New Holland 250: Defending Winner AJ Allmendinger Tries to Go Back-to-Back

• Defending winner AJ Allmendinger is the only former Michigan winner in the field.
• Last year’s runner-up, Brandon Jones, is available at an appealing price.
• Does Michigan International Speedway owe Josh Berry a second chance?

New Holland 250 Betting Odds

Odds taken from DraftKings Sportsbook.

New Holland 250 Betting Picks

Josh Berry to win the race at +500

Brandon Jones to finish in the top three at +400

Pick made on 08/04/2022 at 10:10 PM EST

Defending winner AJ Allmendinger Tries to Go Back-to-Back

After a late caution, AJ Allmendinger won last year’s NASCAR Xfinity Series Race at Michigan International Speedway by a scant .163 over Brandon Jones.

In fact, Allmendinger is the only former Michigan winner in the field for Saturday’s New Holland 250 at the high-speed two-mile track.

If you’ll recall, we picked Allmendinger to win last Saturday’s Xfinity event at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course, and he did exactly that.

We don’t think, however, that the Dinger will win a second straight race. His Kaulig Racing Chevrolets aren’t as fast, relatively speaking, as they were last year. And Michigan is a massive oval, not a road course (Allmendinger’s specialty).

Accordingly, we advise avoiding the driver of the No. 16 Chevy this week.

Brandon Jones Isn’t Getting Respect at a Track Where He Deserves It

Admittedly, the 2022 campaign has been an up-and-down affair for Brandon Jones, driver of the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota.

Jones has a pole position at Dover and a victory at Martinsville to his credit, assuring himself a spot in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoff.

But Jones also has failed to finish three races, and he’s currently seventh in the series standings, last among Xfinity regulars who have won races.

That’s no reason, however, for the long odds handicappers have ascribed to Jones for Saturday’s race at Michigan (+1500 to win at DraftKings Sportsbook).

In five starts at the two-mile track, Jones has finished on the lead lap in every race, posting four tops 10s that included a runner-up finish in last year’s event.

That’s why we think he’s a good bet to finish in the top three at +400.

Josh Berry Looks to Get His Due after Close Call Last Year

JR Motorsports driver Josh Berry was pressed into service last year at Michigan in relief of injured Michael Annett, and he made the most of the opportunity.

Berry led 24 laps and was out front late in the race. But for an inopportune caution, he might have won. Instead, he finished fourth.

On Saturday, Berry returns to Michigan for his second start at the two-mile track, and this year he’s in a full-time ride with JRM and already has two victories to his credit.

Though his background is racing late models on short tracks, Berry has adapted seamlessly to larger, higher-speed venues, and we like him to win Saturday’s race at +500.

How to Watch the New Holland 250