Rookie Gets the Win
Joe Gibbs Racing-Toyota’s Sammy Smith (+1400) started the season with three top-20 finishes, finishing 19th at both Daytona and Fontana while finishing 17th in Las Vegas. At the other end of the results, Joe Gibbs Racing teammate John Hunter Nemechek was putting up excellent results in his Toyota ride.
However, Smith’s season turned around, and he shot up the Drivers’ Championship standings by landing his Toyota on Victory Lane last weekend in the United Rentals 200. He earned his first NASCAR Xfinity Series race win and his first win overall since the Truck Series’ Richmond stop in 2022.
While Smith might be a longshot to win this weekend’s Raptor 250 in Atlanta, a top-five finish is not out of the question as the rookie has vaulted himself into playoff contention with one race win in machinery that puts up excellent results every weekend.
Consistency is Key
To make the playoffs in any sport, season-long consistency is key. NASCAR is no exception.
We favor prop-based NASCAR betting options, as betting on one driver from the field to win can be very difficult. However, as the season progresses, performance patterns emerge and provide winning online sports betting opportunities.
Las Vegas NASCAR odds have lines for the top-three and top-five finishers, and we have a few consistent drivers to consider to finish in the top five.
Kaulig Racing-Chevrolet’s Chandler Smith has finished in the top five in the last three races since opening the season with a 12th-place finish at Daytona. Smith is an Xfinity Series rookie who has looked very impressive to start 2023.
Stewart-Haas Racing Ford’s Riley Herbst has been around it all season long, having only one top-five finish but placing in the top eight in all four races this season.
JR Motorsports-Chevrolet’s Josh Berry is a long shot at winning this weekend, but with two fifth-place finishes and one eighth-place result, he is definitely a driver who could land in the top five.
Can Allgaier Finish the Job in Atlanta?
JR Motorsports-Chevorlet’s Justin Allgaier (+900) is among our favorites to finish in the top five and win the Raptor 250 on Saturday. Allgaier opened the season by winning the second stage at Daytona and finishing third in the end. He followed Daytona with a third-place finish in Fontana and a second-place finish at Las Vegas.
Allgaier was having an excellent United Rentals 200 in Phoenix, winning the first two stages before dropping down the field and finishing 36th.
We expect Allgaier to finish in the top five, with Allgaier being in the mix to finish the job from Phoenix and get another race win in Atlanta.
Xfinity Series Raptor 250 Recent Results
Justin Allgaier is the only confirmed entrant to have won at Atlanta in the Xfinity Series. Allgaier’s win in 2021 and a strong start to the 2023 season make Allgaier one of the favorites on NASCAR lines.
Xfinity Series Raptor 250 Race Information
- Race: NASCAR Xfinity Series Raptor 250 – 163 laps (251.02 mi): Stages 1/2: 40 laps; Final Stage: 83 laps.
- Location: Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hampton, GA
- Day/Time: Saturday, March 18th, 2023, 2 p.m. ET
- NASCAR Xfinity Series Raptor 250 Live Stream: NBCSports.com
Xfinity Series Raptor 250 Betting Odds
| Xfinity Series Raptor 250 | Moneyline |
| Austin Hill | +450 |
| Justin Haley | +800 |
| John Hunter Nemechek | +800 |
| Justin Allgaier | +900 |
| Josh Berry | +1100 |
| Sam Mayer | +1200 |
| Ryan Truex | +1200 |
| Cole Custer | +1200 |
| Chandler Smith | +1400 |
| Sammy Smith | +1400 |
| Sheldon Creed | +1400 |
The odds in this chart are based on the time of publication. They are subject to change.
Xfinity Series Raptor 250 Picks and Prediction
Current Xfinity Series points leader, Richard Childress Racing-Chevrolet’s Austin Hill, is the front-runner to win in the NASCAR odds at +450. With two race wins, two pole positions, and a top-seven finish in the season’s first four races, Hill will be among our online sport betting picks, especially to finish in the top five.
Nemechek (+800) is having a great season and is second in the Drivers’ standings. He has two podiums along with two sixth-place finishes. Nemechek is a threat to win every weekend and is one of our picks to finish in the top five.
We’ve really liked Allgaier this season and have already mentioned that he is one of our picks to finish in the top five and potentially win in Atlanta for a second time.
However, we can only pick one driver to win the Raptor 250. If we are picking one driver to win in Atlanta straight-up, we’re slightly favoring Nemechek over Allgaier, with Hill a close third choice to win in Atlanta.
We’re taking all three drivers to finish in the top five.
