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Fantasy Fastlane: The start of a new season at the Daytona 500
By Dustin Albino | Published: February 17, 2023 16
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The Daytona 500 (Sun., 2:30 p.m. ET, FOX, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) signifies the start of a new season with new story lines — with a new wrinkle to Fantasy Live, as well. Fantasy players will earn 10 Fan Rewards points each time they set their lineup in NASCAR Fantasy Live. The Fan Rewards program is a way for registered users on NASCAR.com to earn points toward things like NASCAR tickets, NASCAR merchandise and more. Learn more about Fan Rewards
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MUST START:
Joey Logano
Team Penske, No. 22 Ford
Odds: 14-1
Did you watch the first Bluegreen Vacations Duel Thursday evening? Logano, who is among the best superspeedway competitors in the Cup Series, put on a masterclass en route to the victory. And despite having seven straight finishes outside the top 10 at Daytona, the reigning Cup champion is always near the front for a good chunk of the race, leading at least 10 laps in six of the last eight Daytona races.
Joey Logano
Team Penske, No. 22 Ford
Odds: 14-1
Did you watch the first Bluegreen Vacations Duel Thursday evening? Logano, who is among the best superspeedway competitors in the Cup Series, put on a masterclass en route to the victory. And despite having seven straight finishes outside the top 10 at Daytona, the reigning Cup champion is always near the front for a good chunk of the race, leading at least 10 laps in six of the last eight Daytona races.
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MUST START:
Ryan Blaney
Team Penske, No. 12 Ford
Odds: 12-1
For the past several years, collectively, Team Penske is always in the mix on superspeedways. All three of its drivers start in the top seven on Sunday, and it feels like Blaney is due for a victory in the "Great American Race." He has top-five finishes in two of the last three 500s, narrowly missing out on the big trophy in 2020.
Ryan Blaney
Team Penske, No. 12 Ford
Odds: 12-1
For the past several years, collectively, Team Penske is always in the mix on superspeedways. All three of its drivers start in the top seven on Sunday, and it feels like Blaney is due for a victory in the "Great American Race." He has top-five finishes in two of the last three 500s, narrowly missing out on the big trophy in 2020.
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MUST START:
Denny Hamlin
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 11 Toyota
Odds: 12-1
Whenever a driver says they love their car, it’s probably a good time to use them in fantasy. Of all active drivers, the Virginia native has had the most success in the "Great American Race," winning three of the last seven Daytona 500s. The No. 11 car is an easy choice.
Denny Hamlin
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 11 Toyota
Odds: 12-1
Whenever a driver says they love their car, it’s probably a good time to use them in fantasy. Of all active drivers, the Virginia native has had the most success in the "Great American Race," winning three of the last seven Daytona 500s. The No. 11 car is an easy choice.
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MUST START:
Aric Almirola
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 10 Ford
Odds: 33-1
Surprisingly, Almirola’s odds sit at 33-1 following his win in the second Bluegreen Vacations Duel Thursday evening. He’s always been sneaky good on superspeedways, picking up one win apiece at Daytona and Talladega. He said his car was uncomfortable to drive in the Duel, but his crew chief Drew Blickensderfer built a hot rod. This would make for good use of Almirola, assuming you won’t use him nine other times during the regular season with so much depth on the roster.
Aric Almirola
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 10 Ford
Odds: 33-1
Surprisingly, Almirola’s odds sit at 33-1 following his win in the second Bluegreen Vacations Duel Thursday evening. He’s always been sneaky good on superspeedways, picking up one win apiece at Daytona and Talladega. He said his car was uncomfortable to drive in the Duel, but his crew chief Drew Blickensderfer built a hot rod. This would make for good use of Almirola, assuming you won’t use him nine other times during the regular season with so much depth on the roster.
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SLEEPER PICK:
Erik Jones
Legacy Motor Club, No. 43 Chevrolet
Odds: 33-1
When asked on Daytona 500 Media Day about who are the best superspeedway drivers currently on superspeedways, Logano named Jones inside the top five. It’s a high compliment from the two-time champion. The stats back it up, too, as Jones won his first Cup race at the World Center of Racing in 2018 and the last Clash run on the 2.5-mile superspeedway in 2020. His No. 43 car was out front on the final lap last year at Talladega, too, but made one wrong block with a few hundred yards to go and dropped to sixth.
