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Fantasy Fastlane: Break out the big names for Darlington
By RJ Kraft | Published: August 30, 2019 16
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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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Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images
Kyle Busch | View stats
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 18 Toyota
Odds: 7-2
Fastlane forecast: Busch has one win at Darlington -- 2008 his first season with JGR. In his last nine starts there, he has seven top-seven finishes. The real question here is uses. If you have one, do you save him for Indianapolis or play this weekend? I want my studs for a 367-lap race so he'll be in my lineup.
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 18 Toyota
Odds: 7-2
Fastlane forecast: Busch has one win at Darlington -- 2008 his first season with JGR. In his last nine starts there, he has seven top-seven finishes. The real question here is uses. If you have one, do you save him for Indianapolis or play this weekend? I want my studs for a 367-lap race so he'll be in my lineup.
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Sean Gardner | Getty Images
Denny Hamlin | View stats
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 11 Toyota
Odds: 6-1
Fastlane forecast: No driver has had a better summer than Hamlin. In his last six races -- all top fives -- he has two wins, an average finish of 2.3 and an average of 44.5 points in that stretch. He also has the best active average finish (6.2) at Darlington with two wins, seven top fives and 11 top 10s in 13 starts.
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 11 Toyota
Odds: 6-1
Fastlane forecast: No driver has had a better summer than Hamlin. In his last six races -- all top fives -- he has two wins, an average finish of 2.3 and an average of 44.5 points in that stretch. He also has the best active average finish (6.2) at Darlington with two wins, seven top fives and 11 top 10s in 13 starts.
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Sean Gardner | Getty Images
Kevin Harvick | View stats
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 4 Ford
Odds: 6-1
Fastlane forecast: Behind Hamlin, Harvick has been the next hottest driver with two wins in his last five races. The speed has been there on the intermediates and should show itself at Darlington. He has five top fives and one win -- of his seven career top fives there -- in his last six races at the 1.366-mile track. Play away.
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 4 Ford
Odds: 6-1
Fastlane forecast: Behind Hamlin, Harvick has been the next hottest driver with two wins in his last five races. The speed has been there on the intermediates and should show itself at Darlington. He has five top fives and one win -- of his seven career top fives there -- in his last six races at the 1.366-mile track. Play away.
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Matt Sullivan | Getty Images
Martin Truex Jr. | View stats
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 19 Toyota
Odds: 6-1
Fastlane forecast: Truex has one Darlington victory and was in position for another in 2017 with five laps to go. His second-place run on an older surface at Atlanta should lend itself well in this race. With four top-six finishes in his last five races this season, the 2017 champion is closing the regular season strong.
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 19 Toyota
Odds: 6-1
Fastlane forecast: Truex has one Darlington victory and was in position for another in 2017 with five laps to go. His second-place run on an older surface at Atlanta should lend itself well in this race. With four top-six finishes in his last five races this season, the 2017 champion is closing the regular season strong.
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Joey Logano | View stats
Team Penske, No. 22 Ford
Odds: 6-1
Fastlane forecast: Logano has three top-five finishes in his last four Darlington starts -- prior to that he had no top fives in his first six starts there. "The Lady in Black" is a track that sees drivers get better with more reps. The big concern is how off the 22 camp has seemed lately with no top fives in the past seven 2019 races.
Team Penske, No. 22 Ford
Odds: 6-1
Fastlane forecast: Logano has three top-five finishes in his last four Darlington starts -- prior to that he had no top fives in his first six starts there. "The Lady in Black" is a track that sees drivers get better with more reps. The big concern is how off the 22 camp has seemed lately with no top fives in the past seven 2019 races.
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Sean Gardner | Getty Images
Brad Keselowski | View stats
Team Penske, No. 2 Ford
Odds: 6-1
Fastlane forecast: The reigning winner at Darlington has an average finish of 11.3 at the 1.366-mile track -- fourth-best among Sunday's field. After a mid-summer funk, Keselowski looks to be rounding back into form with four top 10s, 169 laps led and an average of 32.8 points over the past five races.
Team Penske, No. 2 Ford
Odds: 6-1
Fastlane forecast: The reigning winner at Darlington has an average finish of 11.3 at the 1.366-mile track -- fourth-best among Sunday's field. After a mid-summer funk, Keselowski looks to be rounding back into form with four top 10s, 169 laps led and an average of 32.8 points over the past five races.
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Stacy Revere | Getty Images
Kyle Larson | View stats
Chip Ganassi Racing, No. 42 Chevrolet
Odds: 5-1
Fastlane forecast: In the last two races at Darlington, Larson has led 408 of a possible 734 laps (55.6 percent of the laps led). His average of 46.5 points in that stretch is best among all drivers in Sunday's field. He also enters the weekend with four straight top 10s in 2019 and an average of 36.5 points over that stretch.
Chip Ganassi Racing, No. 42 Chevrolet
Odds: 5-1
Fastlane forecast: In the last two races at Darlington, Larson has led 408 of a possible 734 laps (55.6 percent of the laps led). His average of 46.5 points in that stretch is best among all drivers in Sunday's field. He also enters the weekend with four straight top 10s in 2019 and an average of 36.5 points over that stretch.
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Chase Elliott | View stats
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 9 Chevrolet
Odds: 14-1
Fastlane forecast: Elliott has three straight top-11 finishes at Darlington with the best being a fifth-place finish last year. That gives him the eighth-most points at the track over that stretch. The driver of the No. 9 is rounding into form with the playoffs around the corner with an average of 47 points in the past three 2019 races.
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 9 Chevrolet
Odds: 14-1
Fastlane forecast: Elliott has three straight top-11 finishes at Darlington with the best being a fifth-place finish last year. That gives him the eighth-most points at the track over that stretch. The driver of the No. 9 is rounding into form with the playoffs around the corner with an average of 47 points in the past three 2019 races.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
SLEEPER PICK: Erik Jones | View stats
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 20 Toyota
Odds: 15-1
Fastlane forecast: Jones' 6.5 average finish is the second-best among drivers in Sunday's field and he has averaged 40.5 points in his two Darlington starts. In his past six 2019 starts, Jones has averaged 36 points with four top-four finishes.
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 20 Toyota
Odds: 15-1
Fastlane forecast: Jones' 6.5 average finish is the second-best among drivers in Sunday's field and he has averaged 40.5 points in his two Darlington starts. In his past six 2019 starts, Jones has averaged 36 points with four top-four finishes.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
SLEEPER PICK: Ryan Newman | View stats
Roush Fenway Racing, No. 6 Ford
Odds: 100-1
Fastlane forecast: Newman is in the thick of the playoff fight and Darlington is a track that has been one of his better ones in recent years. He has 13 top 10s here with seven in his last 10 races at the South Carolina track.
Roush Fenway Racing, No. 6 Ford
Odds: 100-1
Fastlane forecast: Newman is in the thick of the playoff fight and Darlington is a track that has been one of his better ones in recent years. He has 13 top 10s here with seven in his last 10 races at the South Carolina track.
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Matt Sullivan | Getty Images
SLEEPER PICK: Daniel Suarez | View stats
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 41 Ford
Odds: 60-1
Fastlane forecast: This pick is ignoring his Darlington numbers -- average finish of 33.5. His intermediate results have been better than other bubble drivers and he enters Darlington in the midst of a playoff battle with two straight top 10s.
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 41 Ford
Odds: 60-1
Fastlane forecast: This pick is ignoring his Darlington numbers -- average finish of 33.5. His intermediate results have been better than other bubble drivers and he enters Darlington in the midst of a playoff battle with two straight top 10s.
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Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images
SLEEPER PICK: Chris Buescher | View stats
JTG Daugherty Racing, No. 37 Chevrolet
Odds: 200-1
Fastlane forecast: While the 15.7 average finish does not jump out at you, Buescher's ninth-place finish on a rougher surface at Atlanta makes one take notice. He has four top 15s in his last six 2019 races so he should provide a solid point total.
JTG Daugherty Racing, No. 37 Chevrolet
Odds: 200-1
Fastlane forecast: While the 15.7 average finish does not jump out at you, Buescher's ninth-place finish on a rougher surface at Atlanta makes one take notice. He has four top 15s in his last six 2019 races so he should provide a solid point total.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
STAY AWAY FROM: Clint Bowyer | View stats
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 14 Ford
Odds: 40-1
Fastlane forecast: Darlington is statistically Bowyer's worst track by average finish (22.8) with one top 10 in 13 starts. His two starts with SHR have been crash-induced exits. Given his tough luck summer, I'd continue to avoid.
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 14 Ford
Odds: 40-1
Fastlane forecast: Darlington is statistically Bowyer's worst track by average finish (22.8) with one top 10 in 13 starts. His two starts with SHR have been crash-induced exits. Given his tough luck summer, I'd continue to avoid.
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Sean Gardner | Getty Images
STAY AWAY FROM: Matt DiBenedetto | View stats
Leavine Family Racing, No. 95 Toyota
Odds: 80-1
Fastlane forecast: There's no denying what a feel-good story DiBenedetto was at Bristol. But in fantasy you have to leave emotion at the door and the simple fact is his best finish on an intermediate all year is 16th (at Kentucky).
Leavine Family Racing, No. 95 Toyota
Odds: 80-1
Fastlane forecast: There's no denying what a feel-good story DiBenedetto was at Bristol. But in fantasy you have to leave emotion at the door and the simple fact is his best finish on an intermediate all year is 16th (at Kentucky).
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
My lineup heading into the weekend: Kevin Harvick, Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski, Kyle Larson; Garage: Martin Truex Jr. 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 NBCSN.
with your lineups and questions ahead of Sunday's race at 6 p.m. ET on NBCSN.