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Fantasy Fastlane: 2018 GoBowling at The Glen
By RJ Kraft | Published: August 2, 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 plays to avoid for NASCAR Fantasy Live. Garage driver will lock at end of Stage 2.
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PLAY NOW: Set your Fantasy Live lineup today
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AJ Allmendinger | View stats
JTG Daugherty Racing, No. 47 Chevrolet
Fastlane forecast: The road course ace will be a popular play. That's thanks to his 9.3 average finish (among drivers with more than one start). He won here in 2014 and has six top 10s in his last seven starts at Watkins Glen. This is a driver to build your lineup around here.
JTG Daugherty Racing, No. 47 Chevrolet
Fastlane forecast: The road course ace will be a popular play. That's thanks to his 9.3 average finish (among drivers with more than one start). He won here in 2014 and has six top 10s in his last seven starts at Watkins Glen. This is a driver to build your lineup around here.
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Joey Logano | View stats
Team Penske, No. 22 Ford
Fastlane forecast: Prior to last year's Watkins Glen race, Logano had four straight top-seven finishes including a 2015 win there. His road-racing success seems to go under the radar compared to others. He's been in a bit of a funk, but this is a good chance to plug him in.
Team Penske, No. 22 Ford
Fastlane forecast: Prior to last year's Watkins Glen race, Logano had four straight top-seven finishes including a 2015 win there. His road-racing success seems to go under the radar compared to others. He's been in a bit of a funk, but this is a good chance to plug him in.
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Denny Hamlin | View stats
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 11 Toyota
Fastlane forecast: Hamlin has five straight top 10s at road courses and that includes a 2016 win at Watkins Glen. In addition to recent road course success, his only must-use track left is Darlington. That makes him a strong play to roster this weekend.
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 11 Toyota
Fastlane forecast: Hamlin has five straight top 10s at road courses and that includes a 2016 win at Watkins Glen. In addition to recent road course success, his only must-use track left is Darlington. That makes him a strong play to roster this weekend.
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Brad Keselowski | View stats
Team Penske, No. 2 Ford
Fastlane forecast: Keselowski has three runner-up finishes and five top-seven finishes in his past seven Watkins Glen races. While the 2012 champ has no road course wins to his name in the Monster Energy Series, he does hold his second-best average finish in the series here.
Team Penske, No. 2 Ford
Fastlane forecast: Keselowski has three runner-up finishes and five top-seven finishes in his past seven Watkins Glen races. While the 2012 champ has no road course wins to his name in the Monster Energy Series, he does hold his second-best average finish in the series here.
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Clint Bowyer | View stats
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 14 Ford
Fastlane forecast: Bowyer has four top-six finishes in the past six races at Watkins Glen. On top of that, he is a strong road racer with a victory at Sonoma in 2012 and a solid record there. Michigan is the other track left that you have to roster him at, so get him in here.
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 14 Ford
Fastlane forecast: Bowyer has four top-six finishes in the past six races at Watkins Glen. On top of that, he is a strong road racer with a victory at Sonoma in 2012 and a solid record there. Michigan is the other track left that you have to roster him at, so get him in here.
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Kurt Busch | View stats
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 41 Ford
Fastlane forecast: Busch has found more success at Sonoma as opposed to Watkins Glen. However, he has five straight top 11s at the New York road course and 11 straight top 12s on road courses. Players likely have uses left and this is a great spot to deploy him.
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 41 Ford
Fastlane forecast: Busch has found more success at Sonoma as opposed to Watkins Glen. However, he has five straight top 11s at the New York road course and 11 straight top 12s on road courses. Players likely have uses left and this is a great spot to deploy him.
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Martin Truex Jr. | View stats
Furniture Row Racing, No. 78 Toyota
Fastlane forecast: Truex is the defending race winner at Watkins Glen and has wins in the last two road course races run in the Monster Energy Series. The reigning series champion earned the most stage points here last year and should be dialed in after an off week at Pocono.
Furniture Row Racing, No. 78 Toyota
Fastlane forecast: Truex is the defending race winner at Watkins Glen and has wins in the last two road course races run in the Monster Energy Series. The reigning series champion earned the most stage points here last year and should be dialed in after an off week at Pocono.
