NASCAR Xfinity DFS Charlotte Roval edition: Dale Tanhardt is back and better than ever to give you the picks you need to bring home the bags for the Drive for the Cure 250 at the Charlotte Roval. We pivot from the most exciting superspeedway on the schedule to a young road course that has produced nothing but pure excitement for this series.
Last year was an absolute thriller with heavy rains swallowing up the track all day long. Lack of vision and lack of grip were consequences that created much attrition throughout the race. Almost every contender spun at least once.
The race was similar to what we saw in the Cup Series at Circuit of the Americas earlier this year; controversial, potentially unsafe, and very exciting. Noah Gragson wrecked three times (3!!!) and still finished 2nd to race-winner AJ Allmendinger, who also spun once.
The rain and flooding were unbelievable in this race. I certainly don’t expect the same conditions, and if those conditions are present, I expect NASCAR to have a much better grasp on how to handle them.
Chase Briscoe was phenomenal in this race and was likely the only guy other than Gragson that could’ve beat AJ. He lost the race in an overtime restart in which he spun exiting turn one.
Speaking of phenomenal: I have been phenomenal on my picks over the past several weeks- until last week. That’s right; I got swept by Talladega herself. But let’s face it: I was due.
The bad weekend is over. We knew it would happen eventually, and it happened at one of the toughest race weekends to predict all season long.
Fun fact here:
If you put $10 on a #NASCAR Parlay featuring all three winners this weekend…
Tate Fogleman +10000
Brandon Brown +4000
Bubba Wallace +2500You’d be a millionaire. That’s how unbelievable this weekend was at Talladega.
Payout is exactly $1,076,650.
DALEADEGA.
— dale tanhardt (@daletanhardt) October 4, 2021
Yeah. Read that tweet real quick. Now tell me if you would’ve done any better.
That’s what I thought.
Now, it’s comeback season, and I’m here to take all the money this weekend. You’re welcome to have some as well.
Let’s get right into it.
NASCAR Xfinity DFS Roval Charlotte Picks for DraftKings
AJ Allmendinger: #16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet – $10,700
Kaulig-Dega did not reign supreme shockingly last weekend, as AJ crashed out early and rain ended the chances of another superspeedway win for the organization. They head to another familiar wheelhouse with AJ as the 2x defending winner of this race.
AJ has been flat-out masterful at road courses this season (except for Daytona where he crashed himself in stage one. I’m still mad about this.) with an average finish of 2.2 when excluding the Daytona road course early this season.
AJ starts 14th on Saturday, and at this moment, there is a 50% chance of rain in the afternoon. I already believe he is the guy to beat, and if you add in rain, experience reigns (pun totally intended).
Book Allmendinger as a top play. He is the road-course ace.
Noah Gragson: #9 JR Motorsports Chevrolet – $10,000
I think another bounce-back is in order here with Gragson after a vicious crash at Talladega last weekend. The guy has been stout here with a 5th and a 2nd in two career starts at the Roval.
Gragson has mixed results at road courses this season, but in his last three, he has finishes of 9th, 7th, and 5th. Noah is trending in the right direction.
His car was incredible here last year as he had three accidents- two of which resulted in substantial contact. He was still a lap or so away from running down Allmendinger as the checkered flag waved amongst all struggles.
I think Gragson is a very solid play on Saturday as he starts 10th. I consider Gragson a strong dark-horse to win this race and confidently think he will finish in the Top 5.
Jade Buford: #48 Big Machine Records Racing Team Chevrolet – $5,500
I get it; the starting position is the kicker here on why the price is so low. But, Buford is a solid road-racer with results to back this claim up.
This guy has been racing on road courses in a variety of different cars for over fifteen years. Since joining NASCAR in 2020, he has 8 Top 21 finishes in 10 starts on road courses.
His consistency is remarkable, and he’s driving a mid-tier racecar. He finished 8th in this race last year in his first start at the roval.
At this price, you’re grabbing a guy that has the capabilities to finish in the Top 15 with a Top 10 ceiling. The floor is low, sure- but the play is worth the risk because of the experience and expertise Buford has on this style of racetrack.
Book Buford as one of the top punt plays on the board this weekend.
Brandon Brown: #68 Brandonbilt Motorsports Chevrolet – $6,000
Yeah, I know. You’re gonna be saying I’m a week late here. But let me tell you why Brown will be a relevant play this weekend.
In six road course starts this season, Brown has 4 Top 12 finishes. Brown was also really fast here last season before crashing and finishing 26th.
I’m a believer in momentum, and all this team has is just that. This team winning their first-ever race at Talladega last weekend is an unbelievable feat, and confidence must be inspired through Brandon and the entire organization collectively.
The starting spot of P16, like Buford, has tanked his price for the weekend. I think he is a solid, sneaky punt play that won’t be recognized thus consequently resulting in lower ownership across the board. Don’t be surprised if Brown is in the optimal lineup two weeks in a row.
NASCAR Xfinity Best Bets
To Win:
AJ Allmendinger +230
Austin Cindric +220
Noah Gragson +1500
Top 3:
Noah Gragson +350
Justin Haley +500
H2H:
Noah Gragson over Justin Allgaier +115
