darlington cup final

• Thinking you'll want to base cash game lineups around Hamlin, Harvick and McMurray.
  
• For Hamlin, he has an excellent history here as we documented in the earlier post this week.  Plus the pole sitter has been the Dominator in 3 of the last 4 races.  Last year, Harvick from pole led only 22 laps.  In the prior three races, however, the pole sitter led 214, 196 and 238 laps.  So I'm investing in Hamlin at his sub-$10K salary.
  
• Harvick has race winning and Dominator upside plus he starts from 22nd position, giving him position difference upside as well.
  
• McMurray is just $7,400, starts 31st and has a solid history here.  In the last five races here, he's finished between 10th-16th every time.  And in 17 career Cup series races here, he's finished worse than 22nd only two times.  In short, he has a great history of keeping clean and running all the laps in this grueling 500 mile race.  If he does that, he'll easily score another Top 20 finish here with 10+ position difference.  (He will start from the rear, but that's not a big deal since he's already credited with the 31st starting spot.  He should pass the back markers and be up to and beyond 31st in the first 20 laps.)
• Austin Dillon at $6,600 is another strong play for me.  He starts 18th, which is a pretty safe spot with some upside.  In the last two Cup series races here, he's finished 12th and 4th.  Plus the RCR camp is showing improved speed these days.  He's definitely under priced.
• To fill out the lineup, I'm looking at Clint Bowyer, Ryan Blaney, Aric Almirola, Jimmie Johnson, Ricky Stenhouse and Ty Dillon.