Xfinity Series The Loop 121 Odds: Drivers set for first street course race

For the first time in Xfinity Series history, the grid will take on a street course this weekend in Chicago. Like in the Cup Series, The Loop 121 is the first street event many Xfinity drivers have experienced in their stock car careers. This is a first for both series and it’s tough to figure out favorites for the race. As such, the Xfinity Series The Loop 121 Odds show a close bunch of racers ahead of their first street course race.

Road course standouts top the odds

For the first time this season, Cole Custer (+400) is the favorite for victory on Saturday. Custer earned his first win of 2023 in Portland, one of the newer road courses on the NASCAR Xfinity schedule, earlier in June. He followed that with a sixth-place finish in Sonoma.

He’s one of the most consistent drivers in the Xfinity Series this season. He’s finished no worse than ninth in the last nine races, a stretch no one on the grid can match. Though he’s facing a new challenge like everyone else on the grid, Custer’s shown good speed outside of ovals this year.

Sheldon Creed is next at +500. Creed’s yet to win an Xfinity race in 2023 with his best result (second) coming at Talladega. But he did qualify on the pole in Portland, led the most laps, and finished seventh. He followed that with an 11th-place result in Sonoma. He’s shown good pace on road tracks recently, but it would be a surprise to see him in victory lane this weekend.

Justin Allgaier (+600) is one of the most experienced drivers on the Xfinity grid this season. He’s one of two drivers to finish in the top 10 in all three road course races this year. Allgaier’s third in the Xfinity Series standings and 41 points behind leader John Hunter Nemechek. He may close the gap to the top if he can continue that good non-oval track record season.

The second group in Xfinity Series The Loop 121 Odds

Parker Kligerman (+900) is in his first full Xfinity season in a decade. He’s raced well on road courses this season so far, with 14th in Portland and fifth in Sonoma. But he struggled in Austin (30th) and hasn’t done well on ovals. His best finishes this season are third in Talladega and fourth in Atlanta. It’d be a surprise to see him win on Saturday.

Nemechek (+1000) leads the Xfinity standings by a slim nine points over Austin Hill. Though it’s been two and a half months since his last win, Nemechek’s been steady lately. Three top-five finishes in Dover (fifth), Darlington (fifth), and Charlotte (second) were his best run of results since the first month of the season.

He’s cooled off recently with just one top-10 finish since Charlotte, including 10th and 16th at Portland and Sonoma, respectively. A win would be a welcome result and widen his lead at the top of the standings.

Three drivers sit at +1200: Sammy Smith, Hill, and Connor Mosack.

Smith’s the youngest driver on the Xfinity grid this year, but he isn’t racing like it. A win in Phoenix, fourth in Austin, and second in Martinsville have been standout performances in a good rookie year.

But he’s dropped off a bit lately, with just two top-10 results in the last five races. Given his good showing in Austin and ninth in Sonoma, he could be a threat for victory on Saturday.

Behind Custer, Hill’s been one of the most consistent drivers in the Xfinity Series. He started the year on a tear with three wins in five NASCAR races before dropping off slightly. But he’s finished no worse than eighth over the last six races.

This is why he’s closed the gap to Nemechek at the top of the standings. He finished well in the last two road course races, with fifth place in Portland and eighth in Sonoma. He has solid momentum coming into the weekend and, with a new track for everyone, could earn his fourth win of the season.

Rookie Mosack is a bit of a surprise here. He’s raced in nine events this season, but his best results have come on road courses. Eighteenth in Austin and ninth in Portland are his top finishes in 2023. His +1200 odds seem too short and would be a risky choice here.

Longer odds to consider

Sam Mayer (+1400) has been one of the best road course racers this season. Seventh in Austin, third in Portland, and 10th in Sonoma is a good track record. He’s been in good form lately, with two podiums in the last three races. He could provide a better payout than some of the favorites this weekend.

Predictions for The Loop 121

The Loop 121 will be an exciting challenge for drivers and likely make for great racing for fans. The street course’s tight corners and short straights is a departure from the flowing oval tracks the grid’s used to.

Of the favorites in the Xfinity Series The Loop 121 odds, it’s hard to argue with Custer. He’s been the driver of form over the last two months and already broke through for a win on a road course in 2023. If you’re looking for a better payout, look for Hill to return to victory lane or Mayer to continue his good form.

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