Kyle Larson drops down to the O'Reilly Series as a Cup ringer and immediately tops the projections at Bristol. But Justin Allgaier, Connor Zilisch, and Jesse Love aren't giving an inch on their home turf.
Cup Ringers and Series Regulars Collide
The O'Reilly Auto Parts Series heads to Bristol Motor Speedway for the Suburban Propane 300, and the entry list is stacked. Kyle Larson drops down from the Cup Series to pilot the JR Motorsports #88, immediately vaulting to the top of the projections. Connor Zilisch — also ineligible for championship points — adds another Cup-caliber talent in the #1.
But this isn't a two-horse race. Justin Allgaier has been the class of the O'Reilly Series at short tracks, and Jesse Love, Carson Kvapil, and Brandon Jones all have the equipment and talent to compete for the win. Bristol's half-mile bullring is an equalizer — talent and aggression matter more than raw horsepower.
Track Preview
Bristol's 0.533-mile concrete oval is the ultimate short-track test. The 26-to-30-degree banking creates a unique racing groove where the bottom lane is typically fastest, but tire wear opens up the middle and high lines as runs progress. For the O'Reilly Series, the 300-lap distance means tire strategy is critical — fresh rubber is worth multiple positions.
Restarts here are pure chaos. Three-wide into turn one with concrete walls on both sides. Drivers who fire on restarts and clear traffic quickly have a massive advantage.
Fantasy Scorecard
Premium Tier (-)
| Driver | Car | Proj Pts | Proj Finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kyle Larson | #88 | 42.0 | 5.6 |
| Justin Allgaier | #7 | 37.6 | 8.3 |
| Connor Zilisch | #1 | 35.4 | 8.6 |
Larson is the clear top projection — his short-track ability is elite even in lesser equipment. Allgaier is the safest series-regular play, with a Bristol track rating of 120 from our projections. Zilisch is the wild card — massive ceiling but less series experience.
Contender Tier (-)
| Driver | Car | Proj Pts | Proj Finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jesse Love | #2 | 33.2 | 9.9 |
| Carson Kvapil | #9 | 33.2 | 10.3 |
| Brandon Jones | #20 | 30.5 | 11.4 |
| Sam Mayer | #41 | 28.5 | 12.8 |
| Sammy Smith | #8 | 28.5 | 12.7 |
Love and Kvapil are the best values in this tier. The JR Motorsports quartet of Allgaier, Kvapil, Smith, and Zilisch gives that organization four cars capable of winning.
Value Tier (-)
| Driver | Car | Salary | Proj Pts | Pts/$ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| William Sawalich | #18 | 26.0 | 2.6 | |
| Harrison Burton | #24 | 25.0 | 2.8 | |
| Dean Thompson | #26 | 24.0 | 3.0 | |
| Sheldon Creed | #00 | 27.2 | 2.5 |
Sawalich at is the standout value — the Rockingham winner projects for a top-15 finish and his JGR equipment gives him a real shot at outperforming.
Recommended Lineup
| Group | Driver | Salary |
|---|---|---|
| A (2.0x) | Kyle Larson | |
| B (1.75x) | Jesse Love | |
| C (1.5x) | Sam Mayer | |
| D (1.25x) | Brent Crews | |
| E (1.0x) | Josh Williams | |
| Total | ** |
Larson in the A-slot maximizes the 2.0x multiplier on the highest-projected driver. Love provides reliable upside in B. Sawalich and Thompson at each free up salary for the premium plays.
Final Thoughts
This is one of the most compelling O'Reilly Series fields of the season. Cup ringers Larson and Zilisch add star power, but the series regulars won't roll over. Build your lineup around proven short-track performers and let the colosseum sort out the rest.
DraftKings Tips (O'Reilly)
DraftKings runs contests for the O'Reilly Series with a $50,000 cap and 6 drivers. Top values for Bristol:
| Driver | DK Salary | Proj Pts | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jesse Love | $8,200 | 33.2 | 4.05 |
| Brandon Jones | $8,000 | 30.5 | 3.81 |
| Dean Thompson | $6,400 | 24.0 | 3.75 |
| Harrison Burton | $6,800 | 25.0 | 3.68 |
| Taylor Gray | $7,500 | 27.2 | 3.63 |
DK Strategy: Larson at $15,500 is an expensive lock but his projected 5.6 finish justifies it. Pair him with Jesse Love ($8,200) and one of the value plays in the $6,000-7,000 range (Thompson, Burton) to build salary flexibility. Allgaier ($12,500) and Zilisch ($12,000) are both strong but hard to fit alongside Larson.
Contrarian play: Brent Crews ($10,000) is overpriced relative to projections but has legitimate upside in the JGR Toyota. If you're building a tournament GPP lineup, fading Larson and stacking Allgaier + Kvapil + Love gives you a differentiated build.