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Fantasy Fastlane: 2019 Coca-Cola 600
By RJ Kraft | Published: May 24, 2019 17
Matt Sullivan | 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 plays, sleepers and plays to avoid for NASCAR Fantasy Live. Odds come from Westgate Sports Book.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Although there are four stages in the Coca-Cola 600, only Stages 1 and 2 will be scored for driver stage points in the Fantasy Live game. The Garage will lock at the end of Stage 3.
PLAY NOW: Set your Fantasy Live lineup today
PLAY NOW: Set your Fantasy Live lineup today
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Matt Sullivan | Getty Images
Kyle Busch | View stats
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 18 Toyota
Odds: 3-1
Fastlane forecast: Busch dominated this race last year sweeping all four stages. He's earned the second-most points in the past three Charlotte oval races. While he is coming off his first finish outside the top 10, the 2015 champ seems like a good bet to rebound big.
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 18 Toyota
Odds: 3-1
Fastlane forecast: Busch dominated this race last year sweeping all four stages. He's earned the second-most points in the past three Charlotte oval races. While he is coming off his first finish outside the top 10, the 2015 champ seems like a good bet to rebound big.
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Sean Gardner | Getty Images
Kevin Harvick | View stats
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 4 Ford
Odds: 9-2
Fastlane forecast: Harvick has finished outside the top 10 in two of the past four races on the 1.5-mile layout at Charlotte -- before that the three-time winner had seven straight top-nine finishes. This comes down to uses -- play away with five or more.
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 4 Ford
Odds: 9-2
Fastlane forecast: Harvick has finished outside the top 10 in two of the past four races on the 1.5-mile layout at Charlotte -- before that the three-time winner had seven straight top-nine finishes. This comes down to uses -- play away with five or more.
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Sean Gardner | Getty Images
Martin Truex Jr. | View stats
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 19 Toyota
Odds: 6-1
Fastlane forecast: In the last four Coca-Cola 600s, Truex has finished fifth, first, third and second. If you count all Charlotte oval races over that stretch, MTJ has six top-five finishes in his last seven starts including two wins. This is a great spot to play him.
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 19 Toyota
Odds: 6-1
Fastlane forecast: In the last four Coca-Cola 600s, Truex has finished fifth, first, third and second. If you count all Charlotte oval races over that stretch, MTJ has six top-five finishes in his last seven starts including two wins. This is a great spot to play him.
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Matt Sullivan | Getty Images
Joey Logano | View stats
Team Penske, No. 22 Ford
Odds: 8-1
Fastlane forecast: Logano's last two intermediate results have yielded an average of 26.5 points, but prior to that he won at Las Vegas. His Charlotte results are uneven -- he won here in 2015 but has finished outside the top 20 in his past four oval starts.
Team Penske, No. 22 Ford
Odds: 8-1
Fastlane forecast: Logano's last two intermediate results have yielded an average of 26.5 points, but prior to that he won at Las Vegas. His Charlotte results are uneven -- he won here in 2015 but has finished outside the top 20 in his past four oval starts.
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Brad Keselowski | View stats
Team Penske, No. 2 Ford
Odds: 7-1
Fastlane forecast: Keselowski has five top 10s in his last seven oval starts at Charlotte. His Kansas victory gave him two intermediate wins this year. With the exception of a one-point day at Texas, the 2012 champ has earned 43.3 points in races with this package.
Team Penske, No. 2 Ford
Odds: 7-1
Fastlane forecast: Keselowski has five top 10s in his last seven oval starts at Charlotte. His Kansas victory gave him two intermediate wins this year. With the exception of a one-point day at Texas, the 2012 champ has earned 43.3 points in races with this package.
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Matt Sullivan | Getty Images
Denny Hamlin | View stats
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 11 Toyota
Odds: 20-1
Fastlane forecast: Hamlin has five top-five finishes in the past six races contested on the 1.5-mile layout at Charlotte. He has the third-most points at the last three races on this layout. He's been in a bit of funk the past month, but this feels like a bounce back spot.
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 11 Toyota
Odds: 20-1
Fastlane forecast: Hamlin has five top-five finishes in the past six races contested on the 1.5-mile layout at Charlotte. He has the third-most points at the last three races on this layout. He's been in a bit of funk the past month, but this feels like a bounce back spot.
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Chase Elliott | View stats
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 9 Chevrolet
Odds: 8-1
Fastlane forecast: Elliott has a win and an average of 52 points over the past three races this year -- all at different track types. That is the sign of a driver on a roll. His Charlotte stats are up and down with just two top 10s in six starts, so I'd wait and see.
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 9 Chevrolet
Odds: 8-1
Fastlane forecast: Elliott has a win and an average of 52 points over the past three races this year -- all at different track types. That is the sign of a driver on a roll. His Charlotte stats are up and down with just two top 10s in six starts, so I'd wait and see.
