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Fantasy Fastlane: 2018 AAA 400 Drive for Autism
By RJ Kraft | Published: April 30, 2018 16
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NASCAR Digital Media
Editor's note: Fantasy Fastlane will look at each race from a fantasy perspective, examining the top plays, several under-the-radar options and a play to avoid for NASCAR Fantasy Live
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Jimmie Johnson | View stats
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 48 Chevrolet
Fastlane forecast: The winningest driver in Dover history (11 times!) knows how to tame Miles the Monster. He is the defending race winner, earned the fourth-most stage points and third-most race points last year. His usage has likely been limited and now is the time to bring him out.
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 48 Chevrolet
Fastlane forecast: The winningest driver in Dover history (11 times!) knows how to tame Miles the Monster. He is the defending race winner, earned the fourth-most stage points and third-most race points last year. His usage has likely been limited and now is the time to bring him out.
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Sarah Crabill/Getty Images
Chase Elliott | View stats
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 9 Chevrolet
Fastlane forecast: Elliott is a perfect four-for-four in top fives at Dover. His 3.2 average finish at the 1-mile track is the best over the past two years there. He nearly won there last fall and is rounding into form with two straight top-three finishes. This is a great play to make this weekend.
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 9 Chevrolet
Fastlane forecast: Elliott is a perfect four-for-four in top fives at Dover. His 3.2 average finish at the 1-mile track is the best over the past two years there. He nearly won there last fall and is rounding into form with two straight top-three finishes. This is a great play to make this weekend.
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Clint Bowyer | View stats
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 14 Ford
Fastlane forecast: Bowyer holds the fifth-best average finish (12.9) among active drivers at Dover. That is bolstered by a stretch of nine straight top 10s from 2011 to 2015. He finished sixth here last fall. With top 10s at all short tracks and 1-mile tracks in '18, he's a strong play.
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 14 Ford
Fastlane forecast: Bowyer holds the fifth-best average finish (12.9) among active drivers at Dover. That is bolstered by a stretch of nine straight top 10s from 2011 to 2015. He finished sixth here last fall. With top 10s at all short tracks and 1-mile tracks in '18, he's a strong play.
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Martin Truex Jr. | View stats
Furniture Row Racing, No. 78 Toyota
Fastlane forecast: The New Jersey native is right at home at Dover with two victories here and three straight top fives. Since moving to Furniture Row in 2014, he has a 5.9 average finish here – best of any track in that stretch. This is one of the non-intermediates to deploy him at.
Furniture Row Racing, No. 78 Toyota
Fastlane forecast: The New Jersey native is right at home at Dover with two victories here and three straight top fives. Since moving to Furniture Row in 2014, he has a 5.9 average finish here – best of any track in that stretch. This is one of the non-intermediates to deploy him at.
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Joey Logano | View stats
Team Penske, No. 22 Ford
Fastlane forecast: Logano is coming off a Talladega win and has rattled off six straight top 10s – with an average finish of 5.2 in that stretch. His Dover numbers aren’t great – three laps led, three top fives in 18 starts. Yet, being a driver on a roll makes him worth monitoring.
Team Penske, No. 22 Ford
Fastlane forecast: Logano is coming off a Talladega win and has rattled off six straight top 10s – with an average finish of 5.2 in that stretch. His Dover numbers aren’t great – three laps led, three top fives in 18 starts. Yet, being a driver on a roll makes him worth monitoring.
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Kevin Harvick | View stats
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 4 Ford
Fastlane forecast: Harvick's record at Dover has been topsy-turvy to say the least, but there have been more peaks during his SHR tenure. He has one win here, but just five top fives in 34 starts here. With two 1.5-mile tracks coming up, I'd strongly save the usage to those races.
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 4 Ford
Fastlane forecast: Harvick's record at Dover has been topsy-turvy to say the least, but there have been more peaks during his SHR tenure. He has one win here, but just five top fives in 34 starts here. With two 1.5-mile tracks coming up, I'd strongly save the usage to those races.
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Kyle Larson | View stats
Chip Ganassi Racing, No. 42 Chevrolet
Fastlane forecast: Larson did everything but win at Dover last year. He led 378 of the 806 laps run here (46.9 percent). He also compiled the second-most stage points and race points here last year. As good as Johnson is at Dover, THIS is the driver to build around this weekend.
