RADIO
The NASCAR Xfinity Series heads to Michigan this weekend for the Cabo Wabo 250. Based on qualifying, this could be a big week for JR Motorsports, as their drivers occupy three of the top four spots on the starting grid, led by polesitter Josh Berry, the only driver with a lap faster than 38 seconds in qualifying.
Last weekend, Sam Mayer won at Road America, earning the first Xfinity victory of his career. Mayer now sits sixth in the points standings, third among JRM drivers. Austin Hill is the current points leader, while John Hunter Nemechek is 14 points back in second place.
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 Cabo Wabo 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 8/5/23 at 3:39 p.m. ET.
Xfinity DFS Picks - DraftKings
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Ty Gibbs
Starting Eighth - $10,600
Gibbs is back in Xfinity this weekend, set to make his sixth start of the season. Despite winning seven races last year, the Cup Series rookie hasn't found himself in victory lane in the lower series yet during his cameo appearances, but there's a good shot that changes on Saturday.
The obvious reason why? Because Gibbs is the defending winner of this race, leading 54 of 125 laps last year on his way to the win. He started ninth in that race and worked his way up relatively quickly, taking the lead for the first time on lap 63.
He also earned a top 10 the next day in the Cup Series race here, leading a pair of laps while subbing for Kurt Busch in the 23XI Racing 45 car. It was the only top 10 in his 15 starts in Cup in 2022.
John Hunter Nemechek
Starting 10th - $10,600
Nemechek was on a hot streak. Second at Chicago, then winner of back-to-back races at Atlