BACK TO GALLERIES
Fantasy Fastlane: Know the Roval elimination race agendas
By RJ Kraft | Published: September 27, 2019 15
Sean Gardner | Getty Images
1 of 15
NASCAR Digital Media
Editor's note: Fantasy Fastlane will look at each race from a fantasy perspective, examining the top playoff and non-playoff plays as well as plays to avoid for NASCAR Fantasy Live. Garage driver will lock at end of Stage 2. Odds come from DraftKings Sportsbook.
PLAY NOW: Set your Fantasy Live lineup today
PLAY NOW: Set your Fantasy Live lineup today
2 of 15
Sean Gardner | Getty Images
Martin Truex Jr. (P) | View stats
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 19 Toyota
Odds: 11-4
Fastlane forecast: Truex has three wins and five top-two finishes in the last six races on road courses. He led coming into the final chicane at last year's race. His shot to sweep the round and get redemption from last year also makes me consider the play.
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 19 Toyota
Odds: 11-4
Fastlane forecast: Truex has three wins and five top-two finishes in the last six races on road courses. He led coming into the final chicane at last year's race. His shot to sweep the round and get redemption from last year also makes me consider the play.
3 of 15
Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
Chase Elliott (P) | View stats
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 9 Chevrolet
Odds: 8-1
Fastlane forecast: Elliott has won the last two Watkins Glen races and finished sixth at the Roval last year. I like this play since he should be aggressive on stage points -- he has the fifth-most in the series -- to secure a spot in the Round of 12.
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 9 Chevrolet
Odds: 8-1
Fastlane forecast: Elliott has won the last two Watkins Glen races and finished sixth at the Roval last year. I like this play since he should be aggressive on stage points -- he has the fifth-most in the series -- to secure a spot in the Round of 12.
4 of 15
Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images
Ryan Blaney (P) | View stats
Team Penske, No. 12 Ford
Odds: 20-1
Fastlane forecast: The defending race winner is overlooked when it comes to road course success. He has top fives this year at both road races. He is not locked into the next round -- only eight points to the good -- so he should be stage points hunting.
Team Penske, No. 12 Ford
Odds: 20-1
Fastlane forecast: The defending race winner is overlooked when it comes to road course success. He has top fives this year at both road races. He is not locked into the next round -- only eight points to the good -- so he should be stage points hunting.
5 of 15
Sean Gardner | Getty Images
Clint Bowyer (P) | View stats
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 14 Ford
Odds: 22-1
Fastlane forecast: Bowyer is one of the better road racers in the series today. He finished third at the Roval last year and nabbed 14 stage points in that race -- something he'll be aiming to do on Sunday since he's four points outside the cutline.
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 14 Ford
Odds: 22-1
Fastlane forecast: Bowyer is one of the better road racers in the series today. He finished third at the Roval last year and nabbed 14 stage points in that race -- something he'll be aiming to do on Sunday since he's four points outside the cutline.
6 of 15
Sean Gardner | Getty Images
Kurt Busch (P) | View stats
Chip Ganassi Racing, No. 1 Chevrolet
Odds: 20-1
Fastlane forecast: Busch scored the pole in this race last year and earned the second-most points in the race itself. He finds himself in a precarious position -- sitting 14 points outside the cutline. He has only one finish outside the top 10 in his last 11 road races.
Chip Ganassi Racing, No. 1 Chevrolet
Odds: 20-1
Fastlane forecast: Busch scored the pole in this race last year and earned the second-most points in the race itself. He finds himself in a precarious position -- sitting 14 points outside the cutline. He has only one finish outside the top 10 in his last 11 road races.
7 of 15
Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images
Kyle Larson (P) | View stats
Chip Ganassi Racing, No. 42 Chevrolet
Odds: 8-1
Fastlane forecast: Larson led a race-high 47 laps here last year before getting caught up in a late wreck. He was also one of six drivers to notch double-digit stage points. His solid oval runs plus a good Watkins Glen record make an intriguing combo.
Chip Ganassi Racing, No. 42 Chevrolet
Odds: 8-1
Fastlane forecast: Larson led a race-high 47 laps here last year before getting caught up in a late wreck. He was also one of six drivers to notch double-digit stage points. His solid oval runs plus a good Watkins Glen record make an intriguing combo.
8 of 15
Sean Gardner | Getty Images
Jimmie Johnson | View stats
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 48 Chevrolet
Odds: 25-1
Fastlane forecast: Johnson has been the best of the non-playoff drivers so far in fantasy. He's long been a solid road racer and who can forget how he nearly won this race last year.
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 48 Chevrolet
Odds: 25-1
Fastlane forecast: Johnson has been the best of the non-playoff drivers so far in fantasy. He's long been a solid road racer and who can forget how he nearly won this race last year.
9 of 15
Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images
Matt DiBenedetto | View stats
Leavine Family Racing, No. 95 Toyota
Odds: 60-1
Fastlane forecast: DiBenedetto is 2-for-2 on top 10s at road courses this year with an average of 32 points in those races. He finished 13th at the Roval last year and should be one of the better non-playoff plays.
Leavine Family Racing, No. 95 Toyota
Odds: 60-1
Fastlane forecast: DiBenedetto is 2-for-2 on top 10s at road courses this year with an average of 32 points in those races. He finished 13th at the Roval last year and should be one of the better non-playoff plays.
10 of 15
Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images
Chris Buescher | View stats
JTG Daugherty Racing, No. 37 Chevrolet
Odds: 80-1
Fastlane forecast: It's been a busy week for the underrated road racer. He has seven straight top-20 finishes on road courses and has an average of 25 points this year at that track type.
JTG Daugherty Racing, No. 37 Chevrolet
Odds: 80-1
Fastlane forecast: It's been a busy week for the underrated road racer. He has seven straight top-20 finishes on road courses and has an average of 25 points this year at that track type.
11 of 15
Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
Daniel Hemric | View stats
Richard Childress Racing, No. 8 Chevrolet
Odds: 200-1
Fastlane forecast: Hemric showed speed at this race last year and even scored a top 10 in Stage 2. This is a type of play to consider if you are looking to zag where others might zig.
Richard Childress Racing, No. 8 Chevrolet
Odds: 200-1
Fastlane forecast: Hemric showed speed at this race last year and even scored a top 10 in Stage 2. This is a type of play to consider if you are looking to zag where others might zig.
12 of 15
Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
STAY AWAY FROM: Kyle Busch (P) | View stats
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 18 Toyota
Odds: 5-1
Fastlane forecast: This is a reflection of Busch's position -- and for that matter -- Harvick's position in the standings. Both are already locked into the next round and may punt stage points to try to position themselves for the race win.
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 18 Toyota
Odds: 5-1
Fastlane forecast: This is a reflection of Busch's position -- and for that matter -- Harvick's position in the standings. Both are already locked into the next round and may punt stage points to try to position themselves for the race win.
13 of 15
Sean Gardner | Getty Images
STAY AWAY FROM: William Byron (P) | View stats
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 24 Chevrolet
Odds: 40-1
Fastlane forecast: Byron did nab a bunch of stage points at Sonoma this summer. Yet, the inconsistency is too much to ignore: Four top 10s and four finishes outside the top 20 in the last eight 2019 races.
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 24 Chevrolet
Odds: 40-1
Fastlane forecast: Byron did nab a bunch of stage points at Sonoma this summer. Yet, the inconsistency is too much to ignore: Four top 10s and four finishes outside the top 20 in the last eight 2019 races.
14 of 15
Sean Gardner | Getty Images
STAY AWAY FROM: Bubba Wallace | View stats
Richard Petty Motorsports, No. 43 Chevrolet
Odds: 750-1
Fastlane forecast: Wallace has never finished better than 25th on a road course. At last year's Roval weekend, he seemed to hit everything. The team is making strides, but this is not a week to use Bubba.
Richard Petty Motorsports, No. 43 Chevrolet
Odds: 750-1
Fastlane forecast: Wallace has never finished better than 25th on a road course. At last year's Roval weekend, he seemed to hit everything. The team is making strides, but this is not a week to use Bubba.
15 of 15
Chris Graythen | Getty Images
My lineup heading into the weekend: Chase Elliott, Ryan Blaney, Jimmie Johnson, Matt DiBenedetto; Garage: Martin Truex Jr. Check back for our "Fantasy Update" piece on Saturday for the final lineup. Tweet at me @kraftdaddy85
with your lineups and questions ahead of Sunday's race at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC.
with your lineups and questions ahead of Sunday's race at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC.