BACK TO GALLERIES
Fantasy Fastlane: Many unknowns leading into Pocono
By Dustin Albino for NASCAR.com | Published: July 22, 2022 12
Matt Sullivan | Getty Images
1 of 12
Fantasy Fastlane presented by Jackpot Races will look at each race from a fantasy perspective, examining the top plays and sleepers as well as plays to avoid for NASCAR Fantasy Live. Garage driver will lock at end of Stage 2. Odds come from BetMGM (as of Thursday).
2 of 12
James Gilbert | Getty Images
MUST START:
Kyle Busch | View stats
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 18 Toyota
Odds: 8-1
Though there are a lot of unknowns about Busch’s future, one thing is certain: he’s been stout at Pocono for years. In the last 11 races at the 'Tricky Triangle', the No. 18 car has won four times with a total of 10 top-10 finishes. Busch has led laps in all but one of those races, and even won the second race of last year’s doubleheader while stuck in fourth gear.
Kyle Busch | View stats
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 18 Toyota
Odds: 8-1
Though there are a lot of unknowns about Busch’s future, one thing is certain: he’s been stout at Pocono for years. In the last 11 races at the 'Tricky Triangle', the No. 18 car has won four times with a total of 10 top-10 finishes. Busch has led laps in all but one of those races, and even won the second race of last year’s doubleheader while stuck in fourth gear.
3 of 12
Chris Graythen | Getty Images
MUST START:
Denny Hamlin | View stats
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 11 Toyota
Odds: 8-1
While Hamlin hasn’t had the best results this season, he’s proven to be fast on a weekly basis. The No. 11 car is always strong at Pocono, as Hamlin has a series-high six wins at the 'Tricky Triangle', including his first career win. Two of those have come in his last five starts.
Denny Hamlin | View stats
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 11 Toyota
Odds: 8-1
While Hamlin hasn’t had the best results this season, he’s proven to be fast on a weekly basis. The No. 11 car is always strong at Pocono, as Hamlin has a series-high six wins at the 'Tricky Triangle', including his first career win. Two of those have come in his last five starts.
4 of 12
James Gilbert | Getty Images
MUST START:
William Byron | View stats
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 24 Chevrolet
Odds: 10-1
This could very well be the week the No. 24 team turns its fortune around this season. In eight starts at Pocono, Byron has five top-10 efforts. He was forced to pit for fuel while leading with a few laps to go in the second race at Pocono last season, dropping him to 12th. The only cause for concern is the inconsistent finishes for Byron in 2022, with just one top-10 result since winning at Martinsville, 13 races ago.
William Byron | View stats
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 24 Chevrolet
Odds: 10-1
This could very well be the week the No. 24 team turns its fortune around this season. In eight starts at Pocono, Byron has five top-10 efforts. He was forced to pit for fuel while leading with a few laps to go in the second race at Pocono last season, dropping him to 12th. The only cause for concern is the inconsistent finishes for Byron in 2022, with just one top-10 result since winning at Martinsville, 13 races ago.
5 of 12
Jacob Kupfernen | Getty Images
MUST START:
Kevin Harvick | View stats
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 4 Ford
Odds: 12-1
Over the last month, Harvick has started to turn up the wick, consistently running towards the front of the pack. Problem is, he’s likely in a must-win situation, currently 68 points below the cutline despite being ninth in points. Though Harvick has just one win at Pocono in 42 starts, he’s earned 10 of his 15 career top fives at the track over his last 15 starts.
Kevin Harvick | View stats
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 4 Ford
Odds: 12-1
Over the last month, Harvick has started to turn up the wick, consistently running towards the front of the pack. Problem is, he’s likely in a must-win situation, currently 68 points below the cutline despite being ninth in points. Though Harvick has just one win at Pocono in 42 starts, he’s earned 10 of his 15 career top fives at the track over his last 15 starts.
6 of 12
Logan Riely | Getty Images
SLEEPER PICK:
Alex Bowman | View stats
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 48 Chevrolet
Odds: 20-1
There’s no way to sugarcoat it. The last six weeks for Bowman have been abysmal. He’s on a streak of zero top 10s since the Coca-Cola 600, and three DNFs over the last four races. The silver lining is that he flies under the radar at Pocono, currently on a run of three-straight top 10s at the Tricky Triangle, including a win last year when Kyle Larson blew a tire on the final lap.
