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Fantasy Fastlane: 2019 Digital Ally 400
By RJ Kraft | Published: May 9, 2019 16
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, sleepers and plays to avoid for NASCAR Fantasy Live. Garage driver will lock at end of Stage 2. Odds come from Westgate Sports Book.
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Matt Sullivan | Getty Images
Kyle Busch | View stats
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 18 Toyota
Odds: 7-2
Fastlane forecast: Kansas used to be one Busch's worst tracks, but since the fall of 2014 it’s been one of his best. "Rowdy" has six top fives in his last eight starts there and his 2016 win came in that stretch. It comes down to uses for me and for now, he'll be off my roster.
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 18 Toyota
Odds: 7-2
Fastlane forecast: Kansas used to be one Busch's worst tracks, but since the fall of 2014 it’s been one of his best. "Rowdy" has six top fives in his last eight starts there and his 2016 win came in that stretch. It comes down to uses for me and for now, he'll be off my roster.
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Sean Gardner | Getty Images
Kevin Harvick | View stats
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 4 Ford
Odds: 7-1
Fastlane forecast: Harvick has three Kansas wins and scored two in the last five races. Over the past six races there, he's earned the most points and scored the most stage points last year. The 4 has been a bit off on this package, so I'll be keeping an eye on how they unload.
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 4 Ford
Odds: 7-1
Fastlane forecast: Harvick has three Kansas wins and scored two in the last five races. Over the past six races there, he's earned the most points and scored the most stage points last year. The 4 has been a bit off on this package, so I'll be keeping an eye on how they unload.
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Matt Sullivan | Getty Images
Martin Truex Jr. | View stats
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 19 Toyota
Odds: 7-1
Fastlane forecast: Truex has won two of the last three 2019 races and swept the 2017 Kansas races. He has four straight top fives here. Over that stretch, he has the third-most points and that's despite only two stage points last year. He's as good a play as you'll find.
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 19 Toyota
Odds: 7-1
Fastlane forecast: Truex has won two of the last three 2019 races and swept the 2017 Kansas races. He has four straight top fives here. Over that stretch, he has the third-most points and that's despite only two stage points last year. He's as good a play as you'll find.
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Matt Sullivan | Getty Images
Joey Logano | View stats
Team Penske, No. 22 Ford
Odds: 7-1
Fastlane forecast: Logano has two Cup wins at Kansas. He also earned the second-most points and third-most stage points here last year. The biggest reason for the play is how strong with this package the 2018 champ has looked -- averaging 46.3 points in those races.
Team Penske, No. 22 Ford
Odds: 7-1
Fastlane forecast: Logano has two Cup wins at Kansas. He also earned the second-most points and third-most stage points here last year. The biggest reason for the play is how strong with this package the 2018 champ has looked -- averaging 46.3 points in those races.
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Sean Gardner | Getty Images
Ryan Blaney | View stats
Team Penske, No. 12 Ford
Odds: 10-1
Fastlane forecast: This is one of Blaney's best tracks -- three top sevens in his last four starts. The one outlier was a 37th-place finish caused by a late wreck. He has the fourth-most points in that stretch and earned the second-most stage points here in 2018, so plug him in.
Team Penske, No. 12 Ford
Odds: 10-1
Fastlane forecast: This is one of Blaney's best tracks -- three top sevens in his last four starts. The one outlier was a 37th-place finish caused by a late wreck. He has the fourth-most points in that stretch and earned the second-most stage points here in 2018, so plug him in.
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Chris Trotman | Getty Images
Denny Hamlin | View stats
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 11 Toyota
Odds: 20-1
Fastlane forecast: Hamlin has one victory at Kansas (in 2012) and two top-five finishes in his past three races there. This team has been solid with the intermediate rules package -- 43.3 points per race and he won the last intermediate where this package was used -- Texas.
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 11 Toyota
Odds: 20-1
Fastlane forecast: Hamlin has one victory at Kansas (in 2012) and two top-five finishes in his past three races there. This team has been solid with the intermediate rules package -- 43.3 points per race and he won the last intermediate where this package was used -- Texas.
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Matt Sullivan | Getty Images
Chase Elliott | View stats
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 9 Chevrolet
Odds: 10-1
Fastlane forecast: The most recent winner at Kansas enters Saturday night's race with an average of 52 in the last two 2019 events. The results so far with the intermediate rules package have been uneven for the No. 9 team so Chase is firmly in my wait and see camp.
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 9 Chevrolet
Odds: 10-1
Fastlane forecast: The most recent winner at Kansas enters Saturday night's race with an average of 52 in the last two 2019 events. The results so far with the intermediate rules package have been uneven for the No. 9 team so Chase is firmly in my wait and see camp.
