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Fantasy Fastlane: 2019 Gander RV 400
By RJ Kraft | Published: July 26, 2019 16
Brian Lawdermilk | 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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Chris Trotman | Getty Images
Kyle Busch | View stats
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 18 Toyota
Odds: 5-2
Fastlane forecast: After not winning in his first 25 starts at Pocono, Busch has won three of the last four races there. Those numbers are hard to go against but there's this: The strategy of Pocono. He eschewed stage points in June to be in better shape to contend for a win.
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 18 Toyota
Odds: 5-2
Fastlane forecast: After not winning in his first 25 starts at Pocono, Busch has won three of the last four races there. Those numbers are hard to go against but there's this: The strategy of Pocono. He eschewed stage points in June to be in better shape to contend for a win.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
Kevin Harvick | View stats
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 4 Ford
Odds: 5-1
Fastlane forecast: Harvick has yet to win at Pocono -- one of three active tracks where he has not won. He's been close since coming to SHR, with seven top-four finishes in his last 10 starts and he's earned the second-most points over the past four races there.
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 4 Ford
Odds: 5-1
Fastlane forecast: Harvick has yet to win at Pocono -- one of three active tracks where he has not won. He's been close since coming to SHR, with seven top-four finishes in his last 10 starts and he's earned the second-most points over the past four races there.
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Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images
Brad Keselowski | View stats
Team Penske, No. 2 Ford
Odds: 5-1
Fastlane forecast: Keselowski may only have won once so far at Pocono, but he has been a top-five machine with seven in the past eight races. And as for strategy? The 2 team went after stage/playoff points in June as Keselowski scored the most points in the race.
Team Penske, No. 2 Ford
Odds: 5-1
Fastlane forecast: Keselowski may only have won once so far at Pocono, but he has been a top-five machine with seven in the past eight races. And as for strategy? The 2 team went after stage/playoff points in June as Keselowski scored the most points in the race.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
Martin Truex Jr. | View stats
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 19 Toyota
Odds: 5-1
Fastlane forecast: Truex has two wins at Pocono -- both coming in the past five years. Those wins, though, mask a bit of an uneven record at one of his home tracks -- four finishes outside the top 15 in his last eight starts. I have uses here but he has to earn the lineup spot.
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 19 Toyota
Odds: 5-1
Fastlane forecast: Truex has two wins at Pocono -- both coming in the past five years. Those wins, though, mask a bit of an uneven record at one of his home tracks -- four finishes outside the top 15 in his last eight starts. I have uses here but he has to earn the lineup spot.
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Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images
Denny Hamlin | View stats
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 11 Toyota
Odds: 10-1
Fastlane forecast: After a bit of a summer lull, Hamlin has rebounded with back-to-back top fives. While none of his four Pocono wins have come since 2010, Hamlin has pretty steadily been a top-10 finisher here with four such results in the past six races at the "Tricky Triangle."
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 11 Toyota
Odds: 10-1
Fastlane forecast: After a bit of a summer lull, Hamlin has rebounded with back-to-back top fives. While none of his four Pocono wins have come since 2010, Hamlin has pretty steadily been a top-10 finisher here with four such results in the past six races at the "Tricky Triangle."
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Chris Trotman | Getty Images
Chase Elliott | View stats
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 9 Chevrolet
Odds: 16-1
Fastlane forecast: In seven starts at Pocono, Elliott has finished outside the top 10 once. He has the second-most points in the past three Pocono races. The concern is his cold streak -- six straight finishes outside the top 10 and an average of 17.3 points.
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 9 Chevrolet
Odds: 16-1
Fastlane forecast: In seven starts at Pocono, Elliott has finished outside the top 10 once. He has the second-most points in the past three Pocono races. The concern is his cold streak -- six straight finishes outside the top 10 and an average of 17.3 points.
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Chris Trotman | Getty Images
Kyle Larson | View stats
Chip Ganassi Racing, No. 42 Chevrolet
Odds: 20-1
Fastlane forecast: Larson played the stage points game at this race in June with two stage wins and was on his way to a stellar fantasy day before hitting the wall late. He has the eighth-most points at Pocono in the past three races. He should be all in on chasing points again.
Chip Ganassi Racing, No. 42 Chevrolet
Odds: 20-1
Fastlane forecast: Larson played the stage points game at this race in June with two stage wins and was on his way to a stellar fantasy day before hitting the wall late. He has the eighth-most points at Pocono in the past three races. He should be all in on chasing points again.