Alex Bowman | View stats
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 48 Chevrolet
Odds: 20-1
There’s no way to sugarcoat it. The last six weeks for Bowman have been abysmal. He’s on a streak of zero top 10s since the Coca-Cola 600, and three DNFs over the last four races. The silver lining is that he flies under the radar at Pocono, currently on a run of three-straight top 10s at the Tricky Triangle, including a win last year when Kyle Larson blew a tire on the final lap.
7 of 12
Jacob Kupfernen | Getty Images
SLEEPER PICK:
Bubba Wallace | View stats
23XI Racing, No. 23 Toyota
Odds: 28-1
As Wallace said following his third-place run at New Hampshire, he tends to make the highlight reel at Pocono. While not always for the right reason – he lost his brakes in 2018 and pounded the wall – he did garner his first top-five effort for 23XI last year at Pocono.
Bubba Wallace | View stats
23XI Racing, No. 23 Toyota
Odds: 28-1
As Wallace said following his third-place run at New Hampshire, he tends to make the highlight reel at Pocono. While not always for the right reason – he lost his brakes in 2018 and pounded the wall – he did garner his first top-five effort for 23XI last year at Pocono.
8 of 12
Chris Graythen | Getty Images
UPDATE: Kurt Busch out of Sunday's race
STAY AWAY FROM:
Kurt Busch | View stats
23XI Racing, No. 45 Toyota
Odds: 20-1
Toyota has found speed at flat tracks this year. And though Pocono is nothing like any other track on the schedule, its corners are flat and Busch has three wins for three different teams there in his career.
STAY AWAY FROM:
Kurt Busch | View stats
23XI Racing, No. 45 Toyota
Odds: 20-1
Toyota has found speed at flat tracks this year. And though Pocono is nothing like any other track on the schedule, its corners are flat and Busch has three wins for three different teams there in his career.
9 of 12
James Gilbert | Getty Images
STAY AWAY FROM:
Chase Elliott | View stats
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 9 Chevrolet
Odds: 7-1
With the four-race stretch that Elliott has been on – all top-two finishes – you probably think I’m out of my mind. He’s also the odds-on favorite at 7-1. Yet the record books will show that Elliott has been hit or miss at Pocono in 12 starts. Yes, he has seven top-10 finishes, but also four results of 25th or worse. Look, New Hampshire was among his worst tracks on the schedule, as well, and he finished runner-up there, so there’s a chance I’ll revert him to my lineup after practice and qualifying.
Chase Elliott | View stats
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 9 Chevrolet
Odds: 7-1
With the four-race stretch that Elliott has been on – all top-two finishes – you probably think I’m out of my mind. He’s also the odds-on favorite at 7-1. Yet the record books will show that Elliott has been hit or miss at Pocono in 12 starts. Yes, he has seven top-10 finishes, but also four results of 25th or worse. Look, New Hampshire was among his worst tracks on the schedule, as well, and he finished runner-up there, so there’s a chance I’ll revert him to my lineup after practice and qualifying.
10 of 12
James Gilbert | Getty Images
STAY AWAY FROM:
Joey Logano | View stats
Team Penske, No. 22 Ford
Odds: 16-1
It’s hard to get a gauge on the No. 22 team this season, having lost 122 points to the championship lead over the past four races. Add that to Logano having just four top-five finishes in 26 starts at Pocono, and it’s probably a good week to pass on him.
Joey Logano | View stats
Team Penske, No. 22 Ford
Odds: 16-1
It’s hard to get a gauge on the No. 22 team this season, having lost 122 points to the championship lead over the past four races. Add that to Logano having just four top-five finishes in 26 starts at Pocono, and it’s probably a good week to pass on him.
11 of 12
Dylan Buell | Getty Images
STAY AWAY FROM:
Austin Dillon | View stats
Richard Childress Racing, No. 3 Chevrolet
Odds: 100-1
Believe it or not, Dillon has never posted a top-10 finish at Pocono in 16 starts. He does, however, have a 12th-place run (2018) and five 13th-place finishes. That won’t cut it to be successful this weekend.
Austin Dillon | View stats
Richard Childress Racing, No. 3 Chevrolet
Odds: 100-1
Believe it or not, Dillon has never posted a top-10 finish at Pocono in 16 starts. He does, however, have a 12th-place run (2018) and five 13th-place finishes. That won’t cut it to be successful this weekend.
12 of 12
Matt Sullivan | Getty Images
MY LINEUP: Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick, William Byron, Denny Hamlin, Kurt Busch
GARAGE: Alex Bowman
GARAGE: Alex Bowman