What’s up everyone?! Welcome to The Inside Line: Xfinity Series. Larkin8 here and this week we will be covering all the drivers participating in the Cure 250 NASCAR XFINITY Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedwa. If you have any other questions be sure to jump into the NASCAR Talk slack channel for assistance from our NASCAR coaches. You can follow me on Twitter @Larkin8
Christopher Bell $11,000
Bell has been fantastic this year on the road courses scoring two 2nd place finishes and a win last time out at Road America. In the first addition of the Roval race last year he ended up 5th. I expect Bell to race for the win this week but with the limited number of dom points this week it makes things difficult for him to pay off his DK price. I will like him even more if he offer some place differential like he had a Road America.
AJ Allmendinger $10,800
AJ has been really solid overall collecting some fast laps and laps led on the road courses this year but has definitely not be a dominating force. Expectations were set high when it was announced he would run these races for Kaulig in the #10 but he has failed to deliver a win for them so far. I do believe AJ is a threat for the win but I don’t see him having any separation over Bell and Cindric at this point.
Cole Custer $10,500
This style of racing is simply not Custers specialty. He will put in a solid top 10 performance but is unlikely to challenge for the win. 10th, 8th and 8th at the three road races so far this year. Without place diff upside Custer is a borderline fade.
Justin Allgaier $10,200
Allgaier is a solid play on this style track. He has an average finish of 6.5 this year on the road course with a best starting position of 8th. He ended up 15th last year in this race but that isn’t too concerning for me. If he continues to offer some place differential he can be a solid stud to pair with a potential dom. Not a top end play but definitely worth some coverage in the right spot.
Tyler Reddick $9,900
Reddick has been top 5 in all three road course races this year. While I don’t expect him to contend for many dom points just being towards the front can give him a shot at the win. Definitely a top 5 threat this week again.
Austin Cindric $9,600
Cindric should be the pre race favorite for the win and to collect the most dom points. He started on pole and led 13 laps here last year before finishing 3rd. He has won two of the three road course races this year and finished 2nd in the other. Elite play and a ridiculously good price.
Noah Gragson $9,400
Gragson has broken 40 points on DK in all three road races which is really impressive. At the Glen he did it with place diff starting 18th and finishing 10th. At Mid Ohio and Road America he did it by finishing inside the top 5 with great performances. He has top 5 upside but would expect him to slot in around 7th or so. With the right place diff can be a good play. Gragson wrecked in practice and will go to a back up car. He will have to start from the rear of the field.
Chase Briscoe $9,200
Winner of the first ever race at the Roval last year. Nobody saw it coming. I do not think he can duplicate that this week but he can certainly score a top 5. He has finished 7th in all three road races in 2019 so look for a top 10 day but with top 5 upside.
Harrison Burton $9,000
Burton will be back driving the #18 for Joe Gibbs this week. He has a very lackluster road course history overall. Simply because the car is amazing he is a top 10 contender but I expect very little out of him. If he qualifies poorly he is worth a shot based off place diff. Otherwise he has a limited upside.
Brandon Jones $8,800
Jones will be lucky to score a top 10 this week. Finishes of 18th, 10th and 16th in 2019 on road courses. He is not very good at this style of racing at all. Limited upside and a crash risk if he pushes too hard.
Michael Annett $8,600
Annett much like Jones is not very good at road racing. He has continued to qualify poorly at these tracks though which has increased his DK potential. He has DK points scores of 40, 39.8 and 38 on road courses this year even with finishes of 9th, 13th and 12th. The scenario for him paying off is pretty simple. Poor qualifying will lead to some place diff and hopefully around 40 points.
Ryan Truex $8,400
Truex outside of a random 5th at Mid Ohio last year has run roughly 15th in all his road course starts. The 8 car he is in this week is really good so the car can certainly get a top 10 but I am unsure if the driver can deliver. Not the best play but worth a shot in the right situation.
John H. Nemechek $8,300
Nemechek has had trouble staying clean in road races this year. He is another fringe top 10 car this week. With the right place differential he can be viable just like Annett, Jones and Truex.
Justin Haley $8,100
Haley has been solid almost everywhere this season. He will be another driver contending for a top 10 something he has already done in two of the three road course races this year. Good price compared to this who will have similar upsides.
Ryan Sieg $8,000
Sieg has really had some awful luck at road courses in the past but has cleaned that up with a 16th and 11th in his last two starts. He is a top 15 driver who can sneak into a top 10 with some issues with drivers ahead of him.
Gray Gaulding $7,900
Gaulding is a top 15 car pretty much every week. I like him to continue that here if he has a good clean race. The more place diff the better for him but he is a solid qualifier so I expect a limited upside.
