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Fantasy Fastlane: 2019 Daytona 500
By RJ Kraft | Published: February 15, 2019 20
Sean Gardner | 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 plays, several under-the-radar options and plays to avoid for NASCAR Fantasy Live. Garage driver will lock at end of Stage 2. Odds to win based on VegasInsider.com.
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PLAY NOW: Set your Fantasy Live lineup today
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Chris Graythen | Getty Images
Joey Logano | View stats
Team Penske, No. 22 Ford
Odds: 8-1
Fastlane forecast: The reigning series champ is a top play for the Daytona 500. On top of being the 2015 winner, he has four straight top-six finishes in this event. Penske has loads of plate-track success and Logano has the best body of work at Daytona among that fleet.
Team Penske, No. 22 Ford
Odds: 8-1
Fastlane forecast: The reigning series champ is a top play for the Daytona 500. On top of being the 2015 winner, he has four straight top-six finishes in this event. Penske has loads of plate-track success and Logano has the best body of work at Daytona among that fleet.
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Sean Gardner | Getty Images
Ryan Blaney | View stats
Team Penske, No. 12 Ford
Odds: 14-1
Fastlane forecast: Blaney was the dominant car in this race last year -- leading a race-high 118 laps before finishing seventh. In 2017, he came home as the runner-up. Throw in his knack for scoring stage points in plate races -- points in 14 of 16 stages -- and he's a great play.
Team Penske, No. 12 Ford
Odds: 14-1
Fastlane forecast: Blaney was the dominant car in this race last year -- leading a race-high 118 laps before finishing seventh. In 2017, he came home as the runner-up. Throw in his knack for scoring stage points in plate races -- points in 14 of 16 stages -- and he's a great play.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
Clint Bowyer | View stats
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 14 Ford
Odds: 9-1
Fastlane forecast: Bowyer has yet to win at Daytona but he does have two plate wins -- both at Talladega. He has 12 top 10s -- the fourth-most among active drivers at Daytona -- and that includes a stretch of five top 10s in his past nine starts there.
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 14 Ford
Odds: 9-1
Fastlane forecast: Bowyer has yet to win at Daytona but he does have two plate wins -- both at Talladega. He has 12 top 10s -- the fourth-most among active drivers at Daytona -- and that includes a stretch of five top 10s in his past nine starts there.
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Jonathan Ferrey | Getty Images
Denny Hamlin | View stats
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 11 Toyota
Odds: 10-1
Fastlane forecast: Hamlin won the 2016 Daytona 500 in one of the closest finishes in the sport's history. While he has cooled off at Daytona since a run of five straight top-six finishes at the track (from 2014-16), he remains the best of the Toyota fleet at this type of racing.
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 11 Toyota
Odds: 10-1
Fastlane forecast: Hamlin won the 2016 Daytona 500 in one of the closest finishes in the sport's history. While he has cooled off at Daytona since a run of five straight top-six finishes at the track (from 2014-16), he remains the best of the Toyota fleet at this type of racing.
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Kurt Busch | View stats
Chip Ganassi Racing, No. 1 Chevrolet
Odds: 16-1
Fastlane forecast: The 2017 Daytona 500 winner has the most top 10s at Daytona among drivers in the field with 17 in 35 starts. He finished second in "The Clash" -- a familiar feeling with three runner ups in the 500. This will be his first points start with his new team.
Chip Ganassi Racing, No. 1 Chevrolet
Odds: 16-1
Fastlane forecast: The 2017 Daytona 500 winner has the most top 10s at Daytona among drivers in the field with 17 in 35 starts. He finished second in "The Clash" -- a familiar feeling with three runner ups in the 500. This will be his first points start with his new team.
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Sarah Crabill | Getty Images
Aric Almirola | View stats
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 10 Ford
Odds: 12-1
Fastlane forecast: The fall winner at Talladega was two turns away from winning the 2018 Daytona 500. He has won at Daytona before with a summer victory in 2014 and has been pretty consistent at Daytona -- six top 15s in his last eight starts.
