New Name Atop NASCAR Xfinity Favorites

For the first time this season, the NASCAR Xfinity Series will be racing at a track without the Cup Series. NASCAR’s second tier is off to its annual visit to Portland International Raceway for the second road course event of the year. It’s a unique challenge on the calendar and sees a different order from usual in the 2024 Pacific Office Automation 147 Odds.

2024 Pacific Office Automation 147 Odds: Favorites

🏎Shane van Gisbergen (+220)🏎

The rookie hasn’t been a favorite much this season. He’s recorded just two top-10 results (Atlanta and Phoenix) and sits 15th in the standings. But things could change starting this weekend.

van Gisbergen’s background in Supercars saw him race cars similar to the current Xfinity Series’ machinery on road courses. He won his first career NASCAR race last year in the streets of Chicago. This may be one of his better chances of getting a NASCAR race win this season.

🏎AJ Allmendinger (+220)🏎

Like van Gisbergen, Allmendinger’s extensive experience in road course racing gives him a leg up this weekend. His open-wheel career translated well to that format in NASCAR. He’s won 11 road course races in the Xfinity Series alone, including this race back in 2022. He’ll likely be fighting for victory as well.

🏎Sam Mayer (+550)🏎

Mayer’s in the best form of any driver in the Xfinity field in the recent NASCAR schedule 2024. He’s notched three consecutive top-five finishes and five in his last six races. He’s also a standout on road courses in the Xfinity Series. Last year, three of his four wins came on road course formats: Road America, Watkins Glen, and the Charlotte Roval. He finished third here in 2023 and is a safe bet to be near the front again.

🏎Justin Allgaier (+900)🏎

Allgaier won Stages 1 and 2 in Charlotte but a crash on lap 176 ended his hopes of a top result. That pace is promising, though, following his first win of the season in Darlington. He’s finished in the top five in the last two races in Portland and should be another strong contender at the front.

🏎Cole Custer (+900)🏎

Custer’s been part of an off-track storyline this week with Stewart-Haas Racing announcing the team will fold following this season. That means Custer will be looking for a new team come 2025.

In the meantime, he’ll be focusing on this weekend to bounce back after his worst result of the year in Charlotte. Contact with Austin Hill took him out of the race on Lap 184. Things could be better this weekend, though, as he is the defending race winner and one of the most consistent drivers in the Xfinity Series this season.

Racing in the shadow of the Arch!

SUNDAY | 3:30 p.m. ET | FS1 pic.twitter.com/pP2KUNes83

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) May 29, 2024

2024 Pacific Office Automation 147 Odds: Sleepers

🏎Sheldon Creed (+1000)🏎

Creed isn’t a big sleeper at these odds but he could finally break through for his first Xfinity Series victory. He nearly won this race last season. He started on pole position, led the most laps, and won Stage 1. He’s solid on other road courses, too, including second in Watkins Glen last season. His first win in the series could finally be coming.

🏎Austin Hill (+1400)🏎

Hill’s contact with Custer made for one of his worst races this season. He was 25th by the checkered flag and dropped to third in the standings due to a penalty. It wouldn’t;t be a surprise to see him turn around that form this weekend. He finished second in the first Xfinity road course event of the season in Austin. In 2023, he notched top-10 results in six of the seven non-oval events on the calendar, including fifth in Portland. He’ll be in the mix for the top five at least.

🏎Parker Kligerman (+1600)🏎

Kligerman’s not typically among the names mentioned in these odds but he makes a good case for Xfinity race predictions today. Kligerma finished fifth in Austin earlier this year and had a strong run at road courses last year. Highlights included fifth in Sonoma, second in Road America, and third in Watkins Glen. It wouldn’t be a complete shock to see him in victory lane.

2024 Pacific Office Automation 147 Odds: Predictions

Road courses always jumble up the expected order and Portland is no different. With no Cup Series drivers in the mix, it’s down to the Xfinity regulars to make their mark.

Of the favorites, we like Allmendinger (+220). It’s hard to argue against his track record and prior wins, especially in this field. Of the sleepers, we like Kligerman (+1600) for a surprise victory. Our top five predictions are Allmendinger (-380), van Gisbergen (-380), Mayer (-140), Kligerman (+200), and Creed (+135).

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

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