Skip to content

Top Nav

    • NASCAR Cup Series Landing Page
    • NASCAR Xfinity Series Landing Page
    • NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Landing Page
  • NASCAR Fan Rewards logo
    points0
    status
    Join today to start earning!
    DASHBOARD JOIN NOW
      • Tickets
      • Shop
  • Official Site Of NASCAR
    • News
      • NASCAR SERIES NEWS
        Click to view NASCAR Cup Series News Cup Series Click to view NASCAR Xfinity News Xfinity Series Click to view NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series News TRUCK SERIES INTERNATIONAL SERIES Click to view NASCAR Roots ROOTS SERIES
        Latest NASCAR News
        More News
        article presentation image Fresh ink: Josef Newgarden receives Ryan Blaney tattoo following title triumph for No. 12
        article presentation image NASCAR Cup champion Ryan Blaney honored in Nashville awards ceremony
        article presentation image In due time: Ryan Blaney slows clock, savors first Cup title in NASCAR Awards gala
        article presentation image Chase Elliott, Justin Allgaier, Hailie Deegan earn 2023 NMPA Most Popular Driver Awards
        More News
    • Videos
    • Galleries
    • Schedule
    • Standings
      • Standings

        Driver Standings Playoff Standings Manufacturer Standings Owner Standings
        View Full Standings
        Ryan Blaney driver page

        Current Driver Standings

        1
        Ryan Blaney
        2
        Kyle Larson
        3
        William Byron
        4
        Christopher Bell
        5
        Denny Hamlin
        View Full Standings

        Current Playoff Standings

        1
        Ryan Blaney
        2
        Kyle Larson
        3
        William Byron
        4
        Christopher Bell
        5
        Denny Hamlin
        View Playoff Standings

        Manufacturer Leader

        Chevrolet logo

        Owner Leader

        Team Penske
    • Gaming
      • Fantasy Live
        Fantasy Live
        It's not too late to sign up for a chance to win cash prizes
        Play Now
        Playoffs Grid Challenge
        Playoffs Grid Challenge
        Play now for a chance to win $10,000!
        Play Now
        eNASCAR
        eNASCAR
        Visit eNASCAR for latest event schedule
        Learn More
        BetCenter
        BetCenter
        Visit NASCAR Bet center for latest odds
        Visit Now
    • More
      • Drivers
      • NASCAR Classics
      • NASCAR 75
      • Podcasts
      • NASCAR International
      • Shop
      • Racing Reference
      • Jayski
      • Speed Sport
  • Quick Links:

  • NASCAR on TV
  • 2024 Schedule
  • Final Standings
  • 2023 Results
  • Fantasy Live
  • Fan Rewards
  • Shop
2022 Feb28 Fantasylive Main 1
BACK TO GALLERIES

Fantasy Fastlane: Richmond master Martin Truex Jr. needs to find Victory Lane

By Dustin Albino for NASCAR.com | Published: 12 Aug, 2022 12
NASCAR Creative Design
BACK TO GALLERIES

1 of 12

2022 Feb28 Fantasylive Main 1

NASCAR Creative Design

Fantasy Fastlane 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

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA - SEPTEMBER 11: Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota, is introduced during pre-race ceremonies prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Federated Auto Parts 400 Salute to First Responders at Richmond Raceway on September 11, 2021 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

MUST START:
Martin Truex Jr. | View stats
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 19
Odds: 6-1
Kevin Harvick’s 65-race winless streak came to an end at the wrong time for Truex, with just three races remaining in the regular season. The No. 19 team is fourth in regular season points, yet on the outside of the playoff bubble. Good thing is, since scoring his first short track win at Richmond in 2019 he’s been unstoppable, picking up two more trophies and entering the race with seven consecutive top fives. Over the last 11 Richmond races, Truex has led 1,237 laps — more than three full races.

3 of 12

DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 18: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Express Toyota, walks the garage area during practice for NASCAR Cup Series 64th Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 18, 2022 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Chris Graythen | Getty Images

MUST START:
Denny Hamlin | View stats
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 11 Toyota
Odds: 7-1
With four career victories at his home track, Hamlin is always a go-to at Richmond for fantasy lineups. That shouldn’t change this week, given he won the first Next Gen race at the facility earlier this year. Maybe this will be the week the No. 11 team can clean up its pit road woes and get its third win of 2022.

4 of 12

AVONDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 13: Christopher Bell, driver of the #20 Rheem - Capitol Container Toyota, stands on the grid during the Ruoff Mortgage 500 during at Phoenix Raceway on March 13, 2022 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Sean Gardner | Getty Images

MUST START:
Christopher Bell | View stats
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 20 Toyota
Odds: 8-1
Since Bell’s first Xfinity Series start at Richmond (finished sixth), he’s had a knack for getting around the three-quarter-mile racetrack, earning three wins in five starts int the series. Earlier this year, he paced the field for a career-high 63 laps en route to a sixth-place finish. And the last winner on a similar style track to Richmond? You guessed it, Bell at New Hampshire.

5 of 12

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA - APRIL 02: Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Mobil 1 Triple Action Formula Ford, sits in his car during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond Raceway on April 02, 2022 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jacob Kupferman | Getty Images

MUST START:
Kevin Harvick | View stats
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 4 Ford
Odds: 14-1
With Harvick finally getting back into the Winner’s Circle at Michigan, don’t put it out of the question that he goes on a 2011 Tony Stewart-esuque run. Using the same strategy as Hamlin did by splitting the final stage into thirds, the No. 4 car finished runner-up at Richmond in April.