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 10 Ford
Odds: 12-1
Fastlane forecast: The fall winner at Talladega was two turns away from winning the 2018 Daytona 500. He has won at Daytona before with a summer victory in 2014 and has been pretty consistent at Daytona -- six top 15s in his last eight starts.
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Sean Gardner | Getty Images
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | View stats
Roush Fenway Racing, No. 17 Ford
Odds: 15-1
Fastlane forecast: Stenhouse is known as one of the more aggressive plate racers around. That aggression is a risk-reward proposition. It can pay off big (two wins in 2017) or it can be costly. This is a good use for someone I wouldn't plan to use more than a handful of times.
Roush Fenway Racing, No. 17 Ford
Odds: 15-1
Fastlane forecast: Stenhouse is known as one of the more aggressive plate racers around. That aggression is a risk-reward proposition. It can pay off big (two wins in 2017) or it can be costly. This is a good use for someone I wouldn't plan to use more than a handful of times.
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Sean Gardner | Getty Images
Alex Bowman | View stats
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 88 Chevrolet
Odds: 22-1
Fastlane forecast: Bowman will start Sunday's race on the front row next to his teammate William Byron. He scored stage points in three of four opportunities last year at Daytona. He gets the least buzz of the Hendrick fleet but could be the biggest threat to win.
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 88 Chevrolet
Odds: 22-1
Fastlane forecast: Bowman will start Sunday's race on the front row next to his teammate William Byron. He scored stage points in three of four opportunities last year at Daytona. He gets the least buzz of the Hendrick fleet but could be the biggest threat to win.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
Austin Dillon | View stats
Richard Childress Racing, No. 3 Chevrolet
Odds: 33-1
Fastlane forecast: The defending race winner has a solid history at Daytona with seven top 10s in 11 starts. His 13.4 average finish is best among drivers with more than four starts at the track. He always seems to find himself in the mix at these races and especially at this track.
Richard Childress Racing, No. 3 Chevrolet
Odds: 33-1
Fastlane forecast: The defending race winner has a solid history at Daytona with seven top 10s in 11 starts. His 13.4 average finish is best among drivers with more than four starts at the track. He always seems to find himself in the mix at these races and especially at this track.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
SLEEPER PICK: Paul Menard | View stats
Wood Brothers Racing, No. 21 Ford
Odds: 25-1
Fastlane forecast: The 'Nard dog has three top-six finishes in his last four Daytona starts. His 51 laps led in The Clash were a strong reminder of how good a plate racer he is. The Woods have five Daytona 500 wins.
Wood Brothers Racing, No. 21 Ford
Odds: 25-1
Fastlane forecast: The 'Nard dog has three top-six finishes in his last four Daytona starts. His 51 laps led in The Clash were a strong reminder of how good a plate racer he is. The Woods have five Daytona 500 wins.
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SLEEPER PICK: Bubba Wallace | View stats
Richard Petty Motorsports, No. 43 Chevrolet
Odds: 40-1
Fastlane forecast: Wallace finished second in this race last year as the runner-up to Austin Dillon. In three starts at Daytona, he has no finishes outside the top 15. This is also his best track by average finish at 10.3.
Richard Petty Motorsports, No. 43 Chevrolet
Odds: 40-1
Fastlane forecast: Wallace finished second in this race last year as the runner-up to Austin Dillon. In three starts at Daytona, he has no finishes outside the top 15. This is also his best track by average finish at 10.3.
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Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images
SLEEPER PICK: Michael McDowell | View stats
Front Row Motorsports, No. 34 Ford
Odds: 60-1
Fastlane forecast: Would you be surprised to know that McDowell has the most points at Daytona over the last three races? He also has five top 15s there in his last six starts. As a whole, Front Row is solid at plate racing.
Front Row Motorsports, No. 34 Ford
Odds: 60-1
Fastlane forecast: Would you be surprised to know that McDowell has the most points at Daytona over the last three races? He also has five top 15s there in his last six starts. As a whole, Front Row is solid at plate racing.
