BACK TO GALLERIES
Fantasy Fastlane presented by Jackpot Races: Happy with Harvick for Pocono
By RJ Kraft | Published: June 25, 2021 19
Chris Graythen | Getty Images
1 of 19
NASCAR Creative Design
Editor's note: 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.
PLAY NOW: Set your Fantasy Live lineup today
Download the free to play Jackpot Races App and compete to win the $25,000 prize every week if you get all eight picks correct.
PLAY NOW: Set your Fantasy Live lineup today
Download the free to play Jackpot Races App and compete to win the $25,000 prize every week if you get all eight picks correct.
2 of 19
Sarah Stier | Getty Images
Kyle Larson | View stats
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 5 Chevrolet
Odds: 21-10
Fastlane forecast: The winner of the last three points-paying Cup Series races is on another planet right now. Most players will need to save and should save if they have two or three uses left. For those of you that have the good fortune of say five or more uses left, he's a must start since this is a race that will use the 550-package that he has been the master of in 2021.
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 5 Chevrolet
Odds: 21-10
Fastlane forecast: The winner of the last three points-paying Cup Series races is on another planet right now. Most players will need to save and should save if they have two or three uses left. For those of you that have the good fortune of say five or more uses left, he's a must start since this is a race that will use the 550-package that he has been the master of in 2021.
3 of 19
Chris Graythen | Getty Images
Denny Hamlin | View stats
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 11 Toyota
Odds: 7-1
Fastlane forecast: Hamlin has six wins at Pocono for his career including two in the last three races run there. I like a use here if you have three or more left (with eyes on Atlanta, New Hampshire and Michigan for other potential spots). Bare this in mind, though: of Hamlin's 78 points earned at Pocono last year – only three were stage points. Maybe his seemingly loosening grip on the points lead makes him more aggressive on stage points.
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 11 Toyota
Odds: 7-1
Fastlane forecast: Hamlin has six wins at Pocono for his career including two in the last three races run there. I like a use here if you have three or more left (with eyes on Atlanta, New Hampshire and Michigan for other potential spots). Bare this in mind, though: of Hamlin's 78 points earned at Pocono last year – only three were stage points. Maybe his seemingly loosening grip on the points lead makes him more aggressive on stage points.
4 of 19
Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
William Byron | View stats
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 24 Chevrolet
Odds: 10-1
Fastlane forecast: Byron having to drop to the rear at Nashville was a double-edged sword if you dropped him – missed out on a third-place run, but we now have a use to play with that I will take advantage of immediately at Pocono. The young driver has the best average finish among the field (9.7) with four top 10s in six starts and he also has the fifth-most points in the last four races there. Oh, and then there's the roll that the entire Hendrick camp has been on.
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 24 Chevrolet
Odds: 10-1
Fastlane forecast: Byron having to drop to the rear at Nashville was a double-edged sword if you dropped him – missed out on a third-place run, but we now have a use to play with that I will take advantage of immediately at Pocono. The young driver has the best average finish among the field (9.7) with four top 10s in six starts and he also has the fifth-most points in the last four races there. Oh, and then there's the roll that the entire Hendrick camp has been on.
5 of 19
Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
Kyle Busch | View stats
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 18 Toyota
Odds: 8-1
Fastlane forecast: In Busch's last seven Pocono starts, he has three wins, five top fives and six top 10s. On top of that, the two-time champion has been the best non-Hendrick car for nearly the last two months with a win, four top fives and six races with at least 39 points in the last seven races. The 550-package in use at Pocono is also something that agrees with Busch as he has the third-most points with it in 2021 and is one of two drivers with top 10s in all of those races.
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 18 Toyota
Odds: 8-1
Fastlane forecast: In Busch's last seven Pocono starts, he has three wins, five top fives and six top 10s. On top of that, the two-time champion has been the best non-Hendrick car for nearly the last two months with a win, four top fives and six races with at least 39 points in the last seven races. The 550-package in use at Pocono is also something that agrees with Busch as he has the third-most points with it in 2021 and is one of two drivers with top 10s in all of those races.