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Kurt Busch | View stats
Chip Ganassi Racing, No. 1 Chevrolet
Odds: 25-1
Fastlane forecast: Busch has one win at Charlotte -- in this race in 2010. He's been a top-10 machine with six in his last seven starts there. The 2004 champ has a comfort on intermediates this year -- averaging 33.5 points in those four races with a low of 28 points.
Chip Ganassi Racing, No. 1 Chevrolet
Odds: 25-1
Fastlane forecast: Busch has one win at Charlotte -- in this race in 2010. He's been a top-10 machine with six in his last seven starts there. The 2004 champ has a comfort on intermediates this year -- averaging 33.5 points in those four races with a low of 28 points.
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Alex Bowman | View stats
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 88 Chevrolet
Odds: 30-1
Fastlane forecast: Three straight runner-up finishes makes Bowman stronger than a sleeper, but ownership stats show not everyone believes. He's averaged 47.7 points in the past three races and notched a top 10 in this race last year.
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 88 Chevrolet
Odds: 30-1
Fastlane forecast: Three straight runner-up finishes makes Bowman stronger than a sleeper, but ownership stats show not everyone believes. He's averaged 47.7 points in the past three races and notched a top 10 in this race last year.
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SLEEPER PICK: Kyle Larson | View stats
Chip Ganassi Racing, No. 42 Chevrolet
Odds: 16-1
Fastlane forecast: Larson has averaged 41.5 points in the past two races of 2019. He earned the third-most stage points in this race last year. This layout has seen him earn three top 10s in his last four starts.
Chip Ganassi Racing, No. 42 Chevrolet
Odds: 16-1
Fastlane forecast: Larson has averaged 41.5 points in the past two races of 2019. He earned the third-most stage points in this race last year. This layout has seen him earn three top 10s in his last four starts.
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SLEEPER PICK: Erik Jones | View stats
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 20 Toyota
Odds: 20-1
Fastlane forecast: Jones has two straight top-six finishes that have yielded an average of 39 points -- the most recent of which was at a 1.5-mile track. The young driver has one top 10 in three Charlotte starts.
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 20 Toyota
Odds: 20-1
Fastlane forecast: Jones has two straight top-six finishes that have yielded an average of 39 points -- the most recent of which was at a 1.5-mile track. The young driver has one top 10 in three Charlotte starts.
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SLEEPER PICK: Jimmie Johnson | View stats
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 48 Chevrolet
Odds: 30-1
Fastlane forecast: It remains weird to consider a seven-time champ and eight-time Charlotte winner a sleeper. In Johnson's favor, an average of 36.5 points in the past two 1.5-mile races this season.
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 48 Chevrolet
Odds: 30-1
Fastlane forecast: It remains weird to consider a seven-time champ and eight-time Charlotte winner a sleeper. In Johnson's favor, an average of 36.5 points in the past two 1.5-mile races this season.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
SLEEPER PICK: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | View stats
Roush Fenway Racing, No. 17 Ford
Odds: 200-1
Fastlane forecast: Kansas was Stenhouse's best points performance of the season. One interesting twist: He's averaged 31.8 points on intermediates with this set of rules and notched a top 10 in this race last year.
Roush Fenway Racing, No. 17 Ford
Odds: 200-1
Fastlane forecast: Kansas was Stenhouse's best points performance of the season. One interesting twist: He's averaged 31.8 points on intermediates with this set of rules and notched a top 10 in this race last year.
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Sean Gardner | Getty Image
STAY AWAY FROM: Ryan Blaney | View stats
Team Penske, No. 12 Ford
Odds: 20-1
Fastlane forecast: Blaney's been up and down all year and has scored under 30 points in all 1.5-mile races this season. The Charlotte stats aren't promising with four finishes of 20th-or-worse in his last five starts.
Team Penske, No. 12 Ford
Odds: 20-1
Fastlane forecast: Blaney's been up and down all year and has scored under 30 points in all 1.5-mile races this season. The Charlotte stats aren't promising with four finishes of 20th-or-worse in his last five starts.
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STAY AWAY FROM: Aric Almirola | View stats
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 10 Ford
Odds: 25-1
Fastlane forecast: Almirola hasn't scored over 30 points in five races after scoring over 30 points in five of the first six races this year. At Charlotte, he has one top 10 in 12 starts on the oval layout -- far from ideal.
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 10 Ford
Odds: 25-1
Fastlane forecast: Almirola hasn't scored over 30 points in five races after scoring over 30 points in five of the first six races this year. At Charlotte, he has one top 10 in 12 starts on the oval layout -- far from ideal.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
My lineup heading into the weekend: Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr., Denny Hamlin, Kurt Busch, Kyle Larson; Garage: Alex Bowman. 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 6 p.m. ET on FOX.
with your lineups and questions ahead of Sunday's race at 6 p.m. ET on FOX.