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Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images
Erik Jones | View stats
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 20 Toyota
Odds: 20-1
Fastlane forecast: Jones has the best average finish at Pocono – 9.6. He has four top-eight finishes in five starts there. The young driver finished third in June (without any stage points). Since he's +28 to the good, I'd expect he goes for stage points to pad his standing.
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 20 Toyota
Odds: 20-1
Fastlane forecast: Jones has the best average finish at Pocono – 9.6. He has four top-eight finishes in five starts there. The young driver finished third in June (without any stage points). Since he's +28 to the good, I'd expect he goes for stage points to pad his standing.
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Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images
SLEEPER PICK: Ryan Blaney | View stats
Team Penske, No. 12 Ford
Odds: 20-1
Fastlane forecast: This is Blaney's best track left in the regular season with a win, an 11.7 average finish and just one result outside the top 12 in seven starts. He has the fifth-most points at Pocono in the last three races.
Team Penske, No. 12 Ford
Odds: 20-1
Fastlane forecast: This is Blaney's best track left in the regular season with a win, an 11.7 average finish and just one result outside the top 12 in seven starts. He has the fifth-most points at Pocono in the last three races.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
SLEEPER PICK: William Byron | View stats
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 24 Chevrolet
Odds: 80-1
Fastlane forecast: Byron racked up stage points at Pocono in June -- totaling 17 -- en route to his second straight top 10 at the track. He's cooled off lately, but his willingness to target points makes him an attractive play.
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 24 Chevrolet
Odds: 80-1
Fastlane forecast: Byron racked up stage points at Pocono in June -- totaling 17 -- en route to his second straight top 10 at the track. He's cooled off lately, but his willingness to target points makes him an attractive play.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
SLEEPER PICK: Aric Almirola | View stats
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 10 Ford
Odds: 40-1
Fastlane forecast: Almirola showed last week he'll chase a good points day to solidify his playoff position. He has six races of at least 30 points or more in the past seven, including a 10th-place finish here last month.
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 10 Ford
Odds: 40-1
Fastlane forecast: Almirola showed last week he'll chase a good points day to solidify his playoff position. He has six races of at least 30 points or more in the past seven, including a 10th-place finish here last month.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
SLEEPER PICK: Daniel Hemric | View stats
Richard Childress Racing, No. 8 Chevrolet
Odds: 500-1
Fastlane forecast: Here's a deep sleeper to keep an eye on. Hemric finished 13th here in June and scored two stage points. The rookie has performed better on big tracks with top 15s at Pocono, Talladega and Michigan.
Richard Childress Racing, No. 8 Chevrolet
Odds: 500-1
Fastlane forecast: Here's a deep sleeper to keep an eye on. Hemric finished 13th here in June and scored two stage points. The rookie has performed better on big tracks with top 15s at Pocono, Talladega and Michigan.
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Chris Trotman | Getty Images
STAY AWAY FROM: Clint Bowyer | View stats
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 14 Ford
Odds: 25-1
Fastlane forecast: Bowyer has the fourth-most points in the last three Pocono races -- including a fifth in June. However, he's in a bigger tailspin than when Maverick lost Goose -- crashing out of three of the last five races.
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 14 Ford
Odds: 25-1
Fastlane forecast: Bowyer has the fourth-most points in the last three Pocono races -- including a fifth in June. However, he's in a bigger tailspin than when Maverick lost Goose -- crashing out of three of the last five races.
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Sean Gardner | Getty Images
STAY AWAY FROM: Jimmie Johnson | View stats
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 48 Chevrolet
Odds: 50-1
Fastlane forecast: Johnson has three wins at Pocono and 20 top 10s in 35 starts. Let's look closer at the recent numbers -- one top 10 in his last seven Pocono starts with three finishes of 35th or worse.
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 48 Chevrolet
Odds: 50-1
Fastlane forecast: Johnson has three wins at Pocono and 20 top 10s in 35 starts. Let's look closer at the recent numbers -- one top 10 in his last seven Pocono starts with three finishes of 35th or worse.
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Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images
My lineup heading into the weekend: Brad Keselowski, Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson, Erik Jones, William Byron; Garage: Joey Logano. 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 3 p.m. ET on NBCSN.
with your lineups and questions ahead of Sunday’s race at 3 p.m. ET on NBCSN.