BACK TO GALLERIES
Fantasy Fastlane: 2019 Auto Club 400
By RJ Kraft | Published: March 15, 2019 16
Daniel Shirey | Getty Images
1 of 16
NASCAR Digital Media
Editor's note: Fantasy Fastlane will look at each race from a fantasy perspective, examining the top plays, sleepers and plays to avoid for NASCAR Fantasy Live. Garage driver will lock at end of Stage 2. Odds come from Westgate Sports Book.
PLAY NOW: Set your Fantasy Live lineup today
PLAY NOW: Set your Fantasy Live lineup today
2 of 16
Daniel Shirey | Getty Images
Martin Truex Jr. | View stats
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 19 Toyota
Odds: 7-1
Fastlane forecast: Truex hadn't found great success at Auto Club until the past two years where he's led nearly half the laps (198 of a possible 402) and scored a win and another top five. He also scored three stage wins in those races. I expect big things this weekend.
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 19 Toyota
Odds: 7-1
Fastlane forecast: Truex hadn't found great success at Auto Club until the past two years where he's led nearly half the laps (198 of a possible 402) and scored a win and another top five. He also scored three stage wins in those races. I expect big things this weekend.
3 of 16
Daniel Shirey | Getty Images
Kyle Busch | View stats
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 18 Toyota
Odds: 9-2
Fastlane forecast: Fresh off a win at Phoenix, Busch heads to a track where he has three wins. In the past seven Auto Club races, he has five top-three finishes and his career 10.4 average finish is his fourth-best among all tracks. He's well worth the use on Sunday.
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 18 Toyota
Odds: 9-2
Fastlane forecast: Fresh off a win at Phoenix, Busch heads to a track where he has three wins. In the past seven Auto Club races, he has five top-three finishes and his career 10.4 average finish is his fourth-best among all tracks. He's well worth the use on Sunday.
4 of 16
Matt Sullivan | Getty Images
Brad Keselowski | View stats
Team Penske, No. 2 Ford
Odds: 13-2
Fastlane forecast: Keselowski has one win at Auto Club in which he led just the last lap. The 2012 champion has the best average finish (4.0) and earned the most points (average of 41.0) in the past four races there. Penske has the new rules dialed in.
Team Penske, No. 2 Ford
Odds: 13-2
Fastlane forecast: Keselowski has one win at Auto Club in which he led just the last lap. The 2012 champion has the best average finish (4.0) and earned the most points (average of 41.0) in the past four races there. Penske has the new rules dialed in.
5 of 16
Daniel Shirey | Getty Images
Joey Logano | View stats
Team Penske, No. 22 Ford
Odds: 13-2
Fastlane forecast: Logano has three straight top-five finishes at Auto Club and has averaged just over 40 points in that stretch -- tied with Truex. He won at Las Vegas with this rules package so expect him to be a threat to win once again.
Team Penske, No. 22 Ford
Odds: 13-2
Fastlane forecast: Logano has three straight top-five finishes at Auto Club and has averaged just over 40 points in that stretch -- tied with Truex. He won at Las Vegas with this rules package so expect him to be a threat to win once again.
6 of 16
Daniel Shirey | Getty Images
Kevin Harvick | View stats
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 4 Ford
Odds: 5-1
Fastlane forecast: Harvick's record at his home track is pretty spotty. He won in 2011 and has two runner-up finishes in the past four races here. Harvick has top fives in 24 percent of his starts at the California track -- seventh worst for him. I'm looking to stay away here.
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 4 Ford
Odds: 5-1
Fastlane forecast: Harvick's record at his home track is pretty spotty. He won in 2011 and has two runner-up finishes in the past four races here. Harvick has top fives in 24 percent of his starts at the California track -- seventh worst for him. I'm looking to stay away here.
7 of 16
Jerry Markland | Getty Images
Kyle Larson | View stats
Chip Ganassi Racing, No. 42 Chevrolet
Odds: 7-1
Fastlane forecast: Larson's last two starts at Auto Club have produced a win and a runner-up finish. He was also the runner-up in 2014. This and Michigan have helped him earn the nickname "2-mile Kyle." He's been a bit uneven, so keep an eye on him.
Chip Ganassi Racing, No. 42 Chevrolet
Odds: 7-1
Fastlane forecast: Larson's last two starts at Auto Club have produced a win and a runner-up finish. He was also the runner-up in 2014. This and Michigan have helped him earn the nickname "2-mile Kyle." He's been a bit uneven, so keep an eye on him.
8 of 16
Sean Gardner | Getty Images
Ryan Blaney | View stats
Team Penske, No. 12 Ford
Odds: 20-1
Fastlane forecast: Blaney will look to carry his Phoenix momentum to the California track where he has back-to-back top 10s and the ninth-best average running position. Penske's ability to hone in on the new rules is the best reason for the play.
