The NASCAR Cup Series is set to electrify Talladega Superspeedway for the 2025 Jack Link’s 500. This race presents a prime opportunity for fans to craft winning NASCAR DFS lineups. Zane Smith has secured the pole position, setting the stage for an unpredictable showdown.

Christopher Bell, despite leading NASCAR with three victories, ranks third in the standings. This discrepancy is partly due to two finishes of 29th or worse in his nine starts. Bell’s track record at Talladega Speedway is a blank slate, raising the question: Is he a high-risk, high-reward driver worth considering for your Jack Link’s 500 DFS lineup?

Before finalizing your NASCAR DFS picks, it’s crucial to consider expert advice. One name frequently mentioned in DFS circles is Mike McClure, a daily fantasy pro with over $2 million in career winnings.

McClure’s predictive model has a proven track record. In the 2025 season alone, it correctly picked Chase Elliott to win the Clash at Bowman Gray (+300 payout), identified William Byron as a +2000 longshot at Daytona, and forecasted Kyle Larson’s victory in Miami (+350 payout). The model’s success extends back to 2024, where it accurately predicted Larson’s win in Las Vegas (21-5 payout) and Denny Hamlin’s triumphs in Bristol (5-1) and Richmond (17-4).

Notably, McClure’s model impressively nailed five of Kyle Larson’s wins during his dominant 2021 season. As 2021, the model has pinpointed a remarkable 20 winners, including nine in 2023 and three in the frist seven races of last season.

Top DFS picks for the 2025 Jack Link’s 500

For the Talladega race, McClure is particularly optimistic about Kyle Larson ($9,500 on DraftKings and $10,000 on FanDuel). Larson is coming off a victory at the Food City 500 on April 13. This win marked his second victory in four races and his fifth top-10 finish in six events.During this period, Larson secured four top-five finishes, propelling him to fourth place in the NASCAR Cup Series standings.

Larson’s recent history at Talladega includes a fourth-place finish in the October race and another fourth-place finish in the 2022 spring race. While Talladega may not be his strongest track, this is factored into his price.With three top-15 finishes in his last six Talladega starts, McClure believes Larson offers significant value, given his consistent top-five performances this season.

Another driver highlighted in McClure’s optimal NASCAR DFS strategy is Tyler Reddick ($8,400 on DraftKings and $8,200 on FanDuel).Reddick has secured top-10 finishes in two of his last four races and boasts three top-five results this year, tying him for fifth-most in NASCAR. The 27-year-old currently holds seventh place in the NASCAR Cup Series standings, building on a career-high fourth-place finish last year, which included a career-best 12 top-five results and 21 top-10 finishes.

Reddick capitalized on a final-lap crash to seize victory in last year’s spring race at talladega Speedway, the GEICO 500. This win was one of his three victories last season, matching a career-high. He has also achieved at least one top-10 stage finish in each of his last three NASCAR at Talladega events. Moreover, Reddick has led multiple laps in three consecutive NASCAR at Talladega races.Given his price point, McClure sees considerable value in including Reddick in Jack Link’s 500 NASCAR DFS lineups.

Reddick took advantage of a crash on the final lap to sneak through an opening and win last year’s spring race at Talladega Speedway, taking the GEICO 500.

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Crafting Your Winning Lineup

McClure is also targeting an undervalued driver poised to deliver ample value for NASCAR DFS picks. This driver is well-positioned to contend for the checkered flag and comes at an affordable price.