The NASCAR Xfinity Series heads to Atlanta on Saturday for the Focused Health 250. This is a race where drafting will be incredibly important, and one where the race could turn at the drop of a hat after a big crash
Entering this race, Justin Allgaier leads Cole Custer by 28 points in the regular season points race. This race could offer a great chance for a new driver to win his way into the playoff field though. Back in February, Parker Retzlaff had a top-five here, showcasing how wild things can get at this track.
Here at RotoBaller, we want to help you make informed decisions about your DFS lineups, which is why I'll be breaking down the slates for the Xfinity Series. Let's look at some NASCAR Xfinity DFS lineup picks for the NASCAR Xfinity Series Focused Health 250 on DraftKings. Be sure to also check out our NASCAR Premium Tools for Xfinity Series, including our DFS Lineup Optimizer and powerful Research Station. This slate locks on 9/7/24 at 3:09 p.m. EDT.
Xfinity DFS Preview - DraftKings
Be sure to also check out all of our other weeklyNASCAR DFS articles and analyses to help you set your optimal DFS lineups on DraftKings and FanDuel.
Top Plays
Note: This was written before qualifying. Feel free to ask me over on X if you have questions after qualifying.
Jesse Love ($10.5K)
When we were here back in February, Jesse Love was dominant, leading 157 of the 169 laps before running out of gas at the end...literally. That dropped him down to 12th in the final finishing order and denied him his first career win.
Locking In for Atlanta pic.twitter.com/u6mdSIzj0q
— jesse love jr (@jesselovejr1) September 5, 2024
Love managed to get that win a little later in the year by taking the checkered flag at Talladega, another drafting-focused track. He should be viewed as a favorite to win on Saturday.
Austin Hill ($10.8K)
Love's RCR teammate Austin Hill is probably the most likely driver to defeat Love on Saturday. Hill is a virtuoso at drafting tracks, with six of his eight Xfinity wins coming at them. That includes three victories at Atlanta, including the race here earlier this season.
Sheldon Creed ($9.8K)
Sheldon Creed still hasn't won an Xfinity Series race, but he has 11 top fives and 15 top 10s in 23 races so far this season. That includes a second at Daytona, fourth at Atlanta, sixth at Talladega and eighth in the second Daytona race. Creed has been a top driver on drafting tracks this year. That first win could easily come on Saturday.
Cole Custer ($10.0K)
Cole Custer is likely to be pretty underrostered this weekend. He only finished 16th here earlier in the season, but was third in this race last season. He was also 10th at Talladega. If you want to pivot toward someone with a lower rostered rate in GPPs, Custer is a sneaky good move.
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Mid-Tier Options
Chandler Smith ($9.3K)
Chandler Smith should be a top contender on Saturday. He finished second to Austin Hill at this track earlier in the season and was top five at both Daytona races. Smith is definitely a threat to win the Focused Health 250 on Saturday.
Riley Herbst ($9.0K)
Riley Herbst has a reputation for being strong at drafting tracks. While neither of his Xfinity wins came at them, Herbst was top 10 in both Daytona races and at Talladega so far this season.
Final Plays for #NASCAR at Atlanta:
Cup:
2u Kyle Larson +2000
2u Tyler Reddick +2200
1u Austin Cindric +2500
0.5u Austin Cindric +2200
1u Bubba Wallace +2500
1u Ty Gibbs +3000
1.3u Justin Haley +10000XF:
2.5u Riley Herbst +1800#QuakerState400#FocusedHealth250— Jason (@h20gony) September 5, 2024
As for Atlanta, he's struggled here in the last two races, crashing in this race in 2023 and then finishing 15th here earlier this season. But in the other three races here since the re-design, he's finished fourth, ninth, and fifth.
Ryan Truex ($9.2K)
It seems like every time Ryan Truex steps into a JGR car this season, good things have happened. That includes a pair of victories as he took the No. 20 car to the win at Dover and Daytona. He was also ninth at Atlanta earlier this season.
Value Options
Shane Van Gisbergen ($7.2K)
Road courses are where Shane Van Gisbergen makes his living and ovals have largely been a struggle, but he's done pretty okay at these drafting tracks, including a third-place finish in the first Atlanta race. Don't be shocked to see him running in the top 10 at the end of this one.
Parker Retzlaff ($7.1K)
Assuming Chevy isn't sabotaging Parker Retzlaff this weekend after the controversy around him not pushing Kyle Busch at Daytona, this No. 31 car should be a contender for a strong finish. Retzlaff was fifth in the first Atlanta race and also had a top-five at Daytona to start the 2024 season.
Anthony Alfredo ($7.7K)
I wish the pricing was a little lower here, but Anthony Alfredo has proven to be tough at these drafting tracks in 2024. He was seventh at Atlanta and third at Talladega. He could easily sneak in another top 10.
Ryan Sieg ($7.3K)
Ryan Sieg is having one of his best seasons ever, with an average finish of 14.8 this season. That's about five spots better than in 2023 as this RSS Racing team has really stepped things up.
Ryan Sieg wins stage 1! pic.twitter.com/7GIjGQjVYM
— Rubbin is Racing (@rubbinisracing) August 17, 2024
Sieg has five top 10s, which includes a fifth at Daytona. He seems to run well at drafting tracks more often than not. He doesn't need a surprise win to make the playoffs, but it sure wouldn't hurt.
Leland Honeyman ($5.6K)
I continue to love Leland Honeyman as my super-cheap option in DFS. His average finish is a solid 22.2 this season and he has a pair of top 10s at drafting tracks, including a fourth at Talladega. Honeyman could easily be a huge place differential option if he starts anywhere near his average starting spot of 26.5.
NASCAR DFS News and Driver Outlooks
Bubba Wallace Should Contend at Atlanta, but More Likely to Win at Talladega
Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. Still Consistent on Drafting Tracks, but Leading Much Less
Ryan Preece Unlikely to Benefit From Ford Speed at Atlanta
Michael McDowell Wins Series-Best Fifth Pole at Atlanta but Probably Lacks Racecraft to Win
Erik Jones Has Lost Superspeedway Mojo Since Switch to Toyota
Expect Carson Hocevar to Ride in the Back Again at Atlanta
Daniel Hemric Consistent on Drafting Tracks Despite Lack of Speed
Noah Gragson Likely Running Too Anonymously to Contend at Atlanta
Shane Van Gisbergen Has Drafting Speed, but Still Has a Lot to Learn
Austin Dillon Mediocre at Atlanta Despite Strong Drafting Record
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