Erik Jones
Legacy Motor Club, No. 43 Chevrolet
Odds: 33-1
When asked on Daytona 500 Media Day about who are the best superspeedway drivers currently on superspeedways, Logano named Jones inside the top five. It’s a high compliment from the two-time champion. The stats back it up, too, as Jones won his first Cup race at the World Center of Racing in 2018 and the last Clash run on the 2.5-mile superspeedway in 2020. His No. 43 car was out front on the final lap last year at Talladega, too, but made one wrong block with a few hundred yards to go and dropped to sixth.
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SLEEPER PICK:
Austin Dillon
Richard Childress Racing, No. 3 Chevrolet
Odds: 25-1
Dillon has a knack for performing well in crown jewel races, having wins in the Daytona 500 and Coca-Cola 600. He also brought the No. 3 team to Victory Lane the last time the Cup Series was in Daytona in August.
Austin Dillon
Richard Childress Racing, No. 3 Chevrolet
Odds: 25-1
Dillon has a knack for performing well in crown jewel races, having wins in the Daytona 500 and Coca-Cola 600. He also brought the No. 3 team to Victory Lane the last time the Cup Series was in Daytona in August.
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SLEEPER PICK:
Corey LaJoie
Spire Motorsports, No. 7 Chevrolet
Odds: 80-1
Repeatedly, LaJoie is often in the running late at superspeedway races for a solid finish. Last year, he nearly won the July race at Atlanta before a block went wrong from race winner Chase Elliott. In Thursday’s second Duel race, he elected to battle for the win instead of taking care of his machine and ended up finishing fifth. He believes in order to have a shot at the 500, teams will need track position, and he has it to start, lining up 12th. Three of his five career top 10s have come at Daytona.
Corey LaJoie
Spire Motorsports, No. 7 Chevrolet
Odds: 80-1
Repeatedly, LaJoie is often in the running late at superspeedway races for a solid finish. Last year, he nearly won the July race at Atlanta before a block went wrong from race winner Chase Elliott. In Thursday’s second Duel race, he elected to battle for the win instead of taking care of his machine and ended up finishing fifth. He believes in order to have a shot at the 500, teams will need track position, and he has it to start, lining up 12th. Three of his five career top 10s have come at Daytona.
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STAY AWAY FROM:
Kyle Busch
Richard Childress Racing, No. 8 Chevrolet
Odds: 14-1
Busch very well could have won the second Duel race Thursday evening. Unfortunately for the No. 8 team, a push went wrong from Daniel Suárez and turned Busch into the wall while he was out front. Now, he has to go to a backup car and start from the rear. It’s a long event, but the two-time champion has never won the "Great American Race" and hasn’t seen the checkered flag in four of his last six starts at Daytona.
Kyle Busch
Richard Childress Racing, No. 8 Chevrolet
Odds: 14-1
Busch very well could have won the second Duel race Thursday evening. Unfortunately for the No. 8 team, a push went wrong from Daniel Suárez and turned Busch into the wall while he was out front. Now, he has to go to a backup car and start from the rear. It’s a long event, but the two-time champion has never won the "Great American Race" and hasn’t seen the checkered flag in four of his last six starts at Daytona.
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STAY AWAY FROM:
Ross Chastain
Trackhouse Racing, No. 1 Chevrolet
Odds: 16-1
There’s no doubt Chastain will have a fast car on Sunday, but he’s also made numerous drivers upset with his driving style over the last calendar year. It’s hard to think he’s going to have much help late in the race on Sunday. At the same time, nobody paid him back last season, so perhaps it's overblown. Still, I’d save him for later use.
Ross Chastain
Trackhouse Racing, No. 1 Chevrolet
Odds: 16-1
There’s no doubt Chastain will have a fast car on Sunday, but he’s also made numerous drivers upset with his driving style over the last calendar year. It’s hard to think he’s going to have much help late in the race on Sunday. At the same time, nobody paid him back last season, so perhaps it's overblown. Still, I’d save him for later use.
