BACK TO GALLERIES
Fantasy Fastlane presented by Jackpot Races: Logano’s the tune to play at Nashville
By RJ Kraft | Published: June 18, 2021 18
Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
1 of 18
NASCAR Digital Media
Editor's note: Fantasy Fastlane presented by Jackpot Races will look at each race from a fantasy perspective, examining the top plays and sleepers as well as plays to avoid for NASCAR Fantasy Live. Garage driver will lock at end of Stage 2. Odds come from BetMGM.
PLAY NOW: Set your Fantasy Live lineup today
Download the free-to-play Jackpot Races App and compete to win the $25,000 prize every week if you get all eight picks correct.
PLAY NOW: Set your Fantasy Live lineup today
Download the free-to-play Jackpot Races App and compete to win the $25,000 prize every week if you get all eight picks correct.
2 of 18
Maddie Meyer | Getty Images
Kyle Larson | View stats
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 5 Chevrolet
Odds: 11-4
Fastlane forecast: Larson has back-to-back points-paying wins and five straight top-two finishes. The big question is do you have the uses to play him? At three or more uses, I’d have him in the lineup since he has the seventh-most points with the 750-package on non-road courses and runner-ups at Darlington, Dover and COTA -- where the same 750-package that will be used at Nashville was run. At two uses, I’d save him for Atlanta and either Michigan or Watkins Glen.
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 5 Chevrolet
Odds: 11-4
Fastlane forecast: Larson has back-to-back points-paying wins and five straight top-two finishes. The big question is do you have the uses to play him? At three or more uses, I’d have him in the lineup since he has the seventh-most points with the 750-package on non-road courses and runner-ups at Darlington, Dover and COTA -- where the same 750-package that will be used at Nashville was run. At two uses, I’d save him for Atlanta and either Michigan or Watkins Glen.
3 of 18
Sean Gardner | Getty Images
Denny Hamlin | View stats
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 11 Toyota
Odds: 9-1
Fastlane forecast: While Hamlin has cooled off a bit recently, he has the most points in non-road courses with the 750-package – an average of 49.8 points and no finish worse than seventh. Also working to his advantage? Hamlin is one of the 13 drivers in Sunday’s field with previous experience at Nashville with two top fives and five top 10s in five Xfinity Series starts there.
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 11 Toyota
Odds: 9-1
Fastlane forecast: While Hamlin has cooled off a bit recently, he has the most points in non-road courses with the 750-package – an average of 49.8 points and no finish worse than seventh. Also working to his advantage? Hamlin is one of the 13 drivers in Sunday’s field with previous experience at Nashville with two top fives and five top 10s in five Xfinity Series starts there.
4 of 18
Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
Martin Truex Jr. | View stats
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 19 Toyota
Odds: 11-2
Fastlane forecast: Truex has been significantly better in races with the 750-package as opposed to the 550-package. He has three wins in races with that package and Nashville will use the 750-package. I’d prioritize Nashville, New Hampshire and Watkins Glen as tracks to use Truex at in the regular season. He has five Xfinity starts at this track with two top fives.
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 19 Toyota
Odds: 11-2
Fastlane forecast: Truex has been significantly better in races with the 750-package as opposed to the 550-package. He has three wins in races with that package and Nashville will use the 750-package. I’d prioritize Nashville, New Hampshire and Watkins Glen as tracks to use Truex at in the regular season. He has five Xfinity starts at this track with two top fives.
5 of 18
Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
Joey Logano | View stats
Team Penske, No. 22 Ford
Odds: 14-1
Fastlane forecast: Logano’s 2021 stats are light years better at the 750-package tracks compared to the 550-package tracks, and that makes Nashville a must start for him in my mind. The 2018 champ has the third-most points with this package on non-road courses – an average of 43.5 points – and has scored no less than 33 points in a given race. All seven of his top fives have come with this rules package. He scored a Xfinity win here in 2009 as well.
Team Penske, No. 22 Ford
Odds: 14-1
Fastlane forecast: Logano’s 2021 stats are light years better at the 750-package tracks compared to the 550-package tracks, and that makes Nashville a must start for him in my mind. The 2018 champ has the third-most points with this package on non-road courses – an average of 43.5 points – and has scored no less than 33 points in a given race. All seven of his top fives have come with this rules package. He scored a Xfinity win here in 2009 as well.
6 of 18
Maddie Meyer | Getty Images
Chase Elliott | View stats
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 9 Chevrolet
Odds: 15-2
Fastlane forecast: Entering this weekend, Elliott has found greater success with the 750-package being used at Nashville than the 550-package. It’s the same rules used for road courses as well, but at the non-road courses, he has averaged 37.5 points in six races with it. Also in his favor: Nashville is a concrete track just like Dover – a track the reigning champ has run well at.
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 9 Chevrolet
Odds: 15-2
Fastlane forecast: Entering this weekend, Elliott has found greater success with the 750-package being used at Nashville than the 550-package. It’s the same rules used for road courses as well, but at the non-road courses, he has averaged 37.5 points in six races with it. Also in his favor: Nashville is a concrete track just like Dover – a track the reigning champ has run well at.