6 of 19
Sarah Stier | Getty Images
Martin Truex Jr. | View stats
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 19 Toyota
Odds: 12-1
Fastlane forecast: Since his third win of the season at Darlington, Truex has been in a bit of a funk with four finishes of 19th-or-worse in the last five races. Perhaps Pocono will cure his ills of the last month. The 2017 champ has two wins there in his career and has six top 10s in his last eight Pocono starts. When it comes to uses, I am prioritizing Road America, New Hampshire and Watkins Glen as my three must-use tracks left for him.
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 19 Toyota
Odds: 12-1
Fastlane forecast: Since his third win of the season at Darlington, Truex has been in a bit of a funk with four finishes of 19th-or-worse in the last five races. Perhaps Pocono will cure his ills of the last month. The 2017 champ has two wins there in his career and has six top 10s in his last eight Pocono starts. When it comes to uses, I am prioritizing Road America, New Hampshire and Watkins Glen as my three must-use tracks left for him.
7 of 19
Chris Graythen | Getty Images
Kevin Harvick | View stats
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 4 Ford
Odds: 9-1
Fastlane forecast: Sunday's top-five finish felt like a sign of things turning the corner for Harvick and the SHR camp. That's a welcome sign for players sitting on Harvick uses for the summer months -- at least one should come at Pocono. He won one of the two races here last year, crew chief Rodney Childers is a sound strategist (which plays a big role at Pocono) and he has nine top fives and 11 top 10s in his last 13 starts here. I'll play him based on that history.
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 4 Ford
Odds: 9-1
Fastlane forecast: Sunday's top-five finish felt like a sign of things turning the corner for Harvick and the SHR camp. That's a welcome sign for players sitting on Harvick uses for the summer months -- at least one should come at Pocono. He won one of the two races here last year, crew chief Rodney Childers is a sound strategist (which plays a big role at Pocono) and he has nine top fives and 11 top 10s in his last 13 starts here. I'll play him based on that history.
8 of 19
Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
Ryan Blaney | View stats
Team Penske, No. 12 Ford
Odds: 14-1
Fastlane forecast: Pocono is Blaney's second-best track left in the regular season based on average finish (12.6). It is the site of his first win and he has eight top-12 finishes in 10 starts. His 37th-place finish at Nashville will leave him with a bad starting spot on Saturday, which is why I have designs on playing him in the second race on Sunday at the "Tricky Triangle."
Team Penske, No. 12 Ford
Odds: 14-1
Fastlane forecast: Pocono is Blaney's second-best track left in the regular season based on average finish (12.6). It is the site of his first win and he has eight top-12 finishes in 10 starts. His 37th-place finish at Nashville will leave him with a bad starting spot on Saturday, which is why I have designs on playing him in the second race on Sunday at the "Tricky Triangle."
9 of 19
Sarah Stier | Getty Images
Brad Keselowski | View stats
Team Penske, No. 2 Ford
Odds: 14-1
Fastlane forecast: It's been six races since Keselowski had a top 10 this season and he hasn't had over 30 points in a race during that stretch. If there was a place for the 2012 champ to turn it around, it would be Pocono. It stands as his second-best track left in the regular season with an average finish of 11.0. In his last 11 starts there, he has produced seven top fives and nine top 10s. In last year's races, he had the fifth-most points here.
Team Penske, No. 2 Ford
Odds: 14-1
Fastlane forecast: It's been six races since Keselowski had a top 10 this season and he hasn't had over 30 points in a race during that stretch. If there was a place for the 2012 champ to turn it around, it would be Pocono. It stands as his second-best track left in the regular season with an average finish of 11.0. In his last 11 starts there, he has produced seven top fives and nine top 10s. In last year's races, he had the fifth-most points here.
10 of 19
Sarah Stier | Getty Images
Alex Bowman | View stats
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 48 Chevrolet
Odds: 14-1
Fastlane forecast: Bowman's starts at Pocono have been extremely hit or miss. He has two top 10s – including one last year. He has also has two finishes of 20th-or-worse in his last three starts there. On the plus side, he has the seventh-most points with the 550-package that will be used for this weekend's races. I'd like to use him for one of the two events at Pocono.
