Pacific Office Automation 147 Predictions: It’s a Battle of Heavyweights

• Sam Mayer has established himself as a formidable force on road courses.

• Based on recent history, Parker Kligerman is a threat for a top finish.

• The race may come down to a battle between two road course heavyweights.

Pacific Office Automation 147 Betting Odds

Odds taken from BetMGM. Head to BetMGM and get up to $1,500 in Bonus Bets with our code WSNMGM*.
*Bonus Bets Expire in 7 Days. One New Customer Offer Only. Add’l terms.

Our Picks for the Pacific Office Automation 147

• Sam Mayer to win the race at +800 at BetMGM 

• Parker Kligerman to finish in the top three at +450 at BetMGM

• Sage Karam to finish in the top five at +600 at BetMGM

Pacific Office Automation 147 Predictions

In Breakout Season, Sam Mayer Proved He’s a Force on Road Courses

Before last year’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, Sam Mayer’s road racing skills were a well-kept secret.

Mayer’s convincing victory at the huge 4.048-mile, 14-turn track let the cat out of the bag. Mayer went on to win three more races in 2023, two of them on road courses, at Watkins Glen and the Charlotte Roval.

The best early indication of Mayer’s prowess came at Portland—seven races before his breakthrough victory at Road America. Mayer ran third behind eventual series champion Cole Custer and Justin Allgaier.

We expect Mayer to claim his second Xfinity win of the season on Saturday. Admittedly, his favorable odds (+800 via BetMGM) are a factor in our choice.

Parker Kligerman’s Skills Shouldn’t Surprise Anyone at This Point

Oddsmakers tend to underrate Parker Kligerman, perhaps because he has never won a NASCAR Xfinity Series race.

Look at the record, however, since Kligerman hooked up with Big Machine Racing last year for a full-time Xfinity ride.

Kligerman posted eight top fives and 18 top 10s and finished 10th in the final 2023 standings. This season, he has four top 10s in the first 12 races and is ninth in the standings.

In particular, Kligerman’s talent shines on road courses. He was fifth at Circuit of the Americas in March, and coming to Portland—the second road course on the Xfinity schedule—he’s getting no respect at +1600 to win via BetMGM.

Though we don’t expect Kligerman to get a breakthrough victory at Portland, given the competition, we think he’s a good bet to finish in the top three at +600 (DraftKings).

We also like vastly underrated road racer Sage Karam to finish in the top five at +450 via BetMGM. He’s in good Sam Hunt Racing equipment this week.

Take Your Pick Between Road Course Aces at Stingy Odds

In 2022, AJ Allmendinger won the inaugural Xfinity Series race at the Portland road course in a rainstorm.

Last year, New Zealander Shane van Gisbergen won his NASCAR national series debut on the Chicago Street Course, also in wet conditions.

There’s no doubt that Allmendinger and van Gisbergen are the top two road racers in the field, Of Allmendinger’s 17 Xfinity wins, 11 have come at road courses.

Van Gisbergen is a three-time Australian Supercars champion. That series races exclusively on road courses.

A rain race would widen the gap between Allmendinger and van Gisbergen and the rest of the field. Fortunately, the chance of rain on Saturday is minimal, and a dry track will give other drivers—like Sam Mayer—a fighting chance.

Here’s the rub: Allmendinger is listed at +210 and van Gisbergen at +225 via BetMGM. We can’t see betting on anyone in a 38-car field at those stingy odds.

But if you insist on backing one of the two favorites, Allmendinger himself thinks van Gisbergen has a slight edge because of his right-foot braking technique.  

How to Watch the Pacific Office Automation 147

• Race: Pacific Office Automation 147 Xfinity Series race

• Location: Portland International Raceway

• Time: Saturday, June 1, 4:30 p.m. ET

• How to Watch: FS1