Drive for the Cure 250 Betting Tips: Best Options in Charlotte This Weekend

The NASCAR Xfinity Series took its final bye week following the Round of 12 playoff race at Texas Motor Speedway. This week, the grid returns to Charlotte Motor Speedway to race on the “Roval” layout combining the road infield and oval track. It’s the seventh and final road course race of the season. A.J. Allmendinger‘s won the last four events, but he won’t be racing the event this weekend, leaving it wide open for a new driver to step up. Here are your Drive for the Cure 250 betting tips.

NASCAR Xfinity favorites this weekend

Justin Allgaier (+300)

Allgaier followed his win in Bristol with pole position, most laps led, and winning both stages. But late passes put the JR Motorsports driver down to fifth by the chequered flag. Allgaier’s been good at road courses in 2023, with second place in Portland and fifth place in both Austin and Indianapolis. He finished fifth here last year and could make good on the pace he showed last time out.

Sam Mayer (+375)

Mayer’s on the bubble after back-to-back poor results, including 35th in Bristol and 38th in Texas. He needs a top result to secure a spot in the Round of 8 and the Roval is an excellent track for him to push for it. Mayer’s two wins in 2023 came at road courses (Road American and Watkins Glen), and he’s finished in the top 10 in all but one road race (Chicago). He’s been the best road course driver in the Xfinity Series this season and needs a win at the road course here.

Cole Custer (+475)

Custer’s been consistent over the last month and a half, with six top-10 finishes in the last seven races. His pole position in Bristol yielded a fourth-place finish, and he followed with sixth in Texas. The Charlotte Roval’s been one of his most consistent tracks on the Xfinity calendar. He took seventh and eighth there in 2018 and 2019, respectively, and his ninth place there in 2020 was one of his best career Cup Series results. Both of his wins were on non-ovals this year with Portland (road course) and Chicago (street course). He’ll likely be near the front again.

Drive for the Cure 250 betting tips: sleepers for this weekend

Parker Kligerman (+900)

Kligerman’s not too much of a sleeper at +900 but he certainly makes for a bigger payout than the favorites. He’s winless in 2023 but could change that this weekend. He’s earned good road course results in 2023, including third in Watkins Glen, seventh in Indianapolis, second in Road America, and fifth in Sonoma. Last week, he raced from seventh to second by the chequered flag. He could do one better this weekend.

Austin Hill (+1000)

Hill’s slipped in the Xfinity Series standings down to fourth ahead of this weekend and needs a good result here. He’s been strong at the later road courses in 2023, taking fourth in Indianapolis, third in Road America, eighth in Sonoma, and fifth in Portland. Winning here before returning to Las Vegas, where he won earlier this season, would be great for his title chances.

Drive for the Cure 250: drivers to avoid

John Hunter Nemechek (+1400)

It’s unusual to avoid the defending race winner and championship leader, and if there were a random Xfinity race today, he’d be a good choice. But though he’s had an incredible seven wins on the calendar so far, he’s struggled at some road courses (34th in Road America, 16th in Sonoma, 27th in Austin). Watkins Glen was his only top-10 finish on a road course (sixth), and he did well in Chicago (second). He’s safely into the Round of 8, so he won’t be fighting for as much as others in the playoff field.

Sammy Smith (+1600)

Smith’s had an impressive rookie season and sits sixth in the Xfinity standings behind fellow rookie Chandler Smith. He’s had some good results, including fourth in Austin and ninth in Sonoma. But he struggled at recent road courses: 31st in Road America, 28th in Indianapolis, and 18th in Watkins Glen. He’s been inconsistent lately by either finishing ninth or higher or 17th or lower in the last nine NASCAR races.

Drive for the Cure 250 betting tips: picks for this weekend

The Round of 12 concludes this weekend, and four drivers will be eliminated from title contention. A new driver will win the Xfinity race at the Charlotte Roval this weekend for the first time in four years.

Mayer looks like the best bet of the favorites, given his form at road courses in 2023. For a bigger payout, look to Kligerman or Hill.

For NASCAR betting news, NASCAR odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.

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