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Fantasy Fastlane: 2019 Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube
By RJ Kraft | Published: March 1, 2019 16
Sean Gardner | 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. Garage driver will lock at end of Stage 2. Odds come from Westgate Sports Book.
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Sean Gardner | Getty Images
Martin Truex Jr. | View stats
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 19 Toyota
Odds: 7-1
Fastlane forecast: The Atlanta runner-up finish left a bitter taste for Truex and Las Vegas serves as a great place for him (and fantasy owners) to cash in. He has a win, the most points earned in the last three races here and four top fours in his last five races there.
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 19 Toyota
Odds: 7-1
Fastlane forecast: The Atlanta runner-up finish left a bitter taste for Truex and Las Vegas serves as a great place for him (and fantasy owners) to cash in. He has a win, the most points earned in the last three races here and four top fours in his last five races there.
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Chris Graythen | Getty Images
Brad Keselowski | View stats
Team Penske, No. 2 Ford
Odds: 7-1
Fastlane forecast: Last week's Atlanta winner has three victories at Las Vegas -- although they have all come in even years. He has a streak of seven top-seven finishes in a row here. In the past three races here, he's earned the second-most points.
Team Penske, No. 2 Ford
Odds: 7-1
Fastlane forecast: Last week's Atlanta winner has three victories at Las Vegas -- although they have all come in even years. He has a streak of seven top-seven finishes in a row here. In the past three races here, he's earned the second-most points.
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Sean Gardner | Getty Images
Kevin Harvick | View stats
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 4 Ford
Odds: 5-1
Fastlane forecast: Harvick has been one of the strongest in recent years on 1.5-mile tracks but his Vegas record is spotty. He has two wins in his last five races there, but also has two crashed-out finishes too. I'm looking to save entering the weekend.
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 4 Ford
Odds: 5-1
Fastlane forecast: Harvick has been one of the strongest in recent years on 1.5-mile tracks but his Vegas record is spotty. He has two wins in his last five races there, but also has two crashed-out finishes too. I'm looking to save entering the weekend.
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Sean Gardner | Getty Images
Kyle Busch | View stats
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 18 Toyota
Odds: 11-2
Fastlane forecast: Busch's overall numbers at Las Vegas are solid. He has a win at his home track – in 2009 – and four top-seven finishes in his last six races there. I'll certainly be monitoring him, but I'm looking to save him for Phoenix, Auto Club and Martinsville.
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 18 Toyota
Odds: 11-2
Fastlane forecast: Busch's overall numbers at Las Vegas are solid. He has a win at his home track – in 2009 – and four top-seven finishes in his last six races there. I'll certainly be monitoring him, but I'm looking to save him for Phoenix, Auto Club and Martinsville.
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Sean Gardner | Getty Images
Kyle Larson | View stats
Chip Ganassi Racing, No. 42 Chevrolet
Odds: 8-1
Fastlane forecast: Larson's last three finishes at Las Vegas read as follows: second, third and second. He was the top car at Atlanta but undone by a pit road speeding penalty. The new rules package could affect him more than others, but that remains to be seen.
Chip Ganassi Racing, No. 42 Chevrolet
Odds: 8-1
Fastlane forecast: Larson's last three finishes at Las Vegas read as follows: second, third and second. He was the top car at Atlanta but undone by a pit road speeding penalty. The new rules package could affect him more than others, but that remains to be seen.
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Chris Graythen | Getty Images
Joey Logano | View stats
Team Penske, No. 22 Ford
Odds: 7-1
Fastlane forecast: Logano has six straight top 10s at Las Vegas, led 241 laps and posted four top fives during that stretch. In the past three races at Vegas, he's averaged 41.3 points per race. The Penske cars should be among the strongest this weekend.
Team Penske, No. 22 Ford
Odds: 7-1
Fastlane forecast: Logano has six straight top 10s at Las Vegas, led 241 laps and posted four top fives during that stretch. In the past three races at Vegas, he's averaged 41.3 points per race. The Penske cars should be among the strongest this weekend.
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Sean Gardner | Getty Images
Ryan Blaney | View stats
Team Penske, No. 12 Ford
Odds: 12-1
Fastlane forecast: Blaney enters this race with four straight top-seven finishes at Las Vegas and scored the pole for this race last year. During the past three races, he has averaged 42 points per race at this track. This is his best regular-season track.
Team Penske, No. 12 Ford
Odds: 12-1
Fastlane forecast: Blaney enters this race with four straight top-seven finishes at Las Vegas and scored the pole for this race last year. During the past three races, he has averaged 42 points per race at this track. This is his best regular-season track.
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Sean Gardner | Getty Images
Aric Almirola | View stats
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 10 Ford
Odds: 20-1
Fastlane forecast: Almirola bagged two top 10s in both Las Vegas races in 2018. Dating back to last year's Kentucky race, he has six straight top 10s on 1.5-mile tracks – which is the second-longest streak in the series. I'm plugging him in the garage to start.
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 10 Ford
Odds: 20-1
Fastlane forecast: Almirola bagged two top 10s in both Las Vegas races in 2018. Dating back to last year's Kentucky race, he has six straight top 10s on 1.5-mile tracks – which is the second-longest streak in the series. I'm plugging him in the garage to start.
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Sean Gardner | Getty Images
SLEEPER PICK: Paul Menard | View stats
Wood Brothers Racing, No. 21 Ford
Odds: 66-1
Fastlane forecast: Menard's best track on the circuit based on average finish is Las Vegas. Need further proof of that? He notched top 10s in both races last year and has eight top 15s in his last nine starts there.
Wood Brothers Racing, No. 21 Ford
Odds: 66-1
Fastlane forecast: Menard's best track on the circuit based on average finish is Las Vegas. Need further proof of that? He notched top 10s in both races last year and has eight top 15s in his last nine starts there.
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Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images
SLEEPER PICK: Ryan Newman | View stats
Roush Fenway Racing, No. 6 Ford
Odds: 80-1
Fastlane forecast: If you are looking for a top-12 play for your garage, Newman's your guy. In the past six Vegas races, he has four top 12s and a 13th to boot. Not flashy, but solid results for your team.
Roush Fenway Racing, No. 6 Ford
Odds: 80-1
Fastlane forecast: If you are looking for a top-12 play for your garage, Newman's your guy. In the past six Vegas races, he has four top 12s and a 13th to boot. Not flashy, but solid results for your team.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
SLEEPER PICK: Daniel Hemric | View stats
Richard Childress Racing, No. 8 Chevrolet
Odds: 125-1
Fastlane forecast: Hemric spent nearly half the Atlanta race in the top 15 and showed good speed late in runs -- eighth fastest according to loop data. The rookie is an intriguing deep sleeper option.
Richard Childress Racing, No. 8 Chevrolet
Odds: 125-1
Fastlane forecast: Hemric spent nearly half the Atlanta race in the top 15 and showed good speed late in runs -- eighth fastest according to loop data. The rookie is an intriguing deep sleeper option.
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Chris Graythen | Getty Images
SLEEPER PICK: Ryan Preece | View stats
JTG Daugherty Racing, No. 47 Chevrolet
Odds: 250-1
Fastlane forecast: Preece was enjoying a top-10 run before a pit road accident left him in 35th. He scored an eighth-place finish at Daytona and the rookie has some extra laps from running the Vegas test this year.
JTG Daugherty Racing, No. 47 Chevrolet
Odds: 250-1
Fastlane forecast: Preece was enjoying a top-10 run before a pit road accident left him in 35th. He scored an eighth-place finish at Daytona and the rookie has some extra laps from running the Vegas test this year.
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Chris Graythen | Getty Images
STAY AWAY FROM: Kurt Busch | View stats
Chip Ganassi Racing, No. 1 Chevrolet
Odds: 20-1
Fastlane forecast: Some track and driver combos just don't mix. 'Tis true for the 2004 champ. He has just one top five and four top 10s in 18 starts here. His 22.4 average finish is his worst at any track.
Chip Ganassi Racing, No. 1 Chevrolet
Odds: 20-1
Fastlane forecast: Some track and driver combos just don't mix. 'Tis true for the 2004 champ. He has just one top five and four top 10s in 18 starts here. His 22.4 average finish is his worst at any track.
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Sean Gardner | Getty Images
STAY AWAY FROM: Clint Bowyer | View stats
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 14 Ford
Odds: 16-1
Fastlane forecast: Bowyer has one top 10 in his last seven Las Vegas starts and the six non top 10s have been finishes outside the top 15. The track as a whole is his fourth-worst based on average finish (18.1).
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 14 Ford
Odds: 16-1
Fastlane forecast: Bowyer has one top 10 in his last seven Las Vegas starts and the six non top 10s have been finishes outside the top 15. The track as a whole is his fourth-worst based on average finish (18.1).
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
My lineup heading into the weekend: Kyle Larson, Brad Keselowski, Martin Truex Jr., Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney; Garage: Aric Almirola. Check back for our "Fantasy Update" piece this weekend for the final lineup as the new rules package is a wild card that could shake things up. Tweet at me @kraftdaddy85
with your lineups and questions ahead of Sunday's race at 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX.
with your lineups and questions ahead of Sunday's race at 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX.