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FORT WORTH, TX - NOVEMBER 02:  Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M's Toyota, looks on during qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on November 2, 2018 in Fort Worth, Texas.  (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images) | Getty Images
BACK TO GALLERIES

Fantasy Fastlane: 2018 Can-Am 500

By RJ Kraft | Published: 9 Nov, 2018 16
Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images
BACK TO GALLERIES

1 of 16

Fantasy Live

NASCAR Digital Media

Editor's note: Fantasy Fastlane will look at each race from a fantasy perspective, examining the top plays among playoff and non-playoff drivers and plays to avoid for NASCAR Fantasy Live. Garage driver will lock at end of Stage 2.


PLAY NOW: Set your Fantasy Live lineup today

2 of 16

MARTINSVILLE, VA - OCTOBER 27:  Aric Almirola, driver of the #10 Smithfield Ford, walks through the garage area during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series First Data 500 at Martinsville Speedway on October 27, 2018 in Martinsville, Virginia.  (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images

Aric Almirola (P) | View stats

Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 10 Ford

Fastlane forecast: Looking for a bold play among the playoff drivers? Almirola is your guy. The SHR driver has two straight top 10s at Phoenix and has been a contender on the past two races held at 1-mile range tracks. He has been consistent in the playoffs and must win to advance.

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MARTINSVILLE, VA - OCTOBER 27:  Kurt Busch, driver of the #41 Haas Automation/Monster Energy Ford, climbs into his car during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series First Data 500 at Martinsville Speedway on October 27, 2018 in Martinsville, Virginia.  (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Sean Gardner | Getty Images

Kurt Busch (P) | View stats

Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 41 Ford

Fastlane forecast: Busch's 10th-place finish in the spring gave him six top 10s in his last eight Phoenix starts. He has one win here in 2005, but a great run could get him through. One key stat: He is averaging 40.8 points per race in the four 1-mile range events this year -- third-best in the series.

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FORT WORTH, TX - NOVEMBER 02:  Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Bass Prso Shops/5-hour ENERGY Toyota, stands in the garage area during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on November 2, 2018 in Fort Worth, Texas.  (Photo by Josh Hedges/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Josh Hedges | Getty Images

Martin Truex Jr. (P) | View stats

Furniture Row Racing, No. 78 Toyota

Fastlane forecast: Truex never has won at Phoenix but has posted back-to-back top fives. The defending champ is in position to reach the Championship 4. One lingering concern: two straight weeks of having to start at the back; a troubling trend in the homestretch of the season.

5 of 16

FORT WORTH, TX - NOVEMBER 03:  Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 Kelley Blue Book Chevrolet, talks with crew chief Alan Gustafson during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on November 3, 2018 in Fort Worth, Texas.  (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images

Chase Elliott (P) | View stats

Hendrick Motorsports, No. 9 Chevrolet

Fastlane forecast: Elliott's 6.8 average finish is best among all drivers at Phoenix. His last two races here have seen him post back-to-back top-three finishes and he nearly won this race last fall. He also has earned the second-most points among playoff drivers at 1-mile range tracks.

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FORT WORTH, TX - NOVEMBER 02:  Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M's Toyota, looks on during qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on November 2, 2018 in Fort Worth, Texas.  (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images

Kyle Busch (P) | View stats

Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 18 Toyota

Fastlane forecast: Busch has just one win at ISM Raceway and that came in his second start there. The recent results at the 1-mile track have been solid for him -- five top-five finishes in his past six races and no finish worse than seventh. He is not locked into Miami, so expect a good run.

7 of 16

FORT WORTH, TX - NOVEMBER 04:  Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Mobil 1 Ford, celebrates by placing the Winner's Sticker on his car after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on November 4, 2018 in Fort Worth, Texas.  (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Chris Graythen | Getty Images

Kevin Harvick (P) | View stats

Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 4 Ford

Fastlane forecast: Harvick is great at Phoenix and can handle the added pressure post-penalty. See his spring win or his win to advance in 2014. The numbers say it all: Six wins in his last 10 starts there -- he has nine total -- and an average finish of 2.3 in that stretch. Hard to go against that.

8 of 16

FORT WORTH, TX - NOVEMBER 02:  Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Office Toyota, looks on during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on November 2, 2018 in Fort Worth, Texas.  (Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Matt Sullivan | Getty Images

Denny Hamlin | View stats

Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 11 Toyota

Fastlane forecast: Hamlin has top-10 finishes in five of his last six starts at Phoenix. The lone race he finished outside the top 10 was this very race last year where he led 193 laps before a cut tire led to a crash and an end to his playoffs. The veteran is sure to be a popular pick this weekend.

