2018 NASCAR XFINTIY Series Picks and Predictions – Favorites, Value Bets and Sleepers for the Alsco 300: The NASCAR XFINITY Series returns to action this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway after a two-week layoff, and after the Dash 4 Cash promotion had prevented Cup Series regulars from competing in the last four races, the big names will be back in the field for Saturday’s Alsco 300.
On one hand, the return of the Cup regulars can limit your potential profits because they have such strong odds of dominating the rest of the field. On the plus side, their presence also turns some of the best XFINITY regulars into decent value bets.
Whether you like to back the favorites or take a shot on a sleeper, check out all of my top betting options to get ready for Saturday’s Alsco 300 at Charlotte.
2018 NASCAR XFINTIY Series Picks and Predictions: Favorites, Value Bets and Sleepers for the Alsco 300
The Favorites
Kyle Busch (+150)
You won’t make a ton of money by betting on Busch, but he might be your only hope of cashing this weekend. He’s been an absolute stud at Charlotte in the XFINITY Series, winning a track-record eight times and finishing in the top five in eight of his last nine starts.
Brad Keselowski (+185)
His overall resume speaks for itself, and if Keselowski’s talent wasn’t enough to earn your trust, his record at Charlotte should. In 18 XFINITY starts at the track, he has logged 14 top-10 finishes, making three trips to victory lane. Keselowski won his first XFINITY start of the year, and he has a great chance of making it two-for-two this weekend.
Christopher Bell (+330)
If you want a little more room for profit than the two Cup juggernaut offer, Bell is the top alternative. In three races at 1.5-mile tracks this year, he has two runner-up finishes and a third-place run, and Bell has led laps in all three of those races. He also finished in the top five in his only XFINITY start at Charlotte to date. Bell should be fighting for the win this weekend.
Value Bets
Elliott Sadler (+1300)
Although he doesn’t have a win yet in 2018, Sadler is basically a lock to be in contention this weekend. Through the first 10 races this season, he has yet to finish outside the top 10 while logging a series-best eight top-five finishes. Two of those top-five finishes came at 1.5-mile ovals, and unlike some other XFINITY regulars, Sadler’s numbers haven’t slipped in races where Cup drivers are in the field. These aren’t bad odds on the most dependable driver in the series.
Chase Elliott (+2000)
Elliott wasn’t expecting to run the XFINITY Series event this weekend, but in the wake of Spencer Gallagher’s suspension, he will pilot the No. 23 GMS Racing machine Saturday night at Charlotte. Yes, it will be his first race with a new team, and I think his longer odds reflect the fear of the unknown. However, Elliott has already been in contention for wins at Charlotte in the Cup Series, and the No. 23 team has been a consistent top-10 threat all year. Take advantage of Elliott’s odds in his GMS debut.
Daniel Hemric (+2200)
The best value available for the Alsco 300 is easily Hemric. At 22/1, he offers some legitimate room for profit, and he’s been one of the strongest series regulars all year. He has finished sixth or better in six of the 10 races this season, and he has finished third in three of the last five races. Perhaps more importantly, he has led more than 30 laps in three of the last five races, leading 39 laps and finishing third at Texas, the most recent race at a mile-and-a-half tracks. Hemric could be an absolute steal.
The Sleeper
Matt Tifft (+5500)
If you are looking to roll the dice to try to hit it big, the best longshot on the board this weekend is Tifft. He’s been consistent all year, logging five top-10s through the first 10 races. He’s been equally as consistent at the 1.5-mile tracks, finishing 12th or better in all three races and finishing as high as sixth at Texas a few weeks ago. Tifft also has two top-10s in three career starts at Charlotte, so at the very least, he should be close enough to the front to try to steal a win with pit strategy.