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Kyle Busch | View stats
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 18 Toyota
Fastlane forecast: In 13 Watkins Glen starts, Busch has two wins, 11 top 10s and an average finish of 9.8. Those numbers scream must-start; however, uses are sure to be an issue. If you are down to one or two uses left, I'd save him. If you have three or more uses, turn him loose.
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 18 Toyota
Fastlane forecast: In 13 Watkins Glen starts, Busch has two wins, 11 top 10s and an average finish of 9.8. Those numbers scream must-start; however, uses are sure to be an issue. If you are down to one or two uses left, I'd save him. If you have three or more uses, turn him loose.
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SLEEPER PICK: Daniel Suarez | View stats
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 19 Toyota
Fastlane forecast: Coming off his best finish in the Monster Energy Series, Suarez heads to a track that he's had success at. In his first Watkins Glen start in 2017, the young driver finished third and earned his lone stage win.
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 19 Toyota
Fastlane forecast: Coming off his best finish in the Monster Energy Series, Suarez heads to a track that he's had success at. In his first Watkins Glen start in 2017, the young driver finished third and earned his lone stage win.
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SLEEPER PICK: Erik Jones | View stats
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 20 Toyota
Fastlane forecast: Outside of the 'Big 3,' there’s no driver on more of a roll than Jones with five top-seven finishes in his last six races. That includes a seventh-place at Sonoma. He also had a top 10 at Watkins Glen last year, his lone premiere series race at the road course.
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 20 Toyota
Fastlane forecast: Outside of the 'Big 3,' there’s no driver on more of a roll than Jones with five top-seven finishes in his last six races. That includes a seventh-place at Sonoma. He also had a top 10 at Watkins Glen last year, his lone premiere series race at the road course.
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SLEEPER PICK: Alex Bowman | View stats
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 88 Chevrolet
Fastlane forecast: This will be Bowman’s first run at Watkins Glen with Hendrick. Over the past six races Bowman has found his stride with five top-11 finishes including a ninth at Sonoma and a career-best third at Pocono.
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 88 Chevrolet
Fastlane forecast: This will be Bowman’s first run at Watkins Glen with Hendrick. Over the past six races Bowman has found his stride with five top-11 finishes including a ninth at Sonoma and a career-best third at Pocono.
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SLEEPER PICK: Michael McDowell | View stats
Front Row Motorsports, No. 34 Ford
Fastlane forecast: McDowell is known for his restrictor-plate finishes but he’s a solid road racer. He won at Road America in the Xfinity Series in 2016 and has an average finish of 14.5 in his last two Watkins Glen starts.
Front Row Motorsports, No. 34 Ford
Fastlane forecast: McDowell is known for his restrictor-plate finishes but he’s a solid road racer. He won at Road America in the Xfinity Series in 2016 and has an average finish of 14.5 in his last two Watkins Glen starts.
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STAY AWAY FROM: Kevin Harvick | View stats
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 4 Ford
Fastlane forecast: Harvick last two runs at Watkins Glen have resulted in finishes outside the top 15 including a 32nd finish in 2016 (crash). Yes, he does have a win here but not playing him is about keeping your powder dry for the speedways where he'll be needed.
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 4 Ford
Fastlane forecast: Harvick last two runs at Watkins Glen have resulted in finishes outside the top 15 including a 32nd finish in 2016 (crash). Yes, he does have a win here but not playing him is about keeping your powder dry for the speedways where he'll be needed.
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STAY AWAY FROM: Kyle Larson | View stats
Chip Ganassi Racing, No. 42 Chevrolet
Fastlane forecast: Larson has finished outside the top 10 in his last three races here. The 42 team is in a rut with just two top 10s in the last seven races. Plus, Michigan, Bristol and Darlington are solid tracks coming up for him.
Chip Ganassi Racing, No. 42 Chevrolet
Fastlane forecast: Larson has finished outside the top 10 in his last three races here. The 42 team is in a rut with just two top 10s in the last seven races. Plus, Michigan, Bristol and Darlington are solid tracks coming up for him.
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My lineup heading into the weekend: AJ Allmendinger, Kurt Busch, Clint Bowyer, Denny Hamlin, Martin Truex Jr.; Garage: Joey Logano. 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 3 p.m. ET on NBC.
with your lineups and questions ahead of Sunday's race at 3 p.m. ET on NBC.