
Best Drivers, Sleepers & Dark Horses for Fantasy Lineups at the Monster Mile
Hey friends, Bryan here. It’s race week at Dover Motor Speedway, better known as the Monster Mile. If you’re anything like me, you’re already itching to lock in your fantasy picks before the green flag waves.
Dover’s a one mile, high banked concrete beast that rewards smart tire management, qualifying position, and patience in traffic.
That makes it a perfect track to rack up stage points, if you’ve got the right roster. Let’s walk through my top three picks, some sneaky plays from outside the top 12, and my go-to dark horse for this week’s showdown.
Top 3 Fantasy NASCAR Picks from the Top 12
Tyler Reddick
Tyler Reddick is my locked in driver, so let’s start with him.
While Dover isn’t traditionally one of Reddick’s strongest tracks, he’s having a solid season with five top fives and eight top tens. He’s also been improving his qualifying runs and tends to run clean when it counts.
If he can stay out of trouble and nab some mid stage points, he’s got a good shot to bring in a respectable fantasy score.
Kyle Larson
Kyle Larson, on the other hand, is an absolute no brainer here. Larson has three wins on the season and continues to be a beast at tracks like Dover.
He’s led over 900 laps here in his career and consistently finishes inside the top 10, even when things go sideways. He dominates long runs, and with 854 stage points this season, he’s the kind of anchor you want in your lineup.
Chase Elliott
Chase Elliott rounds out my power trio. He’s got two wins and a crazy ten top fives at Dover.
While his performance dipped last year due to injury recovery, he’s looked sharp this season with seven top fives already.
Chase is one of the best at managing tire wear and navigating Dover’s mid pack chaos. With a relatively safe floor and a high ceiling, he’s a reliable pick at the Monster Mile.
Why William Byron Could’ve Been the One to Anchor My Lineup at Dover
If I wasn’t locked into Reddick, I’d give serious consideration to William Byron (#24 Chevrolet) as the cornerstone of my Dover fantasy roster.
Here’s why Byron deserves a seat at your table:
Consistent at Dover: Byron has steadily improved at this high banked concrete oval. In the last three Dover races, he’s finished 4th, 4th, and 3rd showing he’s figured this track out. He’s led laps in each of those races and is building toward a breakout Dover win.
2025 Momentum: This season, he’s got 1 win, 7 Top-5s, and 11 Top-10s and more importantly, he’s been sneaky good at intermediate and high wear tracks, making him a low key monster in the consistency department.
Stage Slayer: Byron’s locked down double digit stage points multiple times this year. He doesn’t just hang around he fights up front early and often.
Minimal Risk, High Return: He’s clean, avoids trouble, and tends to stay in contention deep into the final stage. He’s not as flashy as Larson, but he’s incredibly efficient and reliable like a fantasy points machine.
If I weren’t already committed to Reddick (and believe me, I’m not mad about it), Byron would absolutely be on my roster this weekend. He’s a safe, high upside pick who could quietly win the whole thing and if he does, you’ll want him in your garage, not someone else’s.
3 Smart Picks for Dover from Outside the Top 12
Kyle Busch
Kyle Busch might not be tearing it up this season, but don’t sleep on him at Dover. He’s got two career wins at this track and the kind of gritty experience that pays off when rubber starts to wear down.
Busch knows how to steal stage points and ride clean air, plus, he’s still a threat on restarts when it counts.
Michael McDowell
Michael McDowell is one of those guys most people overlook, but I love him as a value play this weekend. He’s been quietly consistent and tends to find himself in the top 15 at the end of long races.
If he qualifies in the top 10, watch out he could sneak into stage points and deliver a tidy return in DFS or fantasy pools.
My Monster Mile Wildcard: A Dark Horse Worth Watching
Brad Keselowski
If you’re looking to zag where others zig, Brad Keselowski is my 3rd pick outside the top 12 this week and my under the radar sleeper pick for this weekend.
He’s not on many fantasy radars, but he’s got a solid record at Dover, including a win and multiple top fives.
He’s not winning races outright this season, but he’s been racking up decent stage points and driving with the kind of focus you want at a place like this.
Dover rewards patience, and Brad has it in spades. I wouldn’t be shocked to see him running top 8 when the final stage rolls around.
Final Verdict: Best NASCAR Fantasy Picks for the Autotrader EchoPark 400 at Dover
As we head into the Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 at Dover, this week’s fantasy lineup blends raw speed, proven Dover dominance, and some strategic sleeper picks to help you rack up serious points.
With Tyler Reddick locked in as my mainstay, I’m pairing him with powerhouse teammates Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott, two drivers who thrive on concrete and have the numbers to back it up.
From outside the top 12, I’m rolling with Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski, and Michael McDowell, who all bring strong track records, veteran savvy, and under-the-radar value. If I didn’t have Reddick locked in, William Byron would’ve been my alternate fast in qualifying, elite in stage points, and one of the most consistent drivers in the field this year.
For those of you looking to shake up your roster even more, keep an eye on Ty Gibbs. He’s shown flashes of brilliance and could be a sneaky difference maker if the cautions fall his way.
Buckle up race fans, Dover’s Monster Mile is always good for a shake up, and your fantasy roster should be ready to tame it. See you after the checkered flag!
Bryan
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