RADIO
It's July 4th weekend! Traditionally, that means NASCAR heads to Daytona for the Firecracker 400, but things are different this year, and instead we get an Independence Day that will feature the first ever Xfinity race on the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
This is also the first time we've had Xfinity practice in a long time, which adds a new data point into the lineup calculus for us. And when we're at a track where no one really has experience in a stock car, that extra data is super helpful. (Also, a quick note that there's been some ownership shuffling and the 93 of Myatt Snider is now being managed by Reaume Brothers Racing, so I'd be a little wary of Snider this week just because we don't really know what that team will look like yet.)
Here at RotoBaller, we want to help you make informed decisions about your DFS lineups, which is why I'll be breaking down the slates for the Xfinity Series. Let's look at some NASCAR Xfinity DFS lineup picks for the Pennzoil 150 At The Brickyard on DraftKings. (And if any other DFS providers want to start doing Xfinity, we'll do those too!) Be sure to also check out our NASCAR Premium Tools for Xfinity Series including our DFS Lineup Optimizer and powerful Research Station.
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Xfinity DFS Lineup Picks - DraftKings
Be sure to also check out all of our other weekly NASCAR DFS articles and analysis to help you set your optimal DFS lineups on DraftKings and FanDuel.
A.J. Allmendinger #16 ($11,500) - Starting 30th
I mean, how can you not play the chalkiest chalk that's ever going to chalk? Allmendinger's a no brainer this weekend, to the point where I almost swerved out of the way and suggested someone else to be your high priced anchor, but I couldn't do that in good conscience.
For one, Allmendinger's a road course guy. He's always extremely competitive on road courses and has won on them in the Cup Series.
Another reason: he's run at this track in sports cars, and it showed in practice, as he was one of two drivers with an average speed over 97 miles per hour. (Austin Cindric was the other. I struggled to find a build I liked with both guys, but the low end of that just wasn't working.)
Justin Haley #11 ($9,200) - Starting 11th
Haley was third fastest in practice on Friday.
Honestly, I don't have much more to say than that. In this tier of pricing, he's got my favorite combination of practice speed, road course competence, and place differential upside. He's a solid option who allows you to save a little cash to use on some of the other drivers that I like this week, and he's a good driver in a good Kaulig car. I wish I could pull out some more convincing stats for you, but it's tough when this is 1) the first road course race of the year and 2) the first race ever on the Indy road course.
Jeremy Clements #51 ($8,700) - Starting 21st
Clements was 10th fastest in practice. His 2020 season has been largely disappointing so far, as Clements ranks 17th in points. Over a full season, that would be his worst points finish since going full time in Xfinity.
But this week presents a great chance for Clements to get things back on track. Clements's only Xfinity victory came on a road course back in 2017 and the only three tracks where he's posted a career average finish better than 20th are road courses.
As long as he keeps the car out of trouble, Clements should be able to run a consistent race and challenge for a top-10 finish.
Brandon Gdovic #26 ($8,400) - Starting 38th
Gdovic starts last, so #PlaceDifferentialUpsideSZN.
Colin Garrett has run four races in this Sam Hunt Racing car, posting one top 20 finish at Homestead. But Gdovic was 19th fastest in Friday's practice, and his background makes him an intriguing pick on Saturday.
What's that background? Multiple starts in the Weathertech SportsCar Championship Series and a 13th place finish in the 2015 Xfinity race at Watkins Glen.
No, those aren't the world's best credentials. But he's a road course racer driving for an underrated race team and he's basically pure upside because of his starting position.
Jade Buford #07 ($6,900) - Starting 17th
Yes, I'm going heavy on the road racers here. Buford was 17th in practice and while his starting position gives me plenty of pause, I'm fine taking a swing at a sports car driver in a decent SS Green Light ride.
It's also impressive that he wheeled the car so well in practice ahead of what will be his first Xfinity start. I just think that of the drivers priced under $7,000, Buford comes with a little more upside than other guys because of his background.
Preston Pardus #36 ($4,900) - Starting 19th
Here's the biggest surprise of practice for me. Pardus was the 13th fastest car in practice, ahead of drivers from major teams like Brandon Jones, Jeb Burton, and Anthony Alfredo.
Mario Gosselin's put some decent race cars on the track this year, with four top 10s between his drivers in 2020. So, Pardus isn't in a great ride, but he's not in a start-and-park car or something.
Pardus didn't have much success in two Xfinity starts last year, but he was driving for his family-owned team in that one. He's had success in sports car series in the past and, I mean, look at how cheap he is this week! Pardus is the only bottom-end driver that I like this week, and he helps you fit in some guys higher up the pricing list.
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