6 of 12

AUSTIN, TEXAS - MARCH 27: Ryan Blaney, driver of the #12 Menards/Richmond Water Heaters Ford, prepares for the NASCAR Cup Series Echopark Automotive Grand Prix at Circuit of The Americas on March 27, 2022 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Logan Riely | Getty Images

SLEEPER PICK:
Ryan Blaney | View stats
Team Penske, No. 12 Ford
Odds: 12-1
Historically, Richmond and Blaney have been incompatible. In 12 starts at the track, he’s tallied just two top 10s, both coming in the last calendar year. In April, Blaney won the pole, dominated the first stage, and led a race-high 128 laps. Sitting second in points, just 19 markers above the cutline, it’s time for the No. 12 driver to have a career run at Richmond.

7 of 12

DARLINGTON, SOUTH CAROLINA - MAY 08: William Byron, driver of the #24 Axalta Chevrolet, waves to fans as he walks onstage during driver intros prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway on May 08, 2022 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images) | Getty Images

James Gilbert | Getty Images

SLEEPER PICK:
William Byron | View stats
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 24 Chevrolet
Odds: 18-1
Could this finally be the week that Byron stops his four-month skid? It’s plausible, given the No. 24 car was passed for the lead – after pacing the field for 122 laps – on old tires with a handful of laps remaining in April, dropping to third. Byron was stout at short tracks at the beginning of the year, so maybe he returns to form this weekend.

8 of 12

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 05: Austin Dillon, driver of the #3 BREZTRI Chevrolet, prepares to practice for the NASCAR Cup Series Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 05, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Dylan Buell | Getty Images

SLEEPER PICK:
Austin Dillon | View stats
Richard Childress Racing, No. 3 Chevrolet
Odds: 50-1
For years, Dillon considered Richmond his worst track on the Cup schedule. That changed with a sixth-place finish in the fall of 2018. Including that race, the No. 3 car has five top-10 finishes in his last seven Richmond starts, also including a 10th earlier this year. In this race two years ago, he led a career-high 55 laps and finished fourth.

9 of 12

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA - APRIL 03: Bubba Wallace, driver of the #23 Dr Pepper Toyota, waves to fans onstage during driver intros prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond Raceway on April 03, 2022 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jacob Kupferman | Getty Images

STAY AWAY FROM:
Bubba Wallace | View stats
23XI Racing, No. 23 Toyota
Odds: 16-1
The hottest hand in NASCAR currently is Wallace, who’s on a streak of four straight top-10 finishes with an average finish of 4.5 in that span. But the heartbreak of finishing runner-up at Michigan could be tough to get over, knowing that was likely his best chance to win prior to the playoffs. In eight starts in the Commonwealth, he’s finished better than 25th just one time.

10 of 12

HAMPTON, GEORGIA - MARCH 20: Chase Briscoe, driver of the #14 HighPoint.com Ford, waits backstage during driver intros prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on March 20, 2022 in Hampton, Georgia. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Sean Gardner | Getty Images

STAY AWAY FROM:
Chase Briscoe | View stats
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 14 Ford
Odds: 40-1
Prior to an Xfinity Series race in 2019 at Richmond, Briscoe told me he struggled to get around Richmond. He wasn’t sure what it was about the track, but he couldn’t get a grip on it. The Indiana native picked up his first Cup win at a similar track, Phoenix, but has just a pair of top-10 results in the 19 races since. Avoid the No. 14 car this weekend.

11 of 12

FORT WORTH, TEXAS - MAY 21: Brad Keselowski, driver of the #6 Kohler Generators Ford, looks on during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at Texas Motor Speedway on May 21, 2022 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Buda Mendes | Getty Images

STAY AWAY FROM:
Brad Keselowski | View stats
RFK Racing, No. 6 Ford
Odds: 80-1
Keselowski’s track record at Richmond speaks for itself: Two wins, 12 top 10s, 1,177 laps led in 25 starts. The No. 6 team also earned its best finish of the season at New Hampshire, another track Keselowski has had recent success at. But it’s hard to see the team turning the corner at Richmond, though he finished a respectable 13th in April.

12 of 12

CONCORD, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 28: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M's Red White and Blue Toyota,  looks on during practice for the NASCAR Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 28, 2022 in Concord, North Carolina. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images) | Getty Images

James Gilbert | Getty Images

MY LINEUP: Martin Truex Jr., Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, Christopher Bell, Kyle Busch
GARAGE: William Byron
nascar.com homepage
  • FACEBOOK

  • X

  • INSTAGRAM

  • SNAPCHAT

  • TIKTOK

  • YOUTUBE

  • DISCORD

  • HELP/SUPPORT
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Statement
  • Accessibility
  • Suppliers
  • Site Map
  • Cookie Settings
  • AdChoicesAd Choices Icon
  • Do Not Sell My Info (California)
  • INFORMATION
  • About NASCAR
  • Careers
  • Official Partners
  • NDM Advertising
  • Sponsorships
  • PRODUCTS
  • Follow Live
  • Mobile Apps
  • Scanner
  • NASCAR Drive
  • Fantasy Live
  • NASCAR Classics
  • NASCAR Shop
  • INITIATIVES
  • NASCAR IMPACT
  • NASCAR Foundation
  • NASCAR Foundation Auction
  • NASCAR Diversity
  • NASCAR Fan Council
  • NASCAR Refuel
  • NASCAR Fan Rewards Terms
  • NASCAR Fan Rewards FAQs
  • MORE SITES
  • IMSA
  • ARCA
  • FloRacing
  • eNASCAR
  • NASCAR Kids
  • NASCAR International
  • NASCAR 101
  • NASCAR Hall of Fame
  • Credit One
  • SeatGeek
  • Historic Sportscar Racing

NASCAR® and its marks are trademarks of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, LLC. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Copyright © 2023 NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. All rights reserved.

Home
Schedule
Race Center
Standings
Fantasy