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Fantasy Fastlane: 2018 First Data 500
By RJ Kraft | Published: October 26, 2018 15
Sarah Crabill | Getty Images
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NASCAR Digital Media
Editor's note: Fantasy Fastlane will look at each race from a fantasy perspective, examining the top playoff plays, non-playoff plays 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
PLAY NOW: Set your Fantasy Live lineup today
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
Clint Bowyer (P) | View stats
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 14 Ford
Fastlane forecast: The most recent winner at Martinsville is no stranger to short-track success with three career wins and six straight top 10s at that track type. His 3.7 average finish in three races with SHR at the Paperclip is second-best and his 37.3 points in that stretch ties for third-best.
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 14 Ford
Fastlane forecast: The most recent winner at Martinsville is no stranger to short-track success with three career wins and six straight top 10s at that track type. His 3.7 average finish in three races with SHR at the Paperclip is second-best and his 37.3 points in that stretch ties for third-best.
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Chris Graythen | Getty Images
Joey Logano (P) | View stats
Team Penske, No. 22 Ford
Fastlane forecast: Logano has yet to win at Martinsville in 19 starts but he has no issues qualifying here. He has started inside the top six in the past 11 races and started from the front four times. A strong Round of 12 combined with six top 10s in his last nine races here make for a good play.
Team Penske, No. 22 Ford
Fastlane forecast: Logano has yet to win at Martinsville in 19 starts but he has no issues qualifying here. He has started inside the top six in the past 11 races and started from the front four times. A strong Round of 12 combined with six top 10s in his last nine races here make for a good play.
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Matt Sullivan | Getty Images
Chase Elliott (P) | View stats
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 9 Chevrolet
Fastlane forecast: Elliott is checking plenty of boxes this season, but he's yet to grab a short-track win. He has three top four-finishes in his last three short-track races and has been solid at Martinsville of late. Remember that he was leading last year before getting turned by Denny Hamlin.
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 9 Chevrolet
Fastlane forecast: Elliott is checking plenty of boxes this season, but he's yet to grab a short-track win. He has three top four-finishes in his last three short-track races and has been solid at Martinsville of late. Remember that he was leading last year before getting turned by Denny Hamlin.
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Matt Sullivan | Getty Images
Kevin Harvick (P) | View stats
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 4 Ford
Fastlane forecast: Harvick has one win at Martinsville. While he has top 10s (16) in nearly half his starts (34), he has just five top fives and two of those have come in the last two races there. He has yet to finish outside the top 10 at any short-track race this season.
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 4 Ford
Fastlane forecast: Harvick has one win at Martinsville. While he has top 10s (16) in nearly half his starts (34), he has just five top fives and two of those have come in the last two races there. He has yet to finish outside the top 10 at any short-track race this season.
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Chris Graythen | Getty Images
Kyle Busch (P) | View stats
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 18 Toyota
Fastlane forecast: The defending race winner has six straight top-five finishes at Martinsville and that stretch includes both of his wins. When Busch is on at the Paperclip, he's truly on with 14 top fives in 26 starts -- he has just 15 top 10s. One of the best plays you can make this weekend.
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 18 Toyota
Fastlane forecast: The defending race winner has six straight top-five finishes at Martinsville and that stretch includes both of his wins. When Busch is on at the Paperclip, he's truly on with 14 top fives in 26 starts -- he has just 15 top 10s. One of the best plays you can make this weekend.
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Chris Graythen | Getty Images
Brad Keselowski | View stats
Team Penske, No. 2 Ford
Fastlane forecast: Keselowski has one win at Martinsville that came in the spring race of 2017. He has put together five top fives in his last seven races at the Paperclip. The big boon here are the stage points as he has the most at the short track. Kes is one of the top non-playoff plays left.
Team Penske, No. 2 Ford
Fastlane forecast: Keselowski has one win at Martinsville that came in the spring race of 2017. He has put together five top fives in his last seven races at the Paperclip. The big boon here are the stage points as he has the most at the short track. Kes is one of the top non-playoff plays left.
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Chris Trotman | Getty Images
Denny Hamlin | View stats
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 11 Toyota
Fastlane forecast: The Virginia native has five wins at Martinsville although just one has come since the end of 2010. That said, he still has plenty of top 10s in that stretch and 18 for his career in 25 starts at the 0.526-mile track. His 10.1 average finish is second only to Johnson here.
