The field is set for Saturday afternoon’s Xfinity race at Richmond, with Austin Cindric and Harrison Burton on the front row. Using the NASCAR DFS projections, let’s jump into the top DraftKings NASCAR DFS picks for the Go Bowling 250.
DraftKings NASCAR DFS Picks: Go Bowling 250
Austin Cindric, 1st ($10,300)
In six career starts at Richmond, Cindric has failed to find the victory circle but did finish in second in both 2019 races. His Xfinity acumen has been better in road courses, intermediate tracks, and superspeedways. Meanwhile, his short-track career in the 22 for Roger Penske has been a point of improvement. That said, Cindric has won back-to-back races at Phoenix while leading the most laps in both events. With Phoenix being one of the better corollary tracks to Richmond, perhaps whatever is going on setup-wise at Phoenix will carry over into Richmond this Saturday. With expensive place differential at the top of the salary board, take advantage of a discounted Cindric who could be one of the top lap-leaders in this 250-lap event.
Justin Allgaier, 5th ($9,700)
Las Vegas… That is as far back as a DFS player has to go to find the last time Allgaier failed to finish inside the top 10 at any track that wasn’t a road course. Compared to 2020, this year for Allgaier has been leaps and bounds better, as well as more consistent including wins at Atlanta and Darlington 1. Even in a down season last year, Allgaier managed to sweep the Richmond double-header reestablishing himself as one of the Xfinity Series best short-track racers. Since 2019, Allgaier has all four finishes within the top five and is averaging 36.3 fastest laps and 74.8 laps led during that span at Richmond. Allgaier is the outright betting favorite at BET MGM, currently sitting at +375.
Tommy Joe Martins, 24th ($6,400)
Before last week’s 37th-place finish at Darlington, Martins had righted his ship with 10 straight finishes of 21st or better. For a driver and team operating on a shoe-string budget, these finishes were promising for a team just looking for any sign of improvement. Look for Martin to get back on course with a track that should suit him, with lap turning and lower incident levels. Another top-20 finish for Martins is probably in the cards, and compared to every other driver in the $6,000 salary range, Martins offers the safest floor.
J.J. Yeley, 29th ($7,400)
For those DFS players who have read this article long enough, it should have been all too apparent Yeley was going to make this article once the starting grid came out on Wednesday. Time and time again, Yeley proves to be the most capable driver, in the Rick Ware stable. Starting 29th, Yeley offers legitimate top-15 upside as he showed at Phoenix with his 14th-place finish. Combined with his start at New Hampshire, Yeley is averaging 16.5 spots gained relative to his starting position. In a week where so much place differential got priced up, Yeley offers that same upside but at a drastically cheaper salary.
Dale Earnhardt Jr., 30th ($12,000)
Making his much-anticipated start of the 2021 Xfinity Season, Earnhardt rolls off the grid back in 30th thanks to another bad finish from Sam Mayer. Racing for nothing more than fun and another trophy to add to his shop, Earnhardt should easily make his way into the top 10 and potentially compete for a win. For those wondering, Earnhardt’s outright odds place him fourth at +1000, tied with AJ Allmendinger and Harrison Burton.
The only hiccup in playing Earnhardt is this salary. With a top-five finish, he will hit 5x value for his salary and that does not even account for potential dominator points. However, playing Earnhardt means DFS players are only getting access to one potential dominator from upfront. If a second dominator equals Earnhardt’s fantasy points, at a near $2,000 discount via their fastest laps and laps led points, Earnhardt will not end up optimal.
Sam Mayer, 35th ($8,500)
Currently, Mayer is listed only as a tournament option but with more information, he could become cash viable. Mayer is a capable driver, the problem for him this week is that he is in B.J. McLeod equipment. That has not been an issue for Kevin Harvick or Chase Briscoe, but it was announced that Stewart-Haas Racing helped set those cars up essentially giving SHR a second Xfinity car those weekends. What is going into the No. 99 this weekend is anyone’s guess, chances are that J.R. Motorsports could be setting this vehicle up as well. On the other hand, until more information is released, DFS players are left to assume it is the same No. 99. If that is the case, then this pick goes haywire early as a good driver is stuck fighting bad equipment all afternoon. Yet, if extra funding is going into this equipment, Mayer could push for a top-15 finish.
For those wondering, this will not be Mayer’s first experience at Richmond though. He has made two previous Trucks starts, one for GMS last season and in Bret Holmes equipment earlier this Spring. In Holmes’ Truck, Mayer did manage to finish in the top 10, giving hope that even if this a standard McLeod vehicle, he can still maximize results in the 99.
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