Team Penske, No. 12 Ford
Odds: 20-1
Fastlane forecast: Blaney will look to carry his Phoenix momentum to the California track where he has back-to-back top 10s and the ninth-best average running position. Penske's ability to hone in on the new rules is the best reason for the play.
9 of 16
Daniel Shirey | Getty Images
Denny Hamlin | View stats
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 11 Toyota
Odds: 18-1
Fastlane forecast: The overall body of work says this is one of Hamlin's worst tracks -- 17.5 average finish. The recent results, though, have been encouraging with two top-six finishes in his last three starts. Add in JGR's strong start and he's a consideration.
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 11 Toyota
Odds: 18-1
Fastlane forecast: The overall body of work says this is one of Hamlin's worst tracks -- 17.5 average finish. The recent results, though, have been encouraging with two top-six finishes in his last three starts. Add in JGR's strong start and he's a consideration.
10 of 16
Matt Sullivan | Getty Images
SLEEPER PICK: Erik Jones | View stats
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 20 Toyota
Odds: 22-1
Fastlane forecast: Granted it's only been two starts at Fontana, but Jones has the best average running position here -- 6.871. An added benefit: He's earned the fifth-most stage points here in the past two years.
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 20 Toyota
Odds: 22-1
Fastlane forecast: Granted it's only been two starts at Fontana, but Jones has the best average running position here -- 6.871. An added benefit: He's earned the fifth-most stage points here in the past two years.
11 of 16
Jerry Markland | Getty Images
SLEEPER PICK: Jimmie Johnson | View stats
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 48 Chevrolet
Odds: 33-1
Fastlane forecast: It's weird writing of a seven-time champion as a sleeper. He has six wins at Auto Club -- the most recent in 2016 -- and he has three top 10s in his last four starts at the 2-mile California track.
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 48 Chevrolet
Odds: 33-1
Fastlane forecast: It's weird writing of a seven-time champion as a sleeper. He has six wins at Auto Club -- the most recent in 2016 -- and he has three top 10s in his last four starts at the 2-mile California track.
12 of 16
Stacy Revere | Getty Images
SLEEPER PICK: Clint Bowyer | View stats
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 14 Ford
Odds: 25-1
Fastlane forecast: Bowyer's slow start to 2019 -- one top 10 in four races -- lumps him into the sleeper designation. He finished third in this race in 2017 and has averaged 38 points in the last two races here.
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 14 Ford
Odds: 25-1
Fastlane forecast: Bowyer's slow start to 2019 -- one top 10 in four races -- lumps him into the sleeper designation. He finished third in this race in 2017 and has averaged 38 points in the last two races here.
13 of 16
Daniel Shirey | Getty Images
SLEEPER PICK: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | View stats
Roush Fenway Racing, No. 17 Ford
Odds: 40-1
Fastlane forecast: Maybe this is a case of being too bullish on his performance in the last race with this rules package -- a sixth at Las Vegas. The early returns on his 2019 season have me intrigued.
Roush Fenway Racing, No. 17 Ford
Odds: 40-1
Fastlane forecast: Maybe this is a case of being too bullish on his performance in the last race with this rules package -- a sixth at Las Vegas. The early returns on his 2019 season have me intrigued.
14 of 16
Matt Sullivan | Getty Images
STAY AWAY FROM: Kurt Busch | View stats
Chip Ganassi Racing, No. 1 Chevrolet
Odds: 20-1
Fastlane forecast: Busch is off to a strong start with his new team with three top 10s. What scares me off are his last three Auto Club starts -- three finishes outside the top 10. That puts him on my avoid list.
Chip Ganassi Racing, No. 1 Chevrolet
Odds: 20-1
Fastlane forecast: Busch is off to a strong start with his new team with three top 10s. What scares me off are his last three Auto Club starts -- three finishes outside the top 10. That puts him on my avoid list.
15 of 16
Chris Graythen | Getty Images
STAY AWAY FROM: Daniel Suarez | View stats
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 41 Ford
Odds: 66-1
Fastlane forecast: I've been bullish on Suarez's move to SHR but the early returns have not been impressive. He struggled in this race last year with JGR and they've fared better here than his new org.
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 41 Ford
Odds: 66-1
Fastlane forecast: I've been bullish on Suarez's move to SHR but the early returns have not been impressive. He struggled in this race last year with JGR and they've fared better here than his new org.
16 of 16
Sarah Crabill | Getty Images
My lineup heading into the weekend: Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr., Joey Logano, Brad Keselowski, Clint Bowyer; Garage: Kyle Larson. Check back for our "Fantasy Update" piece this weekend for the final lineup. Tweet at me @kraftdaddy85
with your lineups and questions ahead of Sunday's race at 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX.
with your lineups and questions ahead of Sunday's race at 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX.