20 finishes in three Gateway starts since 2023 and an 11.7 average finish over that span.
That’s exactly the type of driver who can make a DFS lineup work. He doesn’t need to dominate the race. A strong finish combined with a few place-differential points can make him one of the better values in the lineup.
DFS outlook: Strong value
Chase Briscoe: $9,700
Briscoe is the lineup’s most interesting high-priced tournament play.
At $9,700, he’s cheaper than Hamlin and Logano, but he’s still expensive enough that a mediocre finish could hurt the lineup.
The No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota enters the weekend with Briscoe fifth in the 2026 championship standings after the opening playoff race.
The concern is Gateway history. DraftKings notes that Briscoe has struggled at this track, with a 19.3 average finish.
That makes him more of a ceiling play than a safe cash-game option. The upside comes from putting a JGR car into a lineup alongside Hamlin and betting that Briscoe’s current form outweighs his track history.
DFS outlook: High-upside GPP play
Joey Logano: $10,200
Logano completes the expensive core and gives this lineup another driver with excellent Gateway history.
DraftKings notes that Logano has recorded four top-five finishes in four Gateway starts, including a victory in the inaugural 2022 Cup race at the track.
At $10,200, he’s expensive, but the combination of track history and race-winning potential makes him an appropriate spend-up option.
The lineup is essentially betting that Hamlin and Logano will be heavily involved at the front of the field while Buescher, Smith and Herbst provide enough value to make the salary construction work.
DFS outlook: Excellent
Overall DraftKings DFS Strategy
This is a balanced tournament lineup with a strong premium-driver foundation.
The biggest strength is the combination of Hamlin and Logano. Both have proven they can perform at Gateway, while Briscoe provides additional upside from a top-tier organization.
The value side is more volatile. Herbst and Smith need to outperform their salaries, while Buescher provides the lineup with a more stable middle-tier option.
Gateway is a 1.25-mile track, and the 2026 race is scheduled for 300 laps, with stage breaks after laps 45 and 140 and the final stage running to lap 300. That creates substantial opportunity for laps-led and fastest-lap points, making front-running drivers particularly valuable.
One important DFS consideration is qualifying. Starting position can dramatically change the value of a driver because DraftKings awards place-differential points. The qualifying session is scheduled for Saturday, so this lineup should be re-evaluated once the starting lineup is finalized.
Overall, the lineup’s strategy is clear: pay for proven Gateway performers, save salary with lower-priced drivers, and chase upside rather than simply building a lineup of safe finishes. Hamlin and Logano provide the foundation, Buescher is the potential value standout, and Briscoe, Smith and Herbst give the roster the tournament upside needed to compete in a large-field GPP.