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 11 Toyota
Fastlane forecast: The Virginia native has five wins at Martinsville although just one has come since the end of 2010. That said, he still has plenty of top 10s in that stretch and 18 for his career in 25 starts at the 0.526-mile track. His 10.1 average finish is second only to Johnson here.
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Jimmie Johnson | View stats
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 48 Chevrolet
Fastlane forecast: The nine-time winner at Martinsville has only had two top 10s in his last eight races there. Yet, it's hard to argue with the body of work. He has top 10s in four of five short-track races in 2018. Another factor to consider: This is his best shot at a last win with Chad Knaus.
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 48 Chevrolet
Fastlane forecast: The nine-time winner at Martinsville has only had two top 10s in his last eight races there. Yet, it's hard to argue with the body of work. He has top 10s in four of five short-track races in 2018. Another factor to consider: This is his best shot at a last win with Chad Knaus.
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Chris Graythen | Getty Images
Ryan Blaney | View stats
Team Penske, No. 12 Ford
Fastlane forecast: Blaney has back-to-back top 10s at Martinsville and led 145 laps there in the spring. His 8.6 qualifying mark is second-best only to Penske teammate Logano. He also has the third-most stage points over the past three races there making him an intriguing consideration.
Team Penske, No. 12 Ford
Fastlane forecast: Blaney has back-to-back top 10s at Martinsville and led 145 laps there in the spring. His 8.6 qualifying mark is second-best only to Penske teammate Logano. He also has the third-most stage points over the past three races there making him an intriguing consideration.
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AJ Allmendinger | View stats
JTG Daugherty Racing, No. 47 Chevrolet
Fastlane forecast: Looking for an under-the-radar play at Martinsville? This is your driver. While mainly known for his road racing success, Allmendinger has a solid history at Martinsville that should not be ignored. In his last nine starts there, he has seven top 11s.
JTG Daugherty Racing, No. 47 Chevrolet
Fastlane forecast: Looking for an under-the-radar play at Martinsville? This is your driver. While mainly known for his road racing success, Allmendinger has a solid history at Martinsville that should not be ignored. In his last nine starts there, he has seven top 11s.
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STAY AWAY FROM: Aric Almirola (P) | View stats
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 10 Ford
Fastlane forecast: Almirola has a string of top 15s in recent runs at Martinsville. However, you want top fives out of playoff plays and he has just one in 19 starts here. His resurgence has been nice, but you should look elsewhere.
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 10 Ford
Fastlane forecast: Almirola has a string of top 15s in recent runs at Martinsville. However, you want top fives out of playoff plays and he has just one in 19 starts here. His resurgence has been nice, but you should look elsewhere.
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STAY AWAY FROM: Kurt Busch (P) | View stats
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 41 Ford
Fastlane forecast: Yes, Busch has two wins at Martinsville. However, he has just three top fives and five top 10s in 36 starts. His 21.4 average finish is the second-worst among the eight playoff drivers remaining. Avoid at all costs.
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 41 Ford
Fastlane forecast: Yes, Busch has two wins at Martinsville. However, he has just three top fives and five top 10s in 36 starts. His 21.4 average finish is the second-worst among the eight playoff drivers remaining. Avoid at all costs.
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STAY AWAY FROM: Kyle Larson | View stats
Chip Ganassi Racing, No. 42 Chevrolet
Fastlane forecast: Martinsville is statistically Larson's third-worst track on the circuit with an average finish of 22.8 and just one top 10 in nine starts. He's an attractive non-playoff play at the remaining tracks except for this one.
Chip Ganassi Racing, No. 42 Chevrolet
Fastlane forecast: Martinsville is statistically Larson's third-worst track on the circuit with an average finish of 22.8 and just one top 10 in nine starts. He's an attractive non-playoff play at the remaining tracks except for this one.
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Sarah Crabill | Getty Images
My lineup heading into the weekend: Kyle Busch, Clint Bowyer, Brad Keselowski, AJ Allmendinger; Garage: Chase Elliott. 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 NBCSN.
with your lineups and questions ahead of Sunday's race at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN.