Drive for the Cure 250 Predictions & Picks
Only five races remain before a new NASCAR Xfinity Series champion is crowned, and on Saturday, the playoff field will shrink from twelve to eight at the Drive for the Cure 250 at the Charlotte roval (3:00 pm ET, NBC).
After the first two Round of 12 races, two top championship hopefuls have already booked their spots in the Round of 8.
Justin Allgaier and John Hunter Nemechek went into the playoffs as two of the favorites to take the title at Phoenix next month, and they backed up their credentials with wins at Bristol and Texas, respectively.
Last time out, Nemechek grabbed his series-leading seventh win of the season, taking the checkered flag at the Andy’s Frozen Custard 300 two weeks ago.
Heading into Saturday’s run around the roval, Nemechek and Allgaier are sitting pretty, and so is Cole Custer, who has secured a spot in the Round of 8 on points.
Austin Hill, the Xfinity Series regular season champion, and Chandler Smith should join them, as long as the worst-case scenarios don’t happen for either in the Drive for the Cure 250.
The four drivers currently on the outside looking in are Parker Kligerman, Jeb Burton, Josh Berry, and Sam Mayer, with things looking particularly perilous for Berry and Mayer.
Current NASCAR Xfinity Series Points Standings (Prior to the Drive for the Cure 250)
Drivers in bold have won in the Round of 12 and qualified for the Round of 8.
- 1. John Hunter Nemechek – 2148
- 2. Justin Allgaier – 2137
- 3. Cole Custer – 2117
- 4. Austin Hill – 2098
- 5. Chandler Smith – 2086
- 6. Sammy Smith – 2072
- 7. Sheldon Creed – 2063
- 8. Daniel Hemric – 2055
- 9. Parker Kligerman – 2054
- 10. Jeb Burton – 2036
- 11. Josh Berry – 2028
- 12. Sam Mayer – 2021
Which drivers will join Nemechek, Allgaier, and Custer in the next round of the playoffs? Race odds are rather favorable for a couple of drivers who may need to win to get in.
Odds to Win the Drive for the Cure 250
Odds are via BetUS.
- Justin Allgaier +300
- Sam Mayer +375
- Cole Custer +475
- Sheldon Creed +900
- Parker Kligerman +900
- Austin Hill +1000
- Jordan Taylor +1200
- John Hunter Nemechek +1400
- Sammy Smith +1600
- Boris Said +1600
- Josh Berry +2500
- Myatt Snider +2500
- Daniel Hemric +3500
- Riley Herbst +4000
- Brandon Smith +5000
- Chandler Smith +5000
Drive for the Cure 250 Predictions and Picks
In the first two playoff races, nine of the dozen playoff drivers recorded at least one top-ten finish, with Nemechek, Allgaier, Custer, Chandler Smith, and Sammy Smith finishing in the top ten at both Bristol and Texas.
The only three drivers to finish outside of the top ten at both the Food City 300 and Andy’s Frozen Custard 300 are Burton, Berry, and Mayer.
While road courses haven’t been the strongest spot for Burton, both Berry and Mayer have done enough on them this season to feel like they could potentially save themselves with a Drive for the Cure 250 win.
That is especially the case for Mayer, who won at Road America and Watkins Glen, finished second at the Pennzoil 150 at the Brickyard, and came in third at Portland.
Road Course Results for Sam Mayer (2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series Season)
- Pit Boss 250 (COTA): 7th
- Pacific Office Automation 147 (Portland): 3rd
- DoorDash 250 (Sonoma): 10th
- The Loop 121 (Chicago): 18th
- Road America 180 (Road America): 1st
- Pennzoil 150 at the Brickyard (Indianapolis): 2nd
Some might feel that Mayer’s disastrous results at Bristol (35th) and Texas (38th) are just desserts for causing the chaos that helped him win at Watkins Glen.
However, that desire to go for it, combined with his overall results on road courses this season, is why I’m backing him for at least a top-three finish (+110 at BetUS).
Could this be the week that Kligerman finally gets his first Xfinity Series win? He finished second behind Nemechek at Texas and has five top-ten finishes in seven road course races this season, including a runner-up finish at Road America.
Kilgerman is tied for fifth in the series in top-five finishes (nine) and top-ten finishes (15), and five of those top fives and ten of those top tens have come in his last 13 races.
Recent Results for Parker Kligerman (NASCAR Xfinity Series)
Most recent result listed first.
- 2nd
- 31st
- 4th
- 24th
- 4th
- 3rd
- 7th
- 8th
- 2nd
- 9th
- 32nd
- 8th
- 9th
The best performers don’t always advance but based on his results over the last few months, it would be harsh on Kligerman to miss out on the Round of 8. A top-five finish could very well be enough for him, and he is +150 at Bovada to achieve such a result in the Drive for the Cure 250.
Because Xfinity Series finishing position bets are limited to top-three and top-five finishes, some difficult choices have to be made every week in order to not spread things too thin.
Midway through the season, Berry looked like he could be in the title conversation for the duration.
But after recording 11 top-ten finishes in his first 15 races, he has finished in the top ten only four times in his last 13 races, and after finishing 36th at Bristol and 24th at Texas, he may need to win to move on. Every subpar finish isn’t his fault, but I feel more confident in backing Mayer and Kligerman.
Passing on Hill is also a tough call. He hasn’t won on a road course this season, but he has four top fives and would have had a fifth if not for Mayer’s heel turn at Watkins Glen.
However, he really just needs to take it easy at Charlotte. Playing it safe might be the approach he opts for just to ensure he doesn’t have a dance with disaster.
Where some drivers find themselves as opposed to others ultimately impacts my Drive for the Cure 250 race winner pick.
Drive for the Cure 250 Race Winners
- 2022: A.J. Allmendinger
- 2021: A.J. Allmendinger
- 2020: A.J. Allmendinger
- 2019: A.J. Allmendinger
- 2018: Chase Briscoe
Or picks, rather.
Mayer needs the win, and of the four drivers on the outside right now, he is the one most equipped to win on the roval. Custer, meanwhile, is secure and won’t be affected if racing for the win doesn’t work out for him.
With both of those situations in mind, I’m sprinkling a bit on both drivers instead of committing to just one.
Where to Bet on the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs
Many of the top sports betting sites offer a variety of NASCAR betting odds. Throughout the season, you can bet on races like the Daytona 500, Coca-Cola 600, and others.
Along with being able to bet on the winner of each Cup Series, Xfinity Series, and/or Truck Series race, sportsbooks like Bovada and BetUS offer finishing position odds (top 3, top 5, and/or top 10).
Also, odds on who will finish at the top of the championship standings are available at many reputable sportsbooks.
In addition to BetUS and Bovada, here are some of the sites that we recommend if you are interested in NASCAR betting:
If you don’t have an account at a book on this list, check out our reviews to help you determine if it is worth your interest and your betting funds.
