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Fantasy Fastlane: 2018 Gander Outdoors 400
By RJ Kraft | Published: October 5, 2018 14
Sean Gardner | Getty Images
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Editor's note: Fantasy Fastlane will look at each race from a fantasy perspective, examining the top plays, several under-the-radar options and plays to avoid for NASCAR Fantasy Live. Garage driver will lock at end of Stage 2.
PLAY NOW: Set your Fantasy Live lineup today
PLAY NOW: Set your Fantasy Live lineup today
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Sean Gardner | Getty Images
Kyle Larson (P) | View stats
Chip Ganassi Racing, No. 42 Chevrolet
Fastlane forecast: With a beat-up car and a pass just at the finish, Larson snuck into this round via a tiebreaker. Dover stands as a place he can certainly capitalize on his new postseason life. He has four top fives and an average finish of 8.1 – fourth-best among all tracks.
Chip Ganassi Racing, No. 42 Chevrolet
Fastlane forecast: With a beat-up car and a pass just at the finish, Larson snuck into this round via a tiebreaker. Dover stands as a place he can certainly capitalize on his new postseason life. He has four top fives and an average finish of 8.1 – fourth-best among all tracks.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
Chase Elliott (P) | View stats
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 9 Chevrolet
Fastlane forecast: Elliott lost this race in heartbreaking fashion last fall as Kyle Busch used lapped traffic to catch and pass him with two laps to go. With his first win now captured, Dover is a good candidate for win No. 2. He has a 5.0 average finish with four top fives in five starts.
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 9 Chevrolet
Fastlane forecast: Elliott lost this race in heartbreaking fashion last fall as Kyle Busch used lapped traffic to catch and pass him with two laps to go. With his first win now captured, Dover is a good candidate for win No. 2. He has a 5.0 average finish with four top fives in five starts.
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Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images
Brad Keselowski (P) | View stats
Team Penske, No. 2 Ford
Fastlane forecast: Keselowski won this race in 2012 en route to his championship. Since then, he has had six top-six finishes in 11 starts at the "Monster Mile." He led 108 laps in the spring race and has been strong since the calendar turned to September with three wins in the past five races.
Team Penske, No. 2 Ford
Fastlane forecast: Keselowski won this race in 2012 en route to his championship. Since then, he has had six top-six finishes in 11 starts at the "Monster Mile." He led 108 laps in the spring race and has been strong since the calendar turned to September with three wins in the past five races.
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Jonathan Ferrey | Getty Images
Kevin Harvick (P) | View stats
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 4 Ford
Fastlane forecast: Harvick's two Dover victories have come in the past six races – two performances where he dominated. The four races in between that: One top 10 and an average finish of 19.5. That said, he was the class of the spring race and that's enough to stash him.
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 4 Ford
Fastlane forecast: Harvick's two Dover victories have come in the past six races – two performances where he dominated. The four races in between that: One top 10 and an average finish of 19.5. That said, he was the class of the spring race and that's enough to stash him.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
Martin Truex Jr. (P) | View stats
Furniture Row Racing, No. 78 Toyota
Fastlane forecast: There was concern that Truex's late summer swoon would carry into the playoffs. He was in contention in all three Round of 16 races, and that should continue. With two wins at Dover and four straight top-four finishes here, this is a driver to build your lineup around.
Furniture Row Racing, No. 78 Toyota
Fastlane forecast: There was concern that Truex's late summer swoon would carry into the playoffs. He was in contention in all three Round of 16 races, and that should continue. With two wins at Dover and four straight top-four finishes here, this is a driver to build your lineup around.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
Kyle Busch (P) | View stats
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 18 Toyota
Fastlane forecast: Busch is the defending race winner at Dover and has three wins there in the top series. He also has three straight top-two finishes in the playoff race at the 1-mile track. We like those numbers a lot for the 2015 champion as you look to build out your weekend lineup.
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 18 Toyota
Fastlane forecast: Busch is the defending race winner at Dover and has three wins there in the top series. He also has three straight top-two finishes in the playoff race at the 1-mile track. We like those numbers a lot for the 2015 champion as you look to build out your weekend lineup.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
Jimmie Johnson | View stats
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 48 Chevrolet
Fastlane forecast: An untimely spin through the final chicane took Johnson out of the playoffs. While that is unfortunate, it's a boon for fantasy players at Dover. He’s as good as it gets with 11 wins and 24 top 10s in 33 starts.
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 48 Chevrolet
Fastlane forecast: An untimely spin through the final chicane took Johnson out of the playoffs. While that is unfortunate, it's a boon for fantasy players at Dover. He’s as good as it gets with 11 wins and 24 top 10s in 33 starts.
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Josh Hedges | Getty Images
Daniel Suarez | View stats
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 19 Toyota
Fastlane forecast: Suarez seems to be right at home at 1-mile tracks with seven top 10s in nine starts at that track type. The numbers are the best at the "Monster Mile" — with an average finish of 5.7 and no finish worse than eighth.
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 19 Toyota
Fastlane forecast: Suarez seems to be right at home at 1-mile tracks with seven top 10s in nine starts at that track type. The numbers are the best at the "Monster Mile" — with an average finish of 5.7 and no finish worse than eighth.
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Sarah Crabill | Getty Images
Erik Jones | View stats
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 20 Toyota
Fastlane forecast: Jones' elimination from the playoffs vaults him toward the top of the board of non-playoff plays in Fantasy Live. While he has just an average finish of 15.0 at Dover, the upside potential for more is great.
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 20 Toyota
Fastlane forecast: Jones' elimination from the playoffs vaults him toward the top of the board of non-playoff plays in Fantasy Live. While he has just an average finish of 15.0 at Dover, the upside potential for more is great.
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Matt Sullivan | Getty Images
Denny Hamlin | View stats
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 11 Toyota
Fastlane forecast: Let's ignore Hamlin's overall body of work at Dover and focus squarely on his last five races there. He has four top 10s over that span -- he had just six in the previous 20 races. That said I'd favor his teammates with this pick.
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 11 Toyota
Fastlane forecast: Let's ignore Hamlin's overall body of work at Dover and focus squarely on his last five races there. He has four top 10s over that span -- he had just six in the previous 20 races. That said I'd favor his teammates with this pick.
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Streeter Lecka | Getty Images
STAY AWAY FROM Ryan Blaney (P) | View stats
Team Penske, No. 12 Ford
Fastlane forecast: Last week's winner has a spotty history at Dover. A pair of eighth-place results bookend three finishes outside the top 20. You need more consistency from your playoff plays.
Team Penske, No. 12 Ford
Fastlane forecast: Last week's winner has a spotty history at Dover. A pair of eighth-place results bookend three finishes outside the top 20. You need more consistency from your playoff plays.
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Jonathan Ferrey | Getty Images
STAY AWAY FROM: Joey Logano (P) | Stats
Team Penske, No. 22 Ford
Fastlane forecast: Logano's fewest laps led at any non-road course would be at Dover with four. Throw in just two top 10s in his last seven races at the Delaware track and it's best to look elsewhere for a playoff play.
Team Penske, No. 22 Ford
Fastlane forecast: Logano's fewest laps led at any non-road course would be at Dover with four. Throw in just two top 10s in his last seven races at the Delaware track and it's best to look elsewhere for a playoff play.
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Jeff Zelevansky | Getty Images
My lineup heading into the weekend: Martin Truex Jr., Kyle Larson, Jimmie Johnson, Erik Jones; Garage: Kevin Harvick. Check back for our "Fantasy Update" piece 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 NBCSN.
with your lineups and questions ahead of Sunday’s race at 2 p.m. ET on NBCSN.