7 of 18
Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
Kyle Busch | View stats
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 18 Toyota
Odds: 8-1
Fastlane forecast: Busch has looked strong in recent weeks with two of those coming in weekends that saw him get extra seat time with practice and qualifying. Nashville will be a similarly structured weekend. He does have one Xfinity and two in the Camping World Truck Series wins here. The one flag: He has just the 11th-most points with the 750-package at non-road courses.
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 18 Toyota
Odds: 8-1
Fastlane forecast: Busch has looked strong in recent weeks with two of those coming in weekends that saw him get extra seat time with practice and qualifying. Nashville will be a similarly structured weekend. He does have one Xfinity and two in the Camping World Truck Series wins here. The one flag: He has just the 11th-most points with the 750-package at non-road courses.
8 of 18
Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
William Byron | View stats
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 24 Chevrolet
Odds: 10-1
Fastlane forecast: Would it surprise you to know Byron has fared the best by average finish and points among the Hendrick drivers with the 750-package on non-road courses? He has the fourth-most points overall (an average of 41) and the third-best average finish (5.5). He has scored no less than 36 points with it and finished in the top 10 in all six races.
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 24 Chevrolet
Odds: 10-1
Fastlane forecast: Would it surprise you to know Byron has fared the best by average finish and points among the Hendrick drivers with the 750-package on non-road courses? He has the fourth-most points overall (an average of 41) and the third-best average finish (5.5). He has scored no less than 36 points with it and finished in the top 10 in all six races.
9 of 18
Maddie Meyer | Getty Images
Kevin Harvick | View stats
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 4 Ford
Odds: 14-1
Fastlane forecast: Harvick is one of a handful of drivers with previous track time at Nashville with two Xfinity wins here. His 2021 has been un-Harvick-like by his standards with only 39 laps led and just four top fives to date. That said, the 2014 champ is still of use in fantasy. He has averaged 31.5 points (eighth most) on non-road courses with the 750-package.
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 4 Ford
Odds: 14-1
Fastlane forecast: Harvick is one of a handful of drivers with previous track time at Nashville with two Xfinity wins here. His 2021 has been un-Harvick-like by his standards with only 39 laps led and just four top fives to date. That said, the 2014 champ is still of use in fantasy. He has averaged 31.5 points (eighth most) on non-road courses with the 750-package.
10 of 18
Chris Graythen | Getty Images
Alex Bowman | View stats
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 48 Chevrolet
Odds: 12-1
Fastlane forecast: A few things work in favor of a Bowman play at Nashville. One is the roll Hendrick is on, and the driver of the 48 is part of that. He has a win, two top fives, four top 10s and an average of 41.5 points in that stretch. He has two wins this year, and both came with the 750-package. The most recent of those – Dover – features a concrete surface as does Nashville.
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 48 Chevrolet
Odds: 12-1
Fastlane forecast: A few things work in favor of a Bowman play at Nashville. One is the roll Hendrick is on, and the driver of the 48 is part of that. He has a win, two top fives, four top 10s and an average of 41.5 points in that stretch. He has two wins this year, and both came with the 750-package. The most recent of those – Dover – features a concrete surface as does Nashville.
11 of 18
Chris Graythen | Getty Images
SLEEPER PICK: Ryan Blaney | View stats
Team Penske, No. 12 Ford
Odds: 18-1
Fastlane forecast: I’ll admit it seems weird to classify Blaney as a sleeper, but with no top fives and just four top 10s in his last 10 races, that’s what we are going to call him. He has the sixth-most points with the 750-package (more than Larson and Harvick) – an average of 37.3 points and no total less than 32 points in one race on non-road courses with this package.
Team Penske, No. 12 Ford
Odds: 18-1
Fastlane forecast: I’ll admit it seems weird to classify Blaney as a sleeper, but with no top fives and just four top 10s in his last 10 races, that’s what we are going to call him. He has the sixth-most points with the 750-package (more than Larson and Harvick) – an average of 37.3 points and no total less than 32 points in one race on non-road courses with this package.
12 of 18
Chris Graythen | Getty Images
SLEEPER PICK: Tyler Reddick | View stats
Richard Childress Racing, No. 8 Chevrolet
Odds: 40-1
Fastlane forecast: If Reddick seems like he has been a permanent fixture in this section of Fantasy Fastlane in recent weeks, it’s because he has been. He has the 10th-most points with the 750-package on non-road courses. He also seven top 10s in his last 10 starts in 2021 – with four of those top 10s coming with this rules package.
Richard Childress Racing, No. 8 Chevrolet
Odds: 40-1
Fastlane forecast: If Reddick seems like he has been a permanent fixture in this section of Fantasy Fastlane in recent weeks, it’s because he has been. He has the 10th-most points with the 750-package on non-road courses. He also seven top 10s in his last 10 starts in 2021 – with four of those top 10s coming with this rules package.
