Drive for the Cure 250 Predictions (Xfinity Series): AJ Allmendinger Goes for Fourth Straight Win

• AJ Allmendinger looks to keep a perfect record intact at the Charlotte ROVAL.
• Daniel Hemric is an underrated pick in a race that demands his best performance.
• Ty Gibbs simply must avoid disaster to guarantee advancement in Xfinity Playoffs.

Drive for the Cure 250 Betting Odds

Odds taken from DraftKings Sportsbook.

Our Picks for the Drive for the Cure 250

AJ Allmendinger to win the race at +180

Daniel Hemric to finish in the top three at +425

Justin Allgaier to beat Noah Gragson head-to-head at +100

AJ Allmendinger Goes for Fourth Straight Win at Charlotte Road Course

There’s a good reason why AJ Allmendinger considers the Charlotte ROVAL his favorite track on the NASCAR circuit.

In baseball parlance, Allmendinger is batting 1.000 at the 2.280-mile, 17-turn road course (dubbed the “ROVAL” because it incorporates both the Charlotte oval and infield road course into its layout).

The acknowledged king of NASCAR road course racing, Allmendinger has visited Victory Lane in all three of his races at the ROVAL. In addition, three of his four victories this season have come on road courses.

There is no other pick to win this week than Allmendinger. The only question is whether you want to play the favorite at DraftKings Sportsbook at the relatively puny price of +180.

Daniel Hemric Needs a Strong Performance—and Is Likely to Get It

The Drive for the Cure 250 is an elimination race in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs. After the checkered flag on Saturday, the Playoff field will be cut from 12 drivers to eight.

Defending series champion Daniel Hemric currently is ninth in the standings, six points behind Ryan Sieg in eighth.

Hemric, however, has a far superior record at the Charlotte Roval. In three starts at the track, he has two top fives—both third-place finishes in his two most recent races there.

Accordingly, we like a motivated Hemric to duplicate his podium results on Saturday and advocate a bet on the defending series champ to finish in the top three at +425 at DraftKings.

One note: It’s advisable to make this bet before Saturday’s qualifying session. Hemric qualifies well and is likely to move the betting line.

Ty Gibbs Will Be Racing to Lock Up a Spot in the Playoffs’ Next Round

No matter what else happens in Saturday’s Drive for the Cure 250, Ty Gibbs can lock up a spot in the Playoffs’ Round of 8 by scoring 13 or more points.

That, more than going all-out for victory, should be his primary focus in this elimination race. Scoring points in the first two-stage could put Gibbs over the top.

For that reason, we don’t like the driver of the No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota to triumph on Saturday and don’t recommend a bet to that effect at +350 at DraftKings.

Instead, we prefer to bet on Justin Allgaier to win a head-to-head battle against JR Motorsports teammate Noah Gragson at +100. That’s a contest between two equally matched drivers, with Allgaier the underdog.

How to Watch the Drive for the Cure 250