Alex Labbe $7,800
Big fan of Labbe at these road course races. His worst finish in five starts is 19th and he has a 9th on his record at Mid Ohio. Finished 13th in this event last year driving for the same team. Top 15 will be a good run for him and something that is likely.
Jeremy Clements $7,700
Clement s is a really solid driver on this style track. He has finishes of 11th, 11th and 8th on the road courses this year. I believe he purchased one of the former #42 cars from CGR after they closed which has given him a boost quality wise. I like him to finish well inside the top 15 and possibly score a top 10 if things go his way. If he starts anywhere outside top 15 he could be the perfect mid tier play.
Lawson Aschenbach $7,600
Lawson comes from the IMSA Sports Car series where he has had some good success. His NASCAR experiences have been lackluster overall though. He has a shot at a top 20 but really needs to put together a complete race. 21st in this race last year. Driving the #0 for JDM normally driven by Smithley
Garrett Smithley $7,400
Smithley will be driving the flagship #4 this week for JDM. Don’t have huge expectations for him but he can certainly score a top 20 this week. place diff will be important as always.
Josh Williams $7,300
Williams is not very good at road racing at all. Due to this he has qualified poorly giving him some place diff upside. His overall finishing position upside is low however which limits his scoring ability. Play some in the right situations but overall not the best play.
Brandon Brown $7,100
Brown much like Williams is not a road racing guy. This is why he has brought in Will Rodgers to drive the #86 this week. Brown will run a 2nd car #68 for himself. He finished 24th with it in Mid Ohio. Top 25 expected with a shot at a top 20.
Ray Black Jr $6,900
22nd 19th and 14th on road courses this year. Car is decent and Black has a done a solid job getting good finishes out of it this year. Top 20 finish expected from him. Would like him to offer place diff as he often does.
Josh Bilicki $6,700
Only ran 4 total laps in practice and was slowest. I wish we could get to see Bilicki go at it again on a road course but this appears to be a start and park situation.
Will Rodgers $6,500
Rodgers returns to the #86 for Brandon Brown this week. He is a legit road racer who finished 12th driving this car at Mid Ohio. Was 6th in final practice for this race. Love him this week just hope he doesn’t qualify too high.
Stephen Leicht $6,400
Leicht has been rough this year on road courses. Not going to expect too much. Top 25 situation.
BJ McLeod $6,200
McLeod is really bad at road racing. He will qualify poorly and offer some place differential. This will only be valuable if we get some carnage. Get a little ownership just in case but limit expectations. Top 25 is a good day.
Vinnie Miller $6,000
We all know the story here. Will likely qualify poorly, offer place diff and ride around collecting 25ish points on DK. Not the worst play but limited upside.
Preston Pardus $5,900
Pardus is back with his family owned #43 after reliability issues ended his day at Road America. This driver and car are fast running top 15 times in practice. He is a good play but after being aggressive with him earlier in the year only to have reliability issues I am cautious now. Definitely get some exposure though. Solid punt play.
Tommy Joe Martins $5,700
Martins is a top 20 car for sure. Had issues at The Glen running inside top 20 and finished 18th at Mid Ohio. If he qualifies outside top 20 he is a fantastic all around play with optimal upside.
Joey Gase $5,600
Gase is nothing special on this style of track but can ride around and score a top 25. Much better plays out there but could out place diff some guys.
Timmy Hill $5,400
Wish we saw Hill run a few more laps in practice but still feel good about him overall. Much like teammate Tommy Joe Martins he is a top 20 threat. He will be driving the #61 this week which has had some solid runs as of late.
David Starr $5,300
Don’t expect much from Starr this week. Not a very good overall upside. If he just offers tons of place diff it is ok to get some coverage but much better plays out there.
JJ Yeley $5,200
My man JJ delivered last week like a champ. Best part is we get an encore this week. He is back in the #78 for BJ McLeod’s team. The last three road races he finished he scored finished of 17th, 13th and 10th. While a finish that high would be a bit unexpected it is a representation that he can get the job done. Look for him to run around 20th-22nd this weekend.
Cody Ware $5,100
Driving the #99 for BJ McLeod. Already found the wall in practice. Not a very good driver no matter what the track. If he starts ultra deep he is an ok play but overall I do not like Ware in any situation.
Chad Finchum $4,900
Start and park fade
Bayley Currey $4,800
Driving the #38 for Ryan Sieg. Believe this is a start and park situation. Only 2 practice laps. Fade
Joe Nemechek $4,700
Joe is driving the #74 for for Mike Harmon. Actually not the worst play with the price. Nemechek is still a solid driver and can optimize this cars upside. Could sneak out a top 25. All about where he qualifies though. The more place diff the better.