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Fantasy Fastlane: 2019 GoBowling at The Glen
By RJ Kraft | Published: August 2, 2019 16
Jared C. Tilton | 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 picks to avoid for NASCAR Fantasy Live. Garage driver will lock at end of Stage 2. Odds come from Westgate Sports Book.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
Kyle Busch | View stats
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 18 Toyota
Odds: 5-2
Fastlane forecast: Busch has two wins at Watkins Glen International and has only finished outside the top 10 twice in 14 starts here. Based on average finish (9.4), it's his third-best track. If you have two uses left, I'd play him. At one use, I'd save him for Bristol Motor Speedway.
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 18 Toyota
Odds: 5-2
Fastlane forecast: Busch has two wins at Watkins Glen International and has only finished outside the top 10 twice in 14 starts here. Based on average finish (9.4), it's his third-best track. If you have two uses left, I'd play him. At one use, I'd save him for Bristol Motor Speedway.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
Martin Truex Jr. | View stats
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 19 Toyota
Odds: 7-2
Fastlane forecast: Truex won this race in 2017 and was the runner-up at Watkins Glen last year. In addition, he is a road-course warrior, as he has won the last two races at Sonoma Raceway. With the most points in the last three Watkins Glen races, he's a must play.
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 19 Toyota
Odds: 7-2
Fastlane forecast: Truex won this race in 2017 and was the runner-up at Watkins Glen last year. In addition, he is a road-course warrior, as he has won the last two races at Sonoma Raceway. With the most points in the last three Watkins Glen races, he's a must play.
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Chris Trotman | Getty Images
Denny Hamlin | View stats
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 11 Toyota
Odds: 10-1
Fastlane forecast: Hamlin won this race in 2016 and has the third-most points in the last three races here. He scored the most points at the most recent road course race at Sonoma. Coming off a win and a runner-up finish, he is surging at the right time.
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 11 Toyota
Odds: 10-1
Fastlane forecast: Hamlin won this race in 2016 and has the third-most points in the last three races here. He scored the most points at the most recent road course race at Sonoma. Coming off a win and a runner-up finish, he is surging at the right time.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
Brad Keselowski | View stats
Team Penske, No. 2 Ford
Odds: 12-1
Fastlane forecast: Keselowski has not yet won at Watkins Glen, but he recorded three straight runner-up finishes here from 2011-13. He has a lot of strong tracks left -- I'd prioritize Michigan International Speedway and Darlington Raceway if you are down to two uses.
Team Penske, No. 2 Ford
Odds: 12-1
Fastlane forecast: Keselowski has not yet won at Watkins Glen, but he recorded three straight runner-up finishes here from 2011-13. He has a lot of strong tracks left -- I'd prioritize Michigan International Speedway and Darlington Raceway if you are down to two uses.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
Chase Elliott | View stats
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 9 Chevrolet
Odds: 10-1
Fastlane forecast: Elliott is the most recent winner at Watkins Glen, which is where he scored his first career Cup win last year. Perhaps, this will be where he turns around from a summer slump that has seen him finish outside the top 15 in five of the last seven races.
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 9 Chevrolet
Odds: 10-1
Fastlane forecast: Elliott is the most recent winner at Watkins Glen, which is where he scored his first career Cup win last year. Perhaps, this will be where he turns around from a summer slump that has seen him finish outside the top 15 in five of the last seven races.
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Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images
Kurt Busch | View stats
Chip Ganassi Racing, No. 1 Chevrolet
Odds: 16-1
Fastlane forecast: The 2004 champ has finished no worse than 11th in the past six races at Watkins Glen. He has long been a solid road racer, and that shows in the recent results -- top 10s in nine of the last 11 road-course races. He's a solid play for this race.
Chip Ganassi Racing, No. 1 Chevrolet
Odds: 16-1
Fastlane forecast: The 2004 champ has finished no worse than 11th in the past six races at Watkins Glen. He has long been a solid road racer, and that shows in the recent results -- top 10s in nine of the last 11 road-course races. He's a solid play for this race.
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Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images
Erik Jones | View stats
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 20 Toyota
Odds: 30-1
Fastlane forecast: Jones is a sneaky good road racer. He has two top 10s in two Watkins Glen races and four top 10s in his last five road-course starts. Not to mention, he enters this race on a roll, with three straight top-three finishes in 2019 as he moves up the standings.
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 20 Toyota
Odds: 30-1
Fastlane forecast: Jones is a sneaky good road racer. He has two top 10s in two Watkins Glen races and four top 10s in his last five road-course starts. Not to mention, he enters this race on a roll, with three straight top-three finishes in 2019 as he moves up the standings.
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Daniel Shirey | Getty Images
Clint Bowyer | View stats
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 14 Ford
Odds: 12-1
Fastlane forecast: While most of Bowyer's road success has come at Sonoma, the veteran is no slouch at Watkins Glen, with four top 10s in his last seven starts. The risk is Bowyer's recent results: five finishes of 20th or worse in his last nine starts in '19.
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 14 Ford
Odds: 12-1
Fastlane forecast: While most of Bowyer's road success has come at Sonoma, the veteran is no slouch at Watkins Glen, with four top 10s in his last seven starts. The risk is Bowyer's recent results: five finishes of 20th or worse in his last nine starts in '19.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
SLEEPER PICK: Daniel Suarez | View stats
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 41 Ford
Odds: 25-1
Fastlane forecast: If there's any track to use Suarez at, it is absolutely Watkins Glen. He has two top-five finishes in two starts, and his 3.5 average finish is best among all drivers in Sunday's field.
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 41 Ford
Odds: 25-1
Fastlane forecast: If there's any track to use Suarez at, it is absolutely Watkins Glen. He has two top-five finishes in two starts, and his 3.5 average finish is best among all drivers in Sunday's field.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
SLEEPER PICK: William Byron | View stats
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 24 Chevrolet
Odds: 40-1
Fastlane forecast: Byron had a top-10 finish in his one start at Watkins Glen. The reason I like this play is he and crew chief Chad Knaus have shown a knack for playing the stage point game in recent months.
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 24 Chevrolet
Odds: 40-1
Fastlane forecast: Byron had a top-10 finish in his one start at Watkins Glen. The reason I like this play is he and crew chief Chad Knaus have shown a knack for playing the stage point game in recent months.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
SLEEPER PICK: Michael McDowell | View stats
Front Row Motorsports, No. 34 Ford
Odds: 200-1
Fastlane forecast: McDowell has the 11th-most points in the past three races at Watkins Glen. He has averaged 25 points per race in that stretch and even grabbed seven stage points in last year's race.
Front Row Motorsports, No. 34 Ford
Odds: 200-1
Fastlane forecast: McDowell has the 11th-most points in the past three races at Watkins Glen. He has averaged 25 points per race in that stretch and even grabbed seven stage points in last year's race.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
SLEEPER PICK: Chris Buescher | View stats
JTG Daugherty Racing, No. 37 Chevrolet
Odds: 200-1
Fastlane forecast: Buescher is an underrated road racer. He finished 11th at Watkins Glen two years ago and was 16th in June at Sonoma. The JTG driver should be a factor in stage points for added value.
JTG Daugherty Racing, No. 37 Chevrolet
Odds: 200-1
Fastlane forecast: Buescher is an underrated road racer. He finished 11th at Watkins Glen two years ago and was 16th in June at Sonoma. The JTG driver should be a factor in stage points for added value.
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Sean Gardner | Getty Images
STAY AWAY FROM: Kevin Harvick | View stats
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 4 Ford
Odds: 12-1
Fastlane forecast: This isn't to say Harvick is bad at Watkins Glen -- he won here in 2006. This is a reflection of usages; this track isn't an ideal use for him like Michigan, Bristol and Darlington would be.
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 4 Ford
Odds: 12-1
Fastlane forecast: This isn't to say Harvick is bad at Watkins Glen -- he won here in 2006. This is a reflection of usages; this track isn't an ideal use for him like Michigan, Bristol and Darlington would be.
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Chris Trotman | Getty Images
STAY AWAY FROM: Jimmie Johnson | View stats
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 48 Chevrolet
Odds: 30-1
Fastlane forecast: The seven-time champion has a new crew chief, but we're out on this play here. He has finished 28th or worse in four of the past five races at Watkins Glen.
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 48 Chevrolet
Odds: 30-1
Fastlane forecast: The seven-time champion has a new crew chief, but we're out on this play here. He has finished 28th or worse in four of the past five races at Watkins Glen.
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Sarah Crabill | Getty Images
My lineup heading into the weekend: Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr., Brad Keselowski, Denny Hamlin, William Byron; 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 before Sunday's race at 3 p.m. ET on NBCSN.
with your lineups and questions before Sunday's race at 3 p.m. ET on NBCSN.