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Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images
SLEEPER PICK: Ryan Newman | View stats
Roush Fenway Racing, No. 6 Ford
Odds: 33-1
Fastlane forecast: The 2008 Daytona 500 winner has gotten it done of late at the Florida track. He is one of two drivers in Sunday's field to score three straight top 10s and earned the second-most points in that stretch.
Roush Fenway Racing, No. 6 Ford
Odds: 33-1
Fastlane forecast: The 2008 Daytona 500 winner has gotten it done of late at the Florida track. He is one of two drivers in Sunday's field to score three straight top 10s and earned the second-most points in that stretch.
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Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images
SLEEPER PICK: Chris Buescher | View stats
JTG Daugherty Racing, No. 37 Chevrolet
Odds: 70-1
Fastlane forecast: Say hello to the lone driver to finish in the top five in both Daytona races last year. Buescher also has three straight top 10s and the fourth-most points earned in that stretch. A sneaky play indeed.
JTG Daugherty Racing, No. 37 Chevrolet
Odds: 70-1
Fastlane forecast: Say hello to the lone driver to finish in the top five in both Daytona races last year. Buescher also has three straight top 10s and the fourth-most points earned in that stretch. A sneaky play indeed.
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Chris Graythen | Getty Images
SLEEPER PICK: Matt DiBenedetto | View stats
Leavine Family Racing, No. 95 Toyota
Odds: 60-1
Fastlane forecast: DiBenedetto has an average finish of 14.0 in his last four Daytona starts. That could be lower if he wasn't caught in a late wreck in last year's race while in the top 10. I'm bullish on his shot in this ride.
Leavine Family Racing, No. 95 Toyota
Odds: 60-1
Fastlane forecast: DiBenedetto has an average finish of 14.0 in his last four Daytona starts. That could be lower if he wasn't caught in a late wreck in last year's race while in the top 10. I'm bullish on his shot in this ride.
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Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images
STAY AWAY FROM: Kevin Harvick | View stats
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 4 Ford
Odds: 11-1
Fastlane forecast: Harvick is a solid play with two Daytona wins to his name, but he has wrecked out of four of the last five races held here. I would prefer to save uses for him at intermediate tracks and Phoenix.
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 4 Ford
Odds: 11-1
Fastlane forecast: Harvick is a solid play with two Daytona wins to his name, but he has wrecked out of four of the last five races held here. I would prefer to save uses for him at intermediate tracks and Phoenix.
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Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images
STAY AWAY FROM: Kyle Busch | View stats
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 18 Toyota
Odds: 11-1
Fastlane forecast: Daytona is the second-worst track (with multiple starts) based on average finish for Busch. Add in four straight finishes of 20th-or-worse at this track and it's best to save "Rowdy" for another week.
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 18 Toyota
Odds: 11-1
Fastlane forecast: Daytona is the second-worst track (with multiple starts) based on average finish for Busch. Add in four straight finishes of 20th-or-worse at this track and it's best to save "Rowdy" for another week.
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Jonathan Ferrey | Getty Images
STAY AWAY FROM: William Byron | View stats
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 24 Chevrolet
Odds: 20-1
Fastlane forecast: The pole makes Byron a trendy pick as does a seven title-winning crew chief. However, no pole sitter has won this race since Dale Jarrett (2000) and Byron has not finished in the top 15 in a plate race.
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 24 Chevrolet
Odds: 20-1
Fastlane forecast: The pole makes Byron a trendy pick as does a seven title-winning crew chief. However, no pole sitter has won this race since Dale Jarrett (2000) and Byron has not finished in the top 15 in a plate race.
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Chris Trotman | Getty Images
My lineup heading into the weekend: Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin, Paul Menard, Alex Bowman, Aric Almirola; Garage: Matt DiBenedetto.
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 2:30 p.m. ET on FOX.
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 2:30 p.m. ET on FOX.