Pearce Dietrich gives his picks and ranks his top drivers for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Xfinity 500 at Martinsville.

The NASCAR season is revving up and DraftKings is shifting into high gear with an assortment of fantasy NASCAR contests. Dive into the best fantasy racing picks for the NASCAR Cup Series Xfinity 500 at Martinsville.

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Set your DraftKings fantasy NASCAR lineups here: NAS $111K Martinsville Drive [$25K to 1st] (Cup)

Fantasy NASCAR Driver Rankings: Xfinity 500

1. Ryan Blaney ($11,200) — Virginia is for lovers, and like most Cup Series drivers, Blaney loves the legendary short track in Southside Virginia. Martinsville was one of the first Cup Series tracks to click for him. He needs a big day to qualify for the Championship 4.

2. Kyle Larson ($10,500) — No one owns Martinsville. Many have legitimate claims, but every race at The Paperclip seems to bring a new winner. Larson doesn’t own the short, flat track, but he loves it. He’s finished sixth or better in the last six races with an average finish of third.

3. Christopher Bell ($10,700) — Two of the JGR Toyotas have already qualified and are focused on Phoenix. Bell isn’t locked in yet, but he’s 37 points to the good. He’ll get all the resources he needs at Martinsville. The concern is that with two good stages, he could safely cruise to the finish — and finish with few fantasy points.

4. William Byron ($9,700) — Everything has gone wrong for Byron in the Round of 8. The regular-season champ is on the outside looking in, but it’s not over. Martinsville has been a great track for Hendrick Motorsports, and Byron has won two Gen-7 races there.

5. Chase Elliott ($10,000) — Hendrick is always strong at Martinsville. Teamwork makes the dream work — except in the penultimate race of the season. It’s do-or-die for the three remaining Hendrick drivers. All are going all-out. This might as well be the championship.

6. Joey Logano ($10,200) — Never count him out. He’s down, but not done. Logano is 38 points in the hole, meaning his only real shot at advancing is by winning. Like Byron, Blaney and Elliott, he’s going for broke. There’s major upside for each of these drivers.

7. Denny Hamlin ($11,000) — The Virginian doesn’t need to win. Hamlin could DNF, run a lap, and pack up for Phoenix. This is one of his best tracks, and he won the spring race. But he and his team likely have their eyes on the bigger prize — winning his first Cup Series Championship.

8. Ryan Preece ($7,000) — The savings are significant, but the safety matters. Preece has earned a top 20 finish in each of his five Cup Series races at Martinsville. A modified driver by trade, he has plenty of experience on short, flat tracks.

9. Todd Gilliland ($6,400) — Martinsville is memorable for Gilly. He earned his first Truck Series win here with KBM, then mouthed off about his boss — and Kyle Busch showed him the door. Since then, Gilly has earned four top 15 finishes in the last six Martinsville races, including two top 10s.

10. Bubba Wallace ($8,000) — This race is about playoff contenders fighting for the final championship spots. Most drivers will be deferential. Bubba will not be. He’s finished 11th or better in five of the last six, including two top fives in the last three.

11. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. ($5,400) — Martinsville is a sneaky Stenhouse track. After a decade in the Cup Series, he hasn’t figured it out, but he’s improved. His top 20 consistency is solid given the inferior equipment he’s driven.

12. Chase Briscoe ($9,200) — Martinsville has been a great track for the No. 14 team. Briscoe has been strong here in an underpowered Gen-7 car that requires shifting, which suits his skill set. However, his focus may already be on Phoenix and chasing his first NASCAR title.

13. Zane Smith ($5,600) — The elite drivers will battle for the final two championship spots, and they’ll lead laps — but they’re expensive. Value is necessary. Smith finished 16th in the spring, and Front Row Motorsports has been dependable at Martinsville.

14. Erik Jones ($5,800) — If value is needed to jam in elite dominators, what’s the right strategy? Chase place differential or settle for a solid top 20 finisher? Jones fits the latter.

15. Shane van Gisbergen ($5,600) — The future of Trackhouse Racing hinges on SVG’s development. Daniel Suarez is leaving, and Ross Chastain will likely never be a championship contender. With more road courses on the schedule, if SVG can improve on ovals, he could become one.