Fantasy Fastlane: Leaning on drivers with street-course experience for Chicago

MUST START: AJ Allmendinger | View stats

Kaulig Racing, No. 16 Chevrolet

Odds: 11-1

The experience Allmendinger has on street courses in multiple series sticks out like a sore thumb this weekend. However, he doesn't believe that will lend an advantage to him because nobody has ever competed at the Chicago Street Course. Still, he has two street course victories in CART. You could do much worse than slotting the two-time road course winner in your lineup this weekend. 

MUST START: Michael McDowell | View stats

Front Row Motorsports, No. 34 Ford

Odds: 20-1

It's yet to be determined how well road course skills translate to street course skills, but the No. 34 car was a top-five car at Sonoma in mid-June. McDowell has competed in a handful of street races professionally, and he believes he has an advantage this weekend due to comfort level and knowing what he's going to see visually and process how to place his car on the circuit. 

MUST START: Austin Cindric | View stats

Team Penske, No. 2 Ford

Odds: 30-1

You guys are probably thinking, wait, what? Cindric barely cracked the top 30 at Sonoma on speed, and that was at the end of the race. But he has multiple street course starts in F2000 and the Pirelli World Challenge. He's done his homework and knows the layout of the 12-turn, 2.2-mile course. The No. 2 team needs a good run, with its last top-10 finish coming in March at COTA. 

MUST START: Chris Buescher | View stats

RFK Racing, No. 17 Ford

Odds: 20-1

Brad Keselowski said at Nashville that he believes his driver, Buescher, will be a threat to win at Chicago. Dating back to his runner-up finish last year at Sonoma, Buescher is riding a series-high seven consecutive top-10 finishes on road courses entering Chicago. To be in contention, Buescher believes he will need a good starting position, so let's see how that goes on Saturday. 

SLEEPER PICK: Kyle Busch | View stats

Richard Childress Racing, No. 8 Chevrolet 

Odds: 14-1

Not long ago, Busch was considered among the best road course competitors in the field. That went away last year, as Toyota struggled with its braking package on road courses. But with the switch to Chevrolet, the two-time Cup champion is revitalized on road courses with runner-up finishes in both races this season. 

SLEEPER PICK: Ty Gibbs | View stats

Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 54 Toyota

Odds: 40-1

On Denny Hamlin's podcast, William Byron said that Ty Gibbs looked good at the Chicago Street Course when the Cup Series competed in the eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series in 2021, While the simulator and real life are different, Gibbs has been exceptionally strong on road courses throughout his NASCAR career, including three wins in the Xfinity Series. 

SLEEPER PICK: Jenson Button | View stats

Rick Ware Racing, No. 15 Ford

Odds: 100-1

We might as well throw Button into the mix, as he probably has the most street-race experience in the entire field due to his time in Formula One. Button stayed out of trouble at COTA and 18th in his first NASCAR start. With many drivers believing Chicago will be a chaotic race, staying out of trouble will be paramount this weekend. 

STAY AWAY FROM: Denny Hamlin | View stats

Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 11 Toyota

Odds: 25-1

Compared to 2022, Toyota has improved greatly at road courses, winning at both COTA and Sonoma with different drivers. Hamlin was impressive at Sonoma, winning the pole and leading 32 laps. But a small mistake when he nicked the inside wall on the frontstretch ended his race with 18 laps remaining. The No. 11 team has gone eight straight races without a top 10 on road courses. 

STAY AWAY FROM: Ryan Blaney | View stats

Team Penske, No. 12 Ford

Odds: 30-1

Good news for Blaney fans: whenever I list him in drivers to avoid, he's done well this season. He won the Coca-Cola 600 and had his best ever run at Dover in third, This race, though, is a different animal. As Joey Logano called it last week, it's a "ferocious" animal. While some drivers believe characteristics from the Charlotte Roval could apply — Blaney won the first race at the Roval — the No. 12 car was at best a 25th-place car at Sonoma in June. He also finished outside the top 20 at COTA. 

STAY AWAY FROM: Brad Keselowski | View stats

RFK Racing, No. 6 Ford

Odds: 50-1

It's been 15 road course races since Keselowski last scored a top-five finish when turning left and right. That came at the Daytona road course in 2021. In that time, he accumulated an average finish of 20.5 on road courses, with a single top 10 coming last year at Sonoma. There will be better use of Keselowski coming up. 

FEATURED MATCHUP: Ross Chastain vs. Austin Cindric

For as good as Chastain has proven to be on road courses, Cindric has the leg-up on experience at street courses. Expect a strong showing from the No. 2 car this weekend, potentially being in the hunt to win. Cindric excelled on road courses last season with four top 10s. 

FEATURED MATCHUP: AJ Allmendinger vs. Daniel Suárez

Entering the weekend, Allmendinger is arguably the favorite to win in the Windy City. He's superb on road courses and has a street racing background. Suárez isn't a slouch on road courses, but I'm all in on the No. 16 car this weekend. 

FEATURED MATCHUP: Chase Elliott vs. Tyler Reddick

One of the biggest disappointments of the Sonoma race three weeks ago was the lack of pace in Reddick's No. 45 Toyota. That could have been a one-time miss on a road course, but Elliott charged to a top-five finish. These are arguably the best road course drivers in the Cup Series now, so take your pick. Elliott is mine this weekend, believing he will shave off more points to the cutline, currently sitting 64 points below. 

FEATURED MATCHUP: Kyle Larson vs. Martin Truex Jr.

With four straight top-five finishes, the No. 19 team is heating up in the summer months. And with how dominant his car was at Sonoma, he should have the advantage on raw speed. However, this is a facet of racing that's never happened in the 75 years of NASCAR, so maybe Larson will be dialed in and have a strong showing. 

MY LINEUP: AJ Allmendinger, Michael McDowell, Austin Cindric, Chris Buescher, Chase Elliott

GARAGE: Kyle Busch