Chip Ganassi Racing, No. 42 Chevrolet
Fastlane forecast: Larson did everything but win at Dover last year. He led 378 of the 806 laps run here (46.9 percent). He also compiled the second-most stage points and race points here last year. As good as Johnson is at Dover, THIS is the driver to build around this weekend.
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Kyle Busch | View stats
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 18 Toyota
Fastlane forecast: Busch is the most recent winner at Dover and has three wins here. History of late shows that the spring race has been unkind with four straight finishes outside the top 15. Still, 'Rowdy' can win anywhere so a play here comes down to where you are at on usage.
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 18 Toyota
Fastlane forecast: Busch is the most recent winner at Dover and has three wins here. History of late shows that the spring race has been unkind with four straight finishes outside the top 15. Still, 'Rowdy' can win anywhere so a play here comes down to where you are at on usage.
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SLEEPER PICK: Daniel Suarez | View stats
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 19 Toyota
Fastlane forecast: In two starts at Dover last year, Suarez notched top 10s in both races. In fact on tracks of the 1-mile variety, he has grabbed top 10s in six of seven starts as a Monster Energy Series driver. Sneaky good value indeed.
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 19 Toyota
Fastlane forecast: In two starts at Dover last year, Suarez notched top 10s in both races. In fact on tracks of the 1-mile variety, he has grabbed top 10s in six of seven starts as a Monster Energy Series driver. Sneaky good value indeed.
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SLEEPER PICK: Aric Almirola | View stats
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 10 Ford
Fastlane forecast: All Almirola does is crank out top-15 finishes – he has eight in 10 races this year. Dover had been one of his better tracks during his Richard Petty Motorsports tenure, so we expect a bit more with the SHR outfit.
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 10 Ford
Fastlane forecast: All Almirola does is crank out top-15 finishes – he has eight in 10 races this year. Dover had been one of his better tracks during his Richard Petty Motorsports tenure, so we expect a bit more with the SHR outfit.
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SLEEPER PICK: William Byron | View stats
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 24 Chevrolet
Fastlane forecast: Byron has yet to make a Monster Energy Series start at Dover, but he did post a 4.5 average finish in two Xfinity Series starts here. Factor in the strides he has taken in recent weeks and he's a stealth play.
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 24 Chevrolet
Fastlane forecast: Byron has yet to make a Monster Energy Series start at Dover, but he did post a 4.5 average finish in two Xfinity Series starts here. Factor in the strides he has taken in recent weeks and he's a stealth play.
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SLEEPER PICK: Erik Jones | View stats
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 20 Toyota
Fastlane forecast: Jones holds the sixth-best average running position at Dover after just two starts there. The 21-year-old has had some Xfinity Series success here and is worthy of fantasy consideration this weekend.
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 20 Toyota
Fastlane forecast: Jones holds the sixth-best average running position at Dover after just two starts there. The 21-year-old has had some Xfinity Series success here and is worthy of fantasy consideration this weekend.
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STAY AWAY FROM: Denny Hamlin | View stats
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 11 Toyota
Fastlane forecast: Dover is Hamlin's second-worst track based on average finish (18.5). He also has just three top-fives in 24 starts at the 'Monster Mile' – making it hard to bank on maximizing the play at this particular track.
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 11 Toyota
Fastlane forecast: Dover is Hamlin's second-worst track based on average finish (18.5). He also has just three top-fives in 24 starts at the 'Monster Mile' – making it hard to bank on maximizing the play at this particular track.
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STAY AWAY FROM: Kurt Busch | View stats
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 41 Ford
Fastlane forecast: Busch does have one win at Dover. Since that win he has just one top 10 and an average finish of 20.1 in the ensuing 12 Dover races. Based on SHR’s speed, there are other chances to use the 2004 champ.
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 41 Ford
Fastlane forecast: Busch does have one win at Dover. Since that win he has just one top 10 and an average finish of 20.1 in the ensuing 12 Dover races. Based on SHR’s speed, there are other chances to use the 2004 champ.
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My lineup heading into the weekend: Kyle Larson, Martin Truex Jr., Chase Elliott, Jimmie Johnson and Clint Bowyer; Garage: Daniel Suarez.
Check back for our 'Fantasy Update' this weekend for the final lineup. Tweet at me @kraftdaddy85
with your lineups and questions ahead of Sunday’s race at 2 p.m. ET on FS1.
Check back for our 'Fantasy Update' this weekend for the final lineup. Tweet at me @kraftdaddy85
with your lineups and questions ahead of Sunday’s race at 2 p.m. ET on FS1.