Fantasy Fastlane: Going all in on RFK Racing at Atlanta

The NASCAR Cup Series visits the reconfigured Atlanta Motor Speedway (Sun., 3 p.m. ET, FOX, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) for the third time this weekend. With the carnage at the 1.5-mile track last year, this is an opportunity to think outside the box rather than formulaic with the usual selections. My lineup looks a whole lot different from most other weeks.

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MUST START:
William Byron
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 24 Chevrolet
Odds: 9-1
Despite receiving a 100-point penalty with the addition of 10 playoff points earlier this week, the hottest thing going in NASCAR is the No. 24 team. Byron has reeled off consecutive victories for the first time in his career entering Atlanta. Last spring, he controlled this race by leading a race-high 111 laps en route to the victory. While he’s been fast everywhere this season, he’s among the frequent frontrunners on superspeedways, also posting a win at Daytona in 2020.

MUST START:
Brad Keselowski
RFK Racing, No. 6 Ford
Odds: 18-1
Keselowski's speed at various tracks this season has been impressive, especially considering how challenging 2022 was for the team owner. Let’s not forget his superspeedway prowess, winning six times at Talladega and once at Daytona. He was also in contention to win this year’s season-opener at Daytona, leading a race-high 42 laps in defeat.

MUST START:
Bubba Wallace
23XI Racing, No. 23 Toyota
Odds: 20-1
Certainly, you want another one of the best superspeedway competitors in your lineup, so my choice is Wallace. He was battling with Byron for the win last March until a move went wrong on the final lap. He ended up crashing across the finish line in 13th. Wallace, too, is a superb superspeedway racer. Other considerations, depending on how many starts you have left with each driver: Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney and Ross Chastain. I’m electing to save them for low downforce races.

MUST START:
Chris Buescher
RFK Racing, No. 17 Ford
Odds: 25-1
Another driver worth looking at this weekend is Buescher. Though he’s yet to win on a superspeedway, he led 32 laps in the Daytona 500 and scored the second most points in the Great American Race.

SLEEPER PICK:
Corey LaJoie
Spire Motorsports, No. 7 Chevrolet
Odds: 50-1
Atlanta became one of LaJoie’s favorite race tracks on the circuit last year, challenging for a top-five run in both races. He tallied his first Cup top five in March, and in July, he was battling Chase Elliott for the win on the last lap. Ultimately, Elliott blocked the No. 7 car, and LaJoie wrecked. Should Spire pull the reins off LaJoie as they did in the Daytona 500, he could be seeking redemption at Atlanta.

SLEEPER PICK:
Justin Haley
Kaulig Racing, No. 31 Chevrolet
Odds: 60-1
Across the board, Haley is an underrated talent, but even more so at superspeedways. All four of his wins in the Xfinity Series came on superspeedways – three of those coming in a row during the 2020 season. Between the two Atlanta races in 2022, the No. 31 car had an average finishing position of ninth.

SLEEPER PICK:
Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
JTG Daugherty Racing, No. 47 Chevrolet
Odds: 30-1
You can debate whether Stenhouse is an actual sleeper on superspeedways. After all, he did win the Daytona 500 last month. His aggression always finds a way near the front in the draft, and the No. 47 car led 22 laps at Atlanta last March before he cut a tire and wrecked from the lead. Stenhouse is in my lineup.

STAY AWAY FROM:
Kyle Larson
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 5 Chevrolet
Odds: 9-1
The aggression Stenhouse has is what Larson admittedly lacks on superspeedways. He was, however, in contention for the Daytona 500 victory until wrecking on the final lap. It will be beneficial to pass on Larson this week. You’ll have plenty of opportunities this season as Hendrick Motorsports has shown lights-out speed.

STAY AWAY FROM:
Martin Truex Jr.
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 19 Toyota
Odds: 25-1
Even though he accumulated the most points on superspeedways in 2022, Truex has never won on such a track. He’s been close a few times and even averaged a 9.5 finish in the Atlanta races last year. Save Truex for another week.

STAY AWAY FROM:
Kevin Harvick
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 4 Ford
Odds: 25-1
In his last 27 superspeedway appearances dating back to 2017, Harvick has just seven top-10 finishes. The No. 4 team is coming off a near-miss at Phoenix and is now the championship leader with Hendrick Motorsports’ penalty this week. Using Harvick at upcoming races like Richmond and Dover will benefit you more than using him at Atlanta.

FEATURED MATCHUP:
William Byron vs. Kyle Larson
These two HMS drivers have been the best in the field for the last two weeks. Expect Byron to continue his tear this weekend, while Larson will be fortunate to get a top 10. In 36 superspeedway starts, the 2021 champion has just one top-five finish (last spring at Talladega).

FEATURED MATCHUP:
Kevin Harvick vs. Tyler Reddick
Last weekend at Phoenix, Reddick got a much-needed top-five finish and jumped 14 positions in points to 20th. And while he hasn't won on a superspeedway at the Cup level, he’s hyper-aggressive. Sometimes, that pays off, and other times, it doesn’t. He was running inside the top five in the Daytona 500 when, ironically, Harvick got into the No. 45, triggering a multi-car incident.

FEATURED MATCHUP:
Brad Keselowski vs. Bubba Wallace
It shouldn’t be shocking to anyone if either of these two drivers wins on Sunday. They are among the best superspeedway drivers in the field. And while Daytona and Atlanta are nothing alike – except for running in a pack – Keselowski proved he could get out front and lead the field last month. This may change every day as race day draws near, but right now, I lean toward the No. 6 machine.

FEATURED MATCHUP:
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. vs. Austin Dillon
Dillon is a formidable superspeedway competitor, posting a pair of wins at Daytona. He, too, was in the running for the Daytona 500 victory last month, as he was planted on Kyle Busch’s back bumper until he wrecked in overtime. Stenhouse, because of his win in the "Great American Race," gets the ever-so-slight advantage.

MY LINEUP: William Byron, Brad Keselowski, Bubba Wallace, Chris Buescher, Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

GARAGE: Daniel Suárez