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STAY AWAY FROM:
Kyle Larson
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 5 Chevrolet
Odds: 14-1
Hendrick Motorsports has qualifying figured out at Daytona, as Alex Bowman and Larson will start on the front row for the second consecutive year. However, Larson hasn’t shied away about his performance and lack of aggression on superspeedways. He’s wrecked out in eight of his 17 starts at the 2.5-mile track. Don’t bite on his fast qualifying lap.
Kyle Larson
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 5 Chevrolet
Odds: 14-1
Hendrick Motorsports has qualifying figured out at Daytona, as Alex Bowman and Larson will start on the front row for the second consecutive year. However, Larson hasn’t shied away about his performance and lack of aggression on superspeedways. He’s wrecked out in eight of his 17 starts at the 2.5-mile track. Don’t bite on his fast qualifying lap.
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FEATURED MATCHUP:
Tyler Reddick vs. Kyle Busch
Prior to wrecking out of the second Duel, Busch and the No. 8 team thought they had a Chevrolet that was capable of winning on Sunday. Reddick was a nonfactor in the second duel and finished 13th. Maybe in a surprise, I’ll actually give the slight advantage to Busch despite saying to stay away from him earlier. Guess that means to stay away from Reddick, too, for fantasy purposes.
Tyler Reddick vs. Kyle Busch
Prior to wrecking out of the second Duel, Busch and the No. 8 team thought they had a Chevrolet that was capable of winning on Sunday. Reddick was a nonfactor in the second duel and finished 13th. Maybe in a surprise, I’ll actually give the slight advantage to Busch despite saying to stay away from him earlier. Guess that means to stay away from Reddick, too, for fantasy purposes.
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FEATURED MATCHUP:
Austin Dillon vs. Bubba Wallace
Both Dillon and Wallace are superb superspeedway racers, with Dillon winning twice before at the World Center of Racing. In Dillon’s 2018 Daytona 500 win, it was Wallace who finished runner-up. He also finished second last February to Austin Cindric. This is a real toss-up, but Wallace looked better in the Duel races. Go with the No. 23 Toyota.
Austin Dillon vs. Bubba Wallace
Both Dillon and Wallace are superb superspeedway racers, with Dillon winning twice before at the World Center of Racing. In Dillon’s 2018 Daytona 500 win, it was Wallace who finished runner-up. He also finished second last February to Austin Cindric. This is a real toss-up, but Wallace looked better in the Duel races. Go with the No. 23 Toyota.
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FEATURED MATCHUP:
Brad Keselowski vs. Martin Truex Jr.
Each of these drivers are among the best drivers to never win the Daytona 500. Truex lost by the slimmest of margins — literally —in 2016, and Keselowski has been close countless times, including last year when he led a race-high 67 laps. Believe it or not, Truex scored the most points at Daytona and Talladega last season, but with Keselowski’s career-long superspeedway prowess, I favor him this weekend.
Brad Keselowski vs. Martin Truex Jr.
Each of these drivers are among the best drivers to never win the Daytona 500. Truex lost by the slimmest of margins — literally —in 2016, and Keselowski has been close countless times, including last year when he led a race-high 67 laps. Believe it or not, Truex scored the most points at Daytona and Talladega last season, but with Keselowski’s career-long superspeedway prowess, I favor him this weekend.
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FEATURED MATCHUP:
Ross Chastain vs. Denny Hamlin
Best friends! Hamlin is always fun to watch on superspeedways, making calculated maneuvers to pass his competition. His recent success in the Daytona 500 is unmatched, having three wins and three additional top fives in the last eight 500s. There’s no reason to not believe he’s going to be a factor on Sunday.
Ross Chastain vs. Denny Hamlin
Best friends! Hamlin is always fun to watch on superspeedways, making calculated maneuvers to pass his competition. His recent success in the Daytona 500 is unmatched, having three wins and three additional top fives in the last eight 500s. There’s no reason to not believe he’s going to be a factor on Sunday.
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MY LINEUP: Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney, Denny Hamlin, Aric Almirola, William Byron
GARAGE: Brad Keselowski
GARAGE: Brad Keselowski