9 of 16

MARTINSVILLE, VA - OCTOBER 27:  Erik Jones, driver of the #20 DeWalt Toyota, stands in the garage area during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series First Data 500 at Martinsville Speedway on October 27, 2018 in Martinsville, Virginia.  (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Sarah Crabill | Getty Images

Erik Jones | View stats

Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 20 Toyota

Fastlane forecast: Jones has three straight top 10s at Phoenix and his 10.0 average finish is third-best among drivers in Sunday's field. What makes the second-year driver real intriguing is his flurry of strong results -- three fourth-place finishes since being eliminated from the playoffs.

10 of 16

FORT WORTH, TX - NOVEMBER 02:  Alex Bowman, driver of the #88 Axalta Chevrolet, stands in the garage area during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on November 2, 2018 in Fort Worth, Texas.  (Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Matt Sullivan | Getty Images

Alex Bowman | View stats

Hendrick Motorsports, No. 88 Chevrolet

Fastlane forecast: Bowman nearly won this race two years ago filling in for the sidelined Dale Jr. The Arizona native led 194 laps from the pole position before settling for a sixth-place result. In his return to the track this spring, he finished 13th. This is a bit of upside play with some risk.

11 of 16

RICHMOND, VA - SEPTEMBER 22:  Daniel Suarez, driver of the #19 Comcast Toyota, is introduced prior to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond Raceway on September 22, 2018 in Richmond, Virginia.  (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Sean Gardner | Getty Images

Daniel Suarez | View stats

Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 19 Toyota

Fastlane forecast: In three starts at ISM Raceway, Suarez has two top 10s and an average finish of 11.0. In his short Cup career, the 2016 Xfinity Series champ has been at home on 1-mile venues as he has recorded eight top 10s in 10 races at Phoenix, New Hampshire and Dover combined.

12 of 16

DOVER, DE - OCTOBER 05:  William Byron, driver of the #24 Hendrick Autoguard Chevrolet, looks on during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Gander Outdoors 400 at Dover International Speedway on October 5, 2018 in Dover, Delaware.  (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images

William Byron | View stats

Hendrick Motorsports, No. 24 Chevrolet

Fastlane forecast: Looking for a surprise pick to play? The rookie Byron is it. He finished 12th at Phoenix in the spring -- outrunning two teammates -- and has an average finish of 14.8 in the 1-mile range races this season. The risk: He has made an early exit in five of his last 10 races.

13 of 16

FORT WORTH, TX - NOVEMBER 03:  Clint Bowyer, driver of the #14 Rush Truck Centers/Mobil Delvac 1 Ford, climbs into his car during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on November 3, 2018 in Fort Worth, Texas.  (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

STAY AWAY FROM: Clint Bowyer (P) | View stats

Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 14 Ford

Fastlane forecast: Bowyer's 18.4 average finish at ISM Raceway is the worst among the playoff field. His last top five at the 1-mile track was in 2008 and his top 10 in the spring ended a streak of nine finishes outside the top 12.

14 of 16

FORT WORTH, TX - NOVEMBER 03:  Joey Logano, driver of the #22 AAA Insurance Ford, stands in the garage area during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on November 3, 2018 in Fort Worth, Texas.  (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

STAY AWAY FROM: Joey Logano (P) | View stats

Team Penske, No. 22 Ford

Fastlane forecast: Logano won this race in 2016 to lock into the Championship 4. In the ensuing three races, he has finished no better than 12th. With his Miami spot locked in for next week's Championship 4 battle, I'd look elsewhere.

15 of 16

FORT WORTH, TX - NOVEMBER 03:  Ryan Blaney, driver of the #12 Accella/Carlisle Ford, prepares to climb into his car during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on November 3, 2018 in Fort Worth, Texas.  (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images

STAY AWAY FROM: Ryan Blaney | View stats

Team Penske, No. 12 Ford

Fastlane forecast: Blaney had back-to-back top 10s in his first two starts at ISM Raceway, but he has finished no better then 16th in the three starts since. Penske has struggled here of late, but maybe the new layout changes that.

16 of 16

AVONDALE, AZ - MARCH 11:  Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Jimmy John's Ford, celebrates winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series TicketGuardian 500 at ISM Raceway on March 11, 2018 in Avondale, Arizona.  (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Robert Laberge | Getty Images

My lineup heading into the weekend: Kevin Harvick, Chase Elliott, Denny Hamlin, Erik Jones; Garage: Kyle Busch. 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 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC.
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