13 of 18
Maddie Meyer | Getty Images
SLEEPER PICK: Austin Dillon | View stats
Richard Childress Racing, No. 3 Chevrolet
Odds: 50-1
Fastlane forecast: Dillon has a solid record a Nashville with a Truck win to his name in 2011 at Nashville and two top-seven finishes in as many Xfinity starts there. That track history is why he’s listed here because he has been inconsistent with the 750-package in 2021 – with just one top 10 and the 16th-most points.
Richard Childress Racing, No. 3 Chevrolet
Odds: 50-1
Fastlane forecast: Dillon has a solid record a Nashville with a Truck win to his name in 2011 at Nashville and two top-seven finishes in as many Xfinity starts there. That track history is why he’s listed here because he has been inconsistent with the 750-package in 2021 – with just one top 10 and the 16th-most points.
14 of 18
Carmen Mandato | Getty Images
SLEEPER PICK: Daniel Suarez | View stats
Trackhouse Racing Team, No. 99 Chevrolet
Odds: 150-1
Fastlane forecast: Call this one a hunch based on Suarez’s success on the concrete of Dover – the same surface the 1.33-mile track of Nashville has. The young driver continues to make strides with the first-year Trackhouse program – scoring at least 25 points in three of the past six 2021 races.
Trackhouse Racing Team, No. 99 Chevrolet
Odds: 150-1
Fastlane forecast: Call this one a hunch based on Suarez’s success on the concrete of Dover – the same surface the 1.33-mile track of Nashville has. The young driver continues to make strides with the first-year Trackhouse program – scoring at least 25 points in three of the past six 2021 races.
15 of 18
Maddie Meyer | Getty Images
STAY AWAY FROM: Christopher Bell | View stats
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 20 Toyota
Odds: 50-1
Fastlane forecast: Bell has been in a funk in recent weeks with four straight finishes outside the top 20 and a total of 44 points in that span. Those are hardly the stats you want to hang your fantasy hat on, which is a shame because he did do the Goodyear tire test here. I want to see a turnaround from the young driver before I consider a play with him for a bit.
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 20 Toyota
Odds: 50-1
Fastlane forecast: Bell has been in a funk in recent weeks with four straight finishes outside the top 20 and a total of 44 points in that span. Those are hardly the stats you want to hang your fantasy hat on, which is a shame because he did do the Goodyear tire test here. I want to see a turnaround from the young driver before I consider a play with him for a bit.
16 of 18
Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images
STAY AWAY FROM: Matt DiBenedetto | View stats
Wood Brothers Racing, No. 21 Ford
Odds: 80-1
Fastlane forecast: Since back-to-back top fives in May (his only two on the season so far), DiBenedetto hasn’t finished better than 18th in the past five races. That stretch has seen him average just 16.2 points. On top of that, he has just the 15th-most points with the 750-package. The 21 team made a crew-chief change last week as well with Jonathan Hassler now atop the box.
Wood Brothers Racing, No. 21 Ford
Odds: 80-1
Fastlane forecast: Since back-to-back top fives in May (his only two on the season so far), DiBenedetto hasn’t finished better than 18th in the past five races. That stretch has seen him average just 16.2 points. On top of that, he has just the 15th-most points with the 750-package. The 21 team made a crew-chief change last week as well with Jonathan Hassler now atop the box.
17 of 18
Chris Graythen | Getty Images
STAY AWAY FROM: Ryan Newman | View stats
Roush Fenway Racing, No. 6 Ford
Odds: 250-1
Fastlane forecast: The recent races have not been kind tp Newman with four finishes in a row outside the top 20 and a total of 41 points in that stretch. In the recent races where there has been qualifying – COTA and Charlotte – he has put himself in an early hole with two starting spots of 34th and 25th.
Roush Fenway Racing, No. 6 Ford
Odds: 250-1
Fastlane forecast: The recent races have not been kind tp Newman with four finishes in a row outside the top 20 and a total of 41 points in that stretch. In the recent races where there has been qualifying – COTA and Charlotte – he has put himself in an early hole with two starting spots of 34th and 25th.
18 of 18
Sean Gardner | Getty Images
My lineup heading into the weekend: Denny Hamlin, Kyle Larson, Joey Logano, Martin Truex Jr., William Byron, Garage: Alex Bowman
Just missed the cut for now (subject to change based on qualifying): Kyle Busch, Chase Elliott (usage concerns), Ryan Blaney, Kevin Harvick, Brad Keselowski and Tyler Reddick
Tweet at me @kraftdaddy85
with your lineups and questions before Sunday’s race at 3:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN. I’ll tweet out a lineup update after qualifying Sunday.
Download the free-to-play Jackpot Races App and compete to win the $25,000 prize every week if you get all eight picks correct.
Just missed the cut for now (subject to change based on qualifying): Kyle Busch, Chase Elliott (usage concerns), Ryan Blaney, Kevin Harvick, Brad Keselowski and Tyler Reddick
Tweet at me @kraftdaddy85
with your lineups and questions before Sunday’s race at 3:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN. I’ll tweet out a lineup update after qualifying Sunday.
Download the free-to-play Jackpot Races App and compete to win the $25,000 prize every week if you get all eight picks correct.