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Matt Sullivan | Getty Images
Brad Keselowski | View stats
Team Penske, No. 2 Ford
Odds: 7-1
Fastlane forecast: The results have been uneven for Keselowski since his Martinsville win. However, he does have two 43-point days with this package on intermediate tracks. At Kansas, he has one career win as well as the sixth-most points in the past four races.
Team Penske, No. 2 Ford
Odds: 7-1
Fastlane forecast: The results have been uneven for Keselowski since his Martinsville win. However, he does have two 43-point days with this package on intermediate tracks. At Kansas, he has one career win as well as the sixth-most points in the past four races.
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Sean Gardner | Getty Images
SLEEPER PICK: Alex Bowman | View stats
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 88 Chevrolet
Odds: 60-1
Fastlane forecast: I had Bowman as an avoid at Dover and his second straight runner-up proved me wrong. He's nabbed two top 10s in his last three Kansas starts and the past two weeks show a team on the upswing.
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 88 Chevrolet
Odds: 60-1
Fastlane forecast: I had Bowman as an avoid at Dover and his second straight runner-up proved me wrong. He's nabbed two top 10s in his last three Kansas starts and the past two weeks show a team on the upswing.
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Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images
SLEEPER PICK: Kyle Larson | View stats
Chip Ganassi Racing, No. 42 Chevrolet
Odds: 10-1
Fastlane forecast: Larson's 46-point day at Dover was a welcome sight. At Kansas, he has three top-six finishes in his last four starts. I want to see good 10-lap averages and a top-six starting spot to keep him in.
Chip Ganassi Racing, No. 42 Chevrolet
Odds: 10-1
Fastlane forecast: Larson's 46-point day at Dover was a welcome sight. At Kansas, he has three top-six finishes in his last four starts. I want to see good 10-lap averages and a top-six starting spot to keep him in.
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Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images
SLEEPER PICK: Erik Jones | View stats
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 20 Toyota
Odds: 25-1
Fastlane forecast: Jones' inconsistency can be maddening but he had a nice sixth-place bounce back at Dover. He's averaged 30 points with this package and is earned the fifth-most points at Kansas last year.
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 20 Toyota
Odds: 25-1
Fastlane forecast: Jones' inconsistency can be maddening but he had a nice sixth-place bounce back at Dover. He's averaged 30 points with this package and is earned the fifth-most points at Kansas last year.
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Sean Gardner | Getty Images
SLEEPER PICK: Aric Almirola | View stats
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 10 Ford
Odds: 20-1
Fastlane forecast: It's a bit weird to think of Almirola as a sleeper but he's cooled off. He has solid runs with this package on intermediates -- average of 34.7 points in those races -- and three straight top 10s at Kansas.
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 10 Ford
Odds: 20-1
Fastlane forecast: It's a bit weird to think of Almirola as a sleeper but he's cooled off. He has solid runs with this package on intermediates -- average of 34.7 points in those races -- and three straight top 10s at Kansas.
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Sean Gardner | Getty Images
STAY AWAY FROM: Kurt Busch | View stats
Chip Ganassi Racing, No. 1 Chevrolet
Odds: 20-1
Fastlane forecast: As solid as Busch has been with this package on intermediates -- 31.3 points per race -- the 2004 champ's Kansas work does not stand out. He has three top fives and nine top 10s in 26 starts.
Chip Ganassi Racing, No. 1 Chevrolet
Odds: 20-1
Fastlane forecast: As solid as Busch has been with this package on intermediates -- 31.3 points per race -- the 2004 champ's Kansas work does not stand out. He has three top fives and nine top 10s in 26 starts.
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Chris Trotman | Getty Images
STAY AWAY FROM: Clint Bowyer | View stats
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 14 Ford
Odds: 16-1
Fastlane forecast: Bowyer's Kansas results are far from right at home. He has just two top fives and six top 10s in 21 starts -- with only one top 10 in his last 11 starts. He's averaging 19.7 points with this package.
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 14 Ford
Odds: 16-1
Fastlane forecast: Bowyer's Kansas results are far from right at home. He has just two top fives and six top 10s in 21 starts -- with only one top 10 in his last 11 starts. He's averaging 19.7 points with this package.
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Daniel Shirey | Getty Images
My lineup heading into the weekend: Martin Truex Jr., Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin, Kyle Larson; Garage: Alex Bowman. Check back for our "Fantasy Update" piece on Saturday for the final lineup. Tweet at me @kraftdaddy85
with your lineups and questions ahead of Saturday night's race at 7:30 p.m. ET on FS1.
with your lineups and questions ahead of Saturday night's race at 7:30 p.m. ET on FS1.