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 48 Chevrolet
Odds: 14-1
Fastlane forecast: Bowman's starts at Pocono have been extremely hit or miss. He has two top 10s – including one last year. He has also has two finishes of 20th-or-worse in his last three starts there. On the plus side, he has the seventh-most points with the 550-package that will be used for this weekend's races. I'd like to use him for one of the two events at Pocono.
11 of 19
Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
Kurt Busch | View stats
Chip Ganassi Racing, No. 1 Chevrolet
Odds: 50-1
Fastlane forecast: Busch appears to be back on track after back-to-back top 10s following a spring swoon that seemed to have no end in sight. He has three Cup wins at Pocono and top 10s in more than half his starts (20 in 39 starts). Given his position as the first driver outside the playoff cutline, he could be in full points hunting mode. In last year's races here, he had the eighth-most points.
Chip Ganassi Racing, No. 1 Chevrolet
Odds: 50-1
Fastlane forecast: Busch appears to be back on track after back-to-back top 10s following a spring swoon that seemed to have no end in sight. He has three Cup wins at Pocono and top 10s in more than half his starts (20 in 39 starts). Given his position as the first driver outside the playoff cutline, he could be in full points hunting mode. In last year's races here, he had the eighth-most points.
12 of 19
Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
SLEEPER PICK: Christopher Bell | View stats
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 20 Toyota
Odds: 50-1
Fastlane forecast: Bell scored the first top five of his Cup career in the first Pocono race last year and was running well before an early Stage 2 crash in the second race. The Daytona Road Course winner had been in a big funk – five finishes outside the top 20 prior to a top 10 at Nashville -- so there's a bit of boom-or-bust potential with this play.
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 20 Toyota
Odds: 50-1
Fastlane forecast: Bell scored the first top five of his Cup career in the first Pocono race last year and was running well before an early Stage 2 crash in the second race. The Daytona Road Course winner had been in a big funk – five finishes outside the top 20 prior to a top 10 at Nashville -- so there's a bit of boom-or-bust potential with this play.
13 of 19
Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
SLEEPER PICK: Ross Chastain | View stats
Chip Ganassi Racing, No. 42 Chevrolet
Odds: 80-1
Fastlane forecast: Chastain has seemingly turned a corner over the past two months or so with the last month, carrying a bigger uptick in performance. He has three top-seven finishes in his last four starts and before that was a pretty steady top-15 performer. Last weekend's runner-up finish in Nashville will hand him the best starting position he has had at the Cup level.
Chip Ganassi Racing, No. 42 Chevrolet
Odds: 80-1
Fastlane forecast: Chastain has seemingly turned a corner over the past two months or so with the last month, carrying a bigger uptick in performance. He has three top-seven finishes in his last four starts and before that was a pretty steady top-15 performer. Last weekend's runner-up finish in Nashville will hand him the best starting position he has had at the Cup level.
14 of 19
Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
SLEEPER PICK: Aric Almirola | View stats
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 10 Ford
Odds: 50-1
Fastlane forecast: Almirola's top five at Nashville was his first race with at least 30 points since Richmond – a span of eight races. While he has the 29th-most points with the 550-package this season, he does have four top 10s and five top 12s in his last six Pocono starts. In last year's races, he had the most points scored at the 2.5-mile track.
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 10 Ford
Odds: 50-1
Fastlane forecast: Almirola's top five at Nashville was his first race with at least 30 points since Richmond – a span of eight races. While he has the 29th-most points with the 550-package this season, he does have four top 10s and five top 12s in his last six Pocono starts. In last year's races, he had the most points scored at the 2.5-mile track.
15 of 19
Logan Riely | Getty Images
SLEEPER PICK: Daniel Suarez | View stats
Trackhouse Racing Team, No. 99 Chevrolet
Odds: 200-1
Fastlane forecast: Suarez is another driver on the upswing with top 10s in two of his last five races and top-15 finishes in five of the last seven. In his six Pocono starts with SHR and JGR, he had three top 10s including a runner-up finish in the second 2018 race. The team seemingly gets better every weekend which makes Suarez an intriguing consideration.
Trackhouse Racing Team, No. 99 Chevrolet
Odds: 200-1
Fastlane forecast: Suarez is another driver on the upswing with top 10s in two of his last five races and top-15 finishes in five of the last seven. In his six Pocono starts with SHR and JGR, he had three top 10s including a runner-up finish in the second 2018 race. The team seemingly gets better every weekend which makes Suarez an intriguing consideration.
