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Fantasy Fastlane: 2018 Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500
By RJ Kraft | Published: February 21, 2018 16
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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 a play to avoid for NASCAR Fantasy Live.
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Erik Jones
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 20 Toyota
Fastlane forecast: With a full season under his belt, the expectation is to see Jones routinely in the top 10. He finished 14th at Atlanta last year and seemingly had speed in spades for much of 2017. Jones is our breakout pick for the season and we expect that to be on display at Atlanta.
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 20 Toyota
Fastlane forecast: With a full season under his belt, the expectation is to see Jones routinely in the top 10. He finished 14th at Atlanta last year and seemingly had speed in spades for much of 2017. Jones is our breakout pick for the season and we expect that to be on display at Atlanta.
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Jimmie Johnson
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 48 Chevrolet
Fastlane forecast: Johnson has five wins at Atlanta - including two wins in the last three races there. Speedweeks was a rough showing for the seven-time champ as he got caught up in wrecks in every event. His luck is bound to change, and history says Atlanta will be the place.
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 48 Chevrolet
Fastlane forecast: Johnson has five wins at Atlanta - including two wins in the last three races there. Speedweeks was a rough showing for the seven-time champ as he got caught up in wrecks in every event. His luck is bound to change, and history says Atlanta will be the place.
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Brad Keselowski
Team Penske, No. 2 Ford
Fastlane forecast: Keselowski is the defending race winner and has three straight top-nine finishes at Atlanta. The 2012 champ should be in position to score stage points -- he had the fifth-most in 2017 -- and had 13 in this race last year. Some plays will pay off more, but Kes is solid.
Team Penske, No. 2 Ford
Fastlane forecast: Keselowski is the defending race winner and has three straight top-nine finishes at Atlanta. The 2012 champ should be in position to score stage points -- he had the fifth-most in 2017 -- and had 13 in this race last year. Some plays will pay off more, but Kes is solid.
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Chase Elliott
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 9 Chevrolet
Fastlane forecast: Atlanta is the home track for the Dawsonville, Georgia, native. In two starts, Elliott has an average finish of 6.5 -- best among Sunday's field. With five straight top 10s on 1.5-mile range tracks (dating back to last year), the young star is on the upswing and worth the play.
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 9 Chevrolet
Fastlane forecast: Atlanta is the home track for the Dawsonville, Georgia, native. In two starts, Elliott has an average finish of 6.5 -- best among Sunday's field. With five straight top 10s on 1.5-mile range tracks (dating back to last year), the young star is on the upswing and worth the play.
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Kevin Harvick
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 4 Ford
Fastlane forecast: Harvick has been on the pole for two of the past four Atlanta races and led 734 laps during that stretch. He dominated last year's race to the tune of 292 laps led before a pit road penalty derailed his shot at a win. He's the best car on intermediates behind Truex; lock him in.
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 4 Ford
Fastlane forecast: Harvick has been on the pole for two of the past four Atlanta races and led 734 laps during that stretch. He dominated last year's race to the tune of 292 laps led before a pit road penalty derailed his shot at a win. He's the best car on intermediates behind Truex; lock him in.
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Ryan Blaney
Team Penske, No. 12 Ford
Fastlane forecast: Blaney had a strong Speedweeks -- capped off by leading more than half the Daytona 500. With personnel moving with him from the No. 21 to the No. 12, expect his strong intermediate results to continue. Despite two so-so Atlanta runs, he's trending upward.
Team Penske, No. 12 Ford
Fastlane forecast: Blaney had a strong Speedweeks -- capped off by leading more than half the Daytona 500. With personnel moving with him from the No. 21 to the No. 12, expect his strong intermediate results to continue. Despite two so-so Atlanta runs, he's trending upward.
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Kyle Larson
Chip Ganassi Racing, No. 42 Chevrolet
Fastlane forecast: Larson was the runner-up in this race last year and had four runner-up finishes on intermediate tracks in 2017. He did everything but win on this track type last year. One watch out: A string of good tracks coming up so be mindful of where you use him.
Chip Ganassi Racing, No. 42 Chevrolet
Fastlane forecast: Larson was the runner-up in this race last year and had four runner-up finishes on intermediate tracks in 2017. He did everything but win on this track type last year. One watch out: A string of good tracks coming up so be mindful of where you use him.
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Kyle Busch
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 18 Toyota
Fastlane forecast: Busch has two wins at Atlanta. While he only has six top 10s at the track, four of those have come in his last seven races there. Given his second half surge in 2017, he is a good play. The rub lies in the fact that he is better at other tracks coming up.
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 18 Toyota
Fastlane forecast: Busch has two wins at Atlanta. While he only has six top 10s at the track, four of those have come in his last seven races there. Given his second half surge in 2017, he is a good play. The rub lies in the fact that he is better at other tracks coming up.
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Martin Truex Jr.
Furniture Row Racing, No. 78 Toyota
Fastlane forecast: The intermediate ace of 2017 -- seven of his eight wins came at 1.5-mile tracks -- enters as the race favorite. While he has yet to win at Atlanta, he has five top-eight finishes in his last six races there. A refrain we will repeat often for intermediates: Trust in Truex!
Furniture Row Racing, No. 78 Toyota
Fastlane forecast: The intermediate ace of 2017 -- seven of his eight wins came at 1.5-mile tracks -- enters as the race favorite. While he has yet to win at Atlanta, he has five top-eight finishes in his last six races there. A refrain we will repeat often for intermediates: Trust in Truex!
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SLEEPER PICK: Kurt Busch
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 41 Ford
Fastlane forecast: Busch has three wins at Atlanta. The 2004 champ has eight top-seven finishes in his last 11 races there. More recently, he has an average finish of 8.0 in his past three races there -- third-best among the field.
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 41 Ford
Fastlane forecast: Busch has three wins at Atlanta. The 2004 champ has eight top-seven finishes in his last 11 races there. More recently, he has an average finish of 8.0 in his past three races there -- third-best among the field.
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SLEEPER PICK: Darrell Wallace Jr.
Richard Petty Motorsports, No. 43 Chevrolet
Fastlane forecast: Wallace's runner-up finish at Daytona was impressive and has us intrigued by the possibilities. The rookie has an average finish of 11.7 in three Xfinity starts -- including a sixth-place run last year.
Richard Petty Motorsports, No. 43 Chevrolet
Fastlane forecast: Wallace's runner-up finish at Daytona was impressive and has us intrigued by the possibilities. The rookie has an average finish of 11.7 in three Xfinity starts -- including a sixth-place run last year.
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SLEEPER PICK: Kasey Kahne
Leavine Family Racing, No. 95 Chevrolet
Fastlane forecast: Kahne has three victories at Atlanta. In his last four races there, he has a 10.5 average finish - sixth-best among Sunday's field. The track history suggests Kahne is worth a garage stash to see how he performs.
Leavine Family Racing, No. 95 Chevrolet
Fastlane forecast: Kahne has three victories at Atlanta. In his last four races there, he has a 10.5 average finish - sixth-best among Sunday's field. The track history suggests Kahne is worth a garage stash to see how he performs.
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SLEEPER PICK: Aric Almirola
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 10 Ford
Fastlane forecast: Almirola was two turns away from a Daytona 500 win. We don't expect a letdown from the veteran, who has an average finish of 15.5 in his last four Atlanta races and is eager to make a mark with his new team.
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 10 Ford
Fastlane forecast: Almirola was two turns away from a Daytona 500 win. We don't expect a letdown from the veteran, who has an average finish of 15.5 in his last four Atlanta races and is eager to make a mark with his new team.
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STAY AWAY FROM: Austin Dillon
Richard Childress Racing, No. 3 Chevrolet
Fastlane forecast: Don't overreact to Dillon's Daytona 500 win by inserting him into your lineup. We liked the play last week but he has an average finish of 25.0 in five starts at Atlanta. The intermediates are a different beast than superspeedways so it's prudent to wait and see.
Richard Childress Racing, No. 3 Chevrolet
Fastlane forecast: Don't overreact to Dillon's Daytona 500 win by inserting him into your lineup. We liked the play last week but he has an average finish of 25.0 in five starts at Atlanta. The intermediates are a different beast than superspeedways so it's prudent to wait and see.
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My lineup heading into the weekend. Check back for 'Fantasy Three Up' on Saturday for updates.
Lineup: Kevin Harvick, Martin Truex Jr., Erik Jones, Chase Elliott and Ryan Blaney
Garage pick: Kyle Busch
Tweet at me @kraftdaddy85
with lineup questions ahead of Sunday's Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at 1 p.m. ET on FOX.
Lineup: Kevin Harvick, Martin Truex Jr., Erik Jones, Chase Elliott and Ryan Blaney
Garage pick: Kyle Busch
Tweet at me @kraftdaddy85
with lineup questions ahead of Sunday's Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at 1 p.m. ET on FOX.