Fantasy Fastlane: Can Chase Elliott continue momentum in Chicago?

The picturesque views of watching stock cars compete in downtown Chicago will never get old. Mother Nature affected the first two renditions of the Chicago Street race, but the primary story line of each contest? The winners. Both Shane van Gisbergen and Alex Bowman should be in play for your fantasy lineup again this weekend at Chicago, but there are a host of fierce competitors nipping at their heels, including EchoPark Speedway (formerly Atlanta Motor Speedway) victor Chase Elliott. 

New to Fastlane this year is my weekly NASCAR 36 for 36 pick, where you can play along. It’s a season-long points battle introduced last year in which strategy is the primary emphasis. With 36 chartered cars and 36 races on the 2025 schedule, players can choose each car once for the duration of the season.

RELATED: How to watch NASCAR on TNT Sports | In-Season Challenge hub

MUST START:

Shane van Gisbergen | View stats

Trackhouse Racing, No. 88 Chevrolet

Odds (DraftKings): 37-20

Three upcoming road courses over the next six events -- including this weekend’s street race -- are prime opportunities to use SVG. He was the show during the inaugural Chicago visit and was on his way to being a factor again last year until Chase Briscoe slipped in the rain and took the New Zealand native out. The last time the Cup Series visited a road course, van Gisbergen won by a lofty 16.6 seconds in Mexico City.

MUST START:

Chase Elliott | View stats

Hendrick Motorsports, No. 9 Chevrolet

Odds (DraftKings): 14-1

Elliott is heating up. The No. 9 team has three straight top-five finishes for the first time in more than a year, snapping a 44-race winless streak last weekend at EchoPark Speedway (formerly Atlanta Motor Speedway). Though he’s yet to win a road course in Next Gen competition, his 9.8 average finish is second best during that time span (Chris Buescher, 8.8). The No. 9 Chevy finished third here in 2023.

MUST START:

Christopher Bell | View stats

Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 20 Toyota

Odds (DraftKings): 15-2

Through the opening two road courses of 2025, Bell has been among the best in the field, cracking the top three in Speed Rating, Long Run Speed Rating, Passer Rating and Restart Rating, according to NASCAR Insights. He also has the second-best Speed Rating across the two Chicago races, leading 51 of 136 combined laps. His results here are lacking (his best finish is 18th), but don’t overthink his ability to find speed.

MUST START:

Ty Gibbs | View stats

Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 54 Toyota

Odds (DraftKings): 12-1

The only driver that came close to matching van Gisbergen in Mexico City was Gibbs. Once the No. 54 lost track position, though, the 22-year-old Gibbs struggled with the handling. But the youngster is one of only three drivers to have top 10s in both Chicago races, rounding out the podium last year. He is also one of just three pilots to lead both Chicago races, joining SVG and Bell.

SLEEPER PICK:

Alex Bowman | View stats

Hendrick Motorsports, No. 48 Chevrolet

Odds (DraftKings): 22-1

Should the defending winner be classified as a sleeper? Probably not, particularly with how Bowman’s road-course prowess has improved in recent years. The Chicago victory is his lone road-course triumph in 37 such starts, but he has earned six top 10s in the last 10 contests on these tracks, including both this season. Bowman ranks in the top 10 this year on road courses in most key metrics, including fifth in Long Run Speed Rating.

SLEEPER PICK:

Michael McDowell | View stats

Spire Motorsports, No. 71 Chevrolet

Odds (DraftKings): 22-1

Similar to Mexico City, McDowell will be chasing the victory given his points position. Like Gibbs, he’s one of three drivers to have top 10s in both Chicago races, filling out the top five last year, which is where he finished last month in Mexico City. McDowell has 11 top-10 finishes in 19 road-course attempts in the Next Gen car.

SLEEPER PICK:

Kyle Busch | View stats

Richard Childress Racing, No. 8 Chevrolet

Odds (DraftKings): 28-1

Busch’s misfortune has to end at some point. The true potential of his No. 8 Chevy wasn’t displayed at Mexico City as he wrecked on a damp course. He nearly won at COTA, and the No. 8 team’s road-course program has been prominent in the Next Gen era, dating back to when Tyler Reddick was the team’s driver. Busch is the third and final driver to have top 10s in both Chicago events. Busch ranks in the top three drivers in key metrics on road courses in 2025, including Speed Rating, Long Run Speed Rating and Restart Rating.

STAY AWAY FROM:

Denny Hamlin | View stats

Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 11 Toyota

Odds (DraftKings): 40-1

Since the Next Gen car came into play, Hamlin has been ice cold on road courses, with only one top-10 finish in 18 attempts (didn’t compete in Mexico City). Sure, he won the pole here for the inaugural street race, but he fell outside the top 10 by the end of the first lap after hitting the wall. If you’re like me, you’re running low on uses for Hamlin anyway, so save a start this weekend.

STAY AWAY FROM:

Ryan Blaney | View stats

Team Penske, No. 12 Ford

Odds (DraftKings): 35-1

Admittedly, Blaney isn’t the best road-course competitor, though he won the first race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval. He finished 10th here last year, but he doesn’t have a top-five finish in his last 20 road-course starts.

STAY AWAY FROM:

AJ Allmendinger | View stats

Kaulig Racing, No. 16 Chevrolet

Odds (DraftKings): 22-1

This pick could drastically switch after practice and qualifying, but Allmendinger hasn’t had a knack for the street course yet. He has a best effort of 17th in the two Chicago street races, and he’s lacked speed overall. While he’s known as a road-course ringer, he only has one top 10 in the last five events on such tracks.

FEATURED MATCHUP:

Bubba Wallace vs. Alex Bowman

Let the In-Season Challenge matchups begin! Wallace has improved on road courses throughout his career and finished 13th during the 2024 Chicago running. Yet his ninth-place result at the Charlotte Roval last fall is his only top 10 in the last 13 road-course races. Bowman has solidified himself as a regular toward the front on road courses, hoping to be the next Hendrick driver to snap a long winless streak dating back to Chicago last year.

FEATURED MATCHUP: 

Ty Gibbs vs. AJ Allmendinger

After doing a deeper dive into this matchup, it’s apparent that Gibbs should be favored this weekend. He has been in contention during both Chicago street races, while Allmendinger has largely disappointed. Gibbs was also a real threat to win in Mexico City before late-race strategy went awry. With Chris Gabehart being a voice atop the pit box now as an in-race strategist, this No. 54 team is dangerous.

FEATURED MATCHUP:

Chris Buescher vs. Zane Smith

Buescher defines consistency on road courses in the Next Gen car. He leads the series with 15 top-10 efforts in 19 races and an average finish of 8.8. Smith is a proven winner in the Craftsman Truck Series on road courses, but that doesn’t compare to the elite competition that the Cup Series has to offer.

FEATURED MATCHUP:

Tyler Reddick vs. Carson Hocevar

If last year’s race was one lap longer, Reddick would have likely done burnouts on the Chicago streets. He is a three-time winner on road courses, tied with Kyle Larson for the most victories in the Next Gen era. However, he has lost some of his aura when turning left and right, with one top 10 in the last four races.

MY LINEUP: Shane van Gisbergen, Chase Elliott, Christopher Bell, Ty Gibbs, Alex Bowman. 

GARAGE: Michael McDowell. 

36 for 36: I’m all in on van Gisbergen this weekend. He put on a clinic in Mexico City and might even have a bigger advantage this weekend. His stats look uneven here with a victory and a last-place finish, but he cruised to the Stage 1 victory last year before getting clipped by Briscoe early in the second stage. The No. 88 Chevrolet is going to be a popular pick in this spot.