16 of 19
Sarah Stier | Getty Images
STAY AWAY FROM: Chase Elliott | View stats
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 9 Chevrolet
Odds: 8-1
Fastlane forecast: Elliott's overall numbers are fine. He has three top fives and seven top 10s in 10 Pocono starts. However, he does have two finishes outside the top 20 in his last three Pocono starts. The bigger issue is uses – you likely are down to a few and the DQ at Nashville didn't help matters. We need to make sure we have uses for Road America, Watkins Glen and Michigan.
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 9 Chevrolet
Odds: 8-1
Fastlane forecast: Elliott's overall numbers are fine. He has three top fives and seven top 10s in 10 Pocono starts. However, he does have two finishes outside the top 20 in his last three Pocono starts. The bigger issue is uses – you likely are down to a few and the DQ at Nashville didn't help matters. We need to make sure we have uses for Road America, Watkins Glen and Michigan.
17 of 19
Sarah Stier | Getty Images
STAY AWAY FROM: Joey Logano | View stats
Team Penske, No. 22 Ford
Odds: 16-1
Fastlane forecast: In 24 Pocono starts, Logano has a win, but just four top fives and eight top 10s. His 17.9 average finish at the "Tricky Triangle" is his second-worst on the circuit. And then there is the matter of how he has performed with the 550-package that will be used at Pocono – he has just one top 10 and the 16th-most points in races with where that has been used in 2021.
Team Penske, No. 22 Ford
Odds: 16-1
Fastlane forecast: In 24 Pocono starts, Logano has a win, but just four top fives and eight top 10s. His 17.9 average finish at the "Tricky Triangle" is his second-worst on the circuit. And then there is the matter of how he has performed with the 550-package that will be used at Pocono – he has just one top 10 and the 16th-most points in races with where that has been used in 2021.
18 of 19
Sean Gardner | Getty Images
STAY AWAY FROM: Erik Jones | View stats
Richard Petty Motorsports, No. 43 Chevrolet
Odds: 100-1
Fastlane forecast: During his time with Furniture Row and Joe Gibbs Racing, Jones was quite good at the three-turn track with five top fives and six top 10s in eight starts. However, it's hard to expect that level of performance in his current ride especially based on his season so far with two top 10s, one top-15 finish in his last 10 races and a standing of 24th in points.
Richard Petty Motorsports, No. 43 Chevrolet
Odds: 100-1
Fastlane forecast: During his time with Furniture Row and Joe Gibbs Racing, Jones was quite good at the three-turn track with five top fives and six top 10s in eight starts. However, it's hard to expect that level of performance in his current ride especially based on his season so far with two top 10s, one top-15 finish in his last 10 races and a standing of 24th in points.
19 of 19
Chris Trotman | Getty Images
My Saturday lineup heading into the weekend: William Byron, Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick, Denny Hamlin, Ross Chastain; Garage: Brad Keselowski
Just missed the cut: Kurt Busch, Ryan Blaney, Christopher Bell, Alex Bowman and Aric Almirola.
Tweet at me @kraftdaddy85
with your lineups and questions ahead of Saturday's race at 3 p.m. ET on NBCSN.
For Sunday’s race: I will tweet out a lineup the morning of the race based on the starting lineup for the second of two races at Pocono before Sunday's race at 3:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN. I expect the top-20 field inversion to open up some opportunities for some less-used options.
Download the free to play Jackpot Races App and compete to win the $25,000 prize every week if you get all eight picks correct.
Just missed the cut: Kurt Busch, Ryan Blaney, Christopher Bell, Alex Bowman and Aric Almirola.
Tweet at me @kraftdaddy85
with your lineups and questions ahead of Saturday's race at 3 p.m. ET on NBCSN.
For Sunday’s race: I will tweet out a lineup the morning of the race based on the starting lineup for the second of two races at Pocono before Sunday's race at 3:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN. I expect the top-20 field inversion to open up some opportunities for some less-used options.
Download the free to play Jackpot Races App and compete to win the $25,000 prize every week if you get all eight picks correct.