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Fantasy Fastlane: 2018 1000Bulbs.com 500
By RJ Kraft | Published: October 12, 2018 17
Streeter Lecka | Getty Images
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NASCAR Digital Media
Editor's note: Fantasy Fastlane will look at each race from a fantasy perspective, examining the top playoff drivers, non-playoff drivers 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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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
Ryan Blaney (P) | View stats
Team Penske, No. 12 Ford
Fastlane forecast: While Blaney may have just two top 10s in eight Talladega starts, there's a stat that makes him a strong play. He is the only driver to score stage points in every stage at 'Dega; earning a series-best 40 stage points at the 2.66-miler. It's reasonable to expect him to nab some more.
Team Penske, No. 12 Ford
Fastlane forecast: While Blaney may have just two top 10s in eight Talladega starts, there's a stat that makes him a strong play. He is the only driver to score stage points in every stage at 'Dega; earning a series-best 40 stage points at the 2.66-miler. It's reasonable to expect him to nab some more.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
Aric Almirola (P) | View stats
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 10 Ford
Fastlane forecast: Almirola has four straight top 10s at Talladega – with an average finish of 6.0 and 32.5 points in that stretch. His lone win is on a plate track. Given his position in the standings (10 below the cutline), I'd expect Almirola will be mixing it up plenty to cut his deficit.
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 10 Ford
Fastlane forecast: Almirola has four straight top 10s at Talladega – with an average finish of 6.0 and 32.5 points in that stretch. His lone win is on a plate track. Given his position in the standings (10 below the cutline), I'd expect Almirola will be mixing it up plenty to cut his deficit.
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Jonathan Ferrey | Getty Images
Clint Bowyer (P) | View stats
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 14 Ford
Fastlane forecast: Bowyer has two victories at Talladega but both of those came with RCR. He has two straight finishes outside the top 30 there. However, given his spot outside the cutline (-10), expect the veteran to hunt aggressively for stage points. Just watch out for the flip side to that aggression.
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 14 Ford
Fastlane forecast: Bowyer has two victories at Talladega but both of those came with RCR. He has two straight finishes outside the top 30 there. However, given his spot outside the cutline (-10), expect the veteran to hunt aggressively for stage points. Just watch out for the flip side to that aggression.
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Kurt Busch (P) | View stats
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 41 Ford
Fastlane forecast: Busch may not have a Talladega victory on his resume but he has had plenty of good runs here. He has six top 10s in his last eight starts there and his 19 career top 10s are the most among Sunday's field. That history makes him a favorable play heading into the weekend.
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 41 Ford
Fastlane forecast: Busch may not have a Talladega victory on his resume but he has had plenty of good runs here. He has six top 10s in his last eight starts there and his 19 career top 10s are the most among Sunday's field. That history makes him a favorable play heading into the weekend.
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Chase Elliott (P) | View stats
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 9 Chevrolet
Fastlane forecast: The third-year driver is locked into the Round of 8 with his Dover win meaning he can go for broke to pursue playoff points. While that could prove risky in fantasy, consider this: His 13.2 average finish at Talladega is best among the playoff drivers and he finished third in the spring.
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 9 Chevrolet
Fastlane forecast: The third-year driver is locked into the Round of 8 with his Dover win meaning he can go for broke to pursue playoff points. While that could prove risky in fantasy, consider this: His 13.2 average finish at Talladega is best among the playoff drivers and he finished third in the spring.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
Joey Logano (P) | View stats
Team Penske, No. 22 Ford
Fastlane forecast: Logano's three Talladega wins have come in the past six races and he is also the most recent winner here. His 32 stage points over the past three races are the third-most with only his two teammates scoring more. He will be a popular play and for good reason.
Team Penske, No. 22 Ford
Fastlane forecast: Logano's three Talladega wins have come in the past six races and he is also the most recent winner here. His 32 stage points over the past three races are the third-most with only his two teammates scoring more. He will be a popular play and for good reason.
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Jonathan Ferrey | Getty Images
Brad Keselowski (P) | View stats
Team Penske, No. 2 Ford
Fastlane forecast: With Dale Jr. retired, say hello to the best plate racer in NASCAR. Keselowski has five Talladega wins and just has a knack for finding his way to the front in these races. Add in his three stage wins at Talladega and 39 stage points (second-most) and he's a must-start for this race.
Team Penske, No. 2 Ford
Fastlane forecast: With Dale Jr. retired, say hello to the best plate racer in NASCAR. Keselowski has five Talladega wins and just has a knack for finding his way to the front in these races. Add in his three stage wins at Talladega and 39 stage points (second-most) and he's a must-start for this race.
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Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | View stats
Roush Fenway Racing, No. 17 Ford
Fastlane forecast: With a series-best 11.4 average finish and a 2017 win, Stenhouse is sure to be a popular play at Talladega. That's for good reason as he has three top fives and the second-most points in his last four starts there.
Roush Fenway Racing, No. 17 Ford
Fastlane forecast: With a series-best 11.4 average finish and a 2017 win, Stenhouse is sure to be a popular play at Talladega. That's for good reason as he has three top fives and the second-most points in his last four starts there.
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Chris Trotman | Getty Images
Denny Hamlin | View stats
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 11 Toyota
Fastlane forecast: Hamlin has come into his own on plate tracks in recent years. He has a spring win at Talladega from 2014. His recent run of four straight top-15 finishes there is good enough for the third-most points in that stretch.
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 11 Toyota
Fastlane forecast: Hamlin has come into his own on plate tracks in recent years. He has a spring win at Talladega from 2014. His recent run of four straight top-15 finishes there is good enough for the third-most points in that stretch.
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Josh Hedges | Getty Images
Paul Menard | View stats
Wood Brothers Racing, No. 21 Ford
Fastlane forecast: Menard scored a stage win and the second-most stage points in the spring before a crash ended his Talladega day. He is typically a reliable play at the plate tracks with seven top-13 finishes in his last eight starts.
Wood Brothers Racing, No. 21 Ford
Fastlane forecast: Menard scored a stage win and the second-most stage points in the spring before a crash ended his Talladega day. He is typically a reliable play at the plate tracks with seven top-13 finishes in his last eight starts.
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David Ragan | View stats
Front Row Motorsports, No. 38 Ford
Fastlane forecast: Ragan's two premier series wins have come at plate tracks, including one at Talladega in 2013. His history at 'Dega is favorable of late with three straight top 10s and an average of 30 points per race in that span.
Front Row Motorsports, No. 38 Ford
Fastlane forecast: Ragan's two premier series wins have come at plate tracks, including one at Talladega in 2013. His history at 'Dega is favorable of late with three straight top 10s and an average of 30 points per race in that span.
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Chris Buescher | View stats
JTG Daugherty Racing, No. 37 Chevrolet
Fastlane forecast: Buescher's best finishes in 2018 have come in restrictor-plate races. In those three races, he has an average finish of 7.0 and has averaged 30 points in those races. Those are some solid plate stats for a stealth play this weekend.
JTG Daugherty Racing, No. 37 Chevrolet
Fastlane forecast: Buescher's best finishes in 2018 have come in restrictor-plate races. In those three races, he has an average finish of 7.0 and has averaged 30 points in those races. Those are some solid plate stats for a stealth play this weekend.
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Sean Gardner | Getty Images
Ty Dillon | View stats
Germain Racing, No. 13 Chevrolet
Fastlane forecast: Dillon owns the second-best average finish among Sunday's field with a 13.0 mark at Talladega. He has earned 24 points per race over that span and is one of five drivers to run all the laps in the last three 'Dega races.
Germain Racing, No. 13 Chevrolet
Fastlane forecast: Dillon owns the second-best average finish among Sunday's field with a 13.0 mark at Talladega. He has earned 24 points per race over that span and is one of five drivers to run all the laps in the last three 'Dega races.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
STAY AWAY FROM: Kyle Larson (P) | View stats
Chip Ganassi Racing, No. 42 Chevrolet
Fastlane forecast: Larson's average finish of 21.3 at Talladega is second-worst – only to Alex Bowman – among playoff drivers. Restrictor-plate racing in general is not his bag with just four top 10s in 19 Daytona and 'Dega starts.
Chip Ganassi Racing, No. 42 Chevrolet
Fastlane forecast: Larson's average finish of 21.3 at Talladega is second-worst – only to Alex Bowman – among playoff drivers. Restrictor-plate racing in general is not his bag with just four top 10s in 19 Daytona and 'Dega starts.
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Jonathan Ferrey | Getty Images
STAY AWAY FROM: Martin Truex Jr. (P) | Stats
Furniture Row Racing, No. 78 Toyota
Fastlane forecast: In the last four Talladega races, Truex has been knocked out by an engine failure and three crashes. You could take that as a sign that he's due or just believe this isn't a track for him. I choose to believe the latter.
Furniture Row Racing, No. 78 Toyota
Fastlane forecast: In the last four Talladega races, Truex has been knocked out by an engine failure and three crashes. You could take that as a sign that he's due or just believe this isn't a track for him. I choose to believe the latter.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
My lineup heading into the weekend: Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., David Ragan; Garage: Ryan Blaney.
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 NBC.
with your lineups and questions ahead of Sunday's race at 2 p.m. ET on NBC.