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Fantasy Fastlane: Got to have Joe Gibbs Racing at Richmond
By RJ Kraft | Published: September 19, 2019 15
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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 Westgate Sports Book.
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Matt Sullivan | Getty Images
Kyle Busch (P) | View stats
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 18 Toyota
Odds: 3-1
Fastlane forecast: Busch has six wins and an average finish of 7.0 at Richmond -- both are the best among active drivers. Two victories came in his 2018 sweep. After an up-and-down Las Vegas race, it would be surprising not to see "Rowdy" up front.
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 18 Toyota
Odds: 3-1
Fastlane forecast: Busch has six wins and an average finish of 7.0 at Richmond -- both are the best among active drivers. Two victories came in his 2018 sweep. After an up-and-down Las Vegas race, it would be surprising not to see "Rowdy" up front.
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Matt Sullivan | Getty Images
Denny Hamlin (P) | View stats
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 11 Toyota
Odds: 6-1
Fastlane forecast: Hamlin made his bones on the Virginia short tracks. He has three Richmond wins -- all in the fall. In the past eight races there, he has seven top-six finishes. He also has a win and an average of 38.8 points in four short-track races this year.
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 11 Toyota
Odds: 6-1
Fastlane forecast: Hamlin made his bones on the Virginia short tracks. He has three Richmond wins -- all in the fall. In the past eight races there, he has seven top-six finishes. He also has a win and an average of 38.8 points in four short-track races this year.
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Joey Logano (P) | View stats
Team Penske, No. 22 Ford
Odds: 7-1
Fastlane forecast: Logano opened the playoffs looking like the car to beat at Las Vegas. That momentum should continue at Richmond where the reigning champ has two wins. He also has four top-five finishes in his last five starts there.
Team Penske, No. 22 Ford
Odds: 7-1
Fastlane forecast: Logano opened the playoffs looking like the car to beat at Las Vegas. That momentum should continue at Richmond where the reigning champ has two wins. He also has four top-five finishes in his last five starts there.
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Martin Truex Jr. (P) | View stats
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 19 Toyota
Odds: 6-1
Fastlane forecast: Truex is the most recent winner at Richmond and has the most points earned over the past six races there. In that same stretch, he has led 35.7 percent of the laps run. With a win in hand, you know Truex will be hunting for playoff points.
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 19 Toyota
Odds: 6-1
Fastlane forecast: Truex is the most recent winner at Richmond and has the most points earned over the past six races there. In that same stretch, he has led 35.7 percent of the laps run. With a win in hand, you know Truex will be hunting for playoff points.
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Kevin Harvick (P) | View stats
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 4 Ford
Odds: 6-1
Fastlane forecast: Is Richmond Harvick's best track? No, but he's earned the most points in the past five races -- an average of 41.4. In addition to having three wins at Richmond, he has eight top-five finishes in his last 10 starts.
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 4 Ford
Odds: 6-1
Fastlane forecast: Is Richmond Harvick's best track? No, but he's earned the most points in the past five races -- an average of 41.4. In addition to having three wins at Richmond, he has eight top-five finishes in his last 10 starts.
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Clint Bowyer (P) | View stats
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 14 Ford
Odds: 20-1
Fastlane forecast: Bowyer has two Richmond victories and has had plenty of short-track success. He enters this race with three straight top 10s and an average of 38.7 points over that stretch. His cutline position of -21 means he might gamble more.
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 14 Ford
Odds: 20-1
Fastlane forecast: Bowyer has two Richmond victories and has had plenty of short-track success. He enters this race with three straight top 10s and an average of 38.7 points over that stretch. His cutline position of -21 means he might gamble more.
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Jimmie Johnson | View stats
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 48 Chevrolet
Odds: 80-1
Fastlane forecast: Johnson has three wins at Richmond and this has been one of his better tracks of late. In the past 10 races here, he has finished no worse than 12th with seven top 10s.
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 48 Chevrolet
Odds: 80-1
Fastlane forecast: Johnson has three wins at Richmond and this has been one of his better tracks of late. In the past 10 races here, he has finished no worse than 12th with seven top 10s.
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Daniel Suarez | View stats
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 41 Ford
Odds: 80-1
Fastlane forecast: Suarez has three top 12s at Richmond in five starts and this is his best of the short tracks on the circuit. While Las Vegas was disappointing, he did nab stage points.
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 41 Ford
Odds: 80-1
Fastlane forecast: Suarez has three top 12s at Richmond in five starts and this is his best of the short tracks on the circuit. While Las Vegas was disappointing, he did nab stage points.
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Austin Dillon | View stats
Richard Childress Racing, No. 3 Chevrolet
Odds: 100-1
Fastlane forecast: Dillon's last two Richmond starts have produced sixth-place finishes -- giving him the most points among the non-playoff field over that span. He has four finishes in the top 13 in his last five starts this season.
Richard Childress Racing, No. 3 Chevrolet
Odds: 100-1
Fastlane forecast: Dillon's last two Richmond starts have produced sixth-place finishes -- giving him the most points among the non-playoff field over that span. He has four finishes in the top 13 in his last five starts this season.
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Paul Menard | View stats
Wood Brothers Racing, No. 21 Ford
Odds: 500-1
Fastlane forecast: The Richmond numbers aren’t great, but of late: He finished 10th at Richmond in the spring, has three top 15s in his last four short-track races and has three straight top 15s in 2019.
Wood Brothers Racing, No. 21 Ford
Odds: 500-1
Fastlane forecast: The Richmond numbers aren’t great, but of late: He finished 10th at Richmond in the spring, has three top 15s in his last four short-track races and has three straight top 15s in 2019.
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STAY AWAY FROM: Erik Jones (P) | View stats
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 20 Toyota
Odds: 16-1
Fastlane forecast: Jones' Las Vegas misfortune leaves him in a sizable playoff hole. In addition to the potential that he will need to swing for the fences, he has just one top 10 in five Richmond starts.
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 20 Toyota
Odds: 16-1
Fastlane forecast: Jones' Las Vegas misfortune leaves him in a sizable playoff hole. In addition to the potential that he will need to swing for the fences, he has just one top 10 in five Richmond starts.
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STAY AWAY FROM: Ryan Blaney (P)| View stats
Team Penske, No. 12 Ford
Odds: 40-1
Fastlane forecast: Something about Richmond and Blaney don't mix. The Penske driver has never finished better than 18th and his 26.7 average finish is his worst at all tracks and also worst among playoff drivers.
Team Penske, No. 12 Ford
Odds: 40-1
Fastlane forecast: Something about Richmond and Blaney don't mix. The Penske driver has never finished better than 18th and his 26.7 average finish is his worst at all tracks and also worst among playoff drivers.
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STAY AWAY FROM: Matt DiBenedetto | View stats
Leavine Family Racing, No. 95 Toyota
Odds: 300-1
Fastlane forecast: DiBenedetto finished 24th in the spring and has not had anywhere near the success that he has had at other short tracks. There will be places to play him (Spoiler: the Roval) but not here.
Leavine Family Racing, No. 95 Toyota
Odds: 300-1
Fastlane forecast: DiBenedetto finished 24th in the spring and has not had anywhere near the success that he has had at other short tracks. There will be places to play him (Spoiler: the Roval) but not here.
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Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images
My lineup heading into the weekend: Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Jimmie Johnson, Austin Dillon; 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 Saturday's race at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN.
with your lineups and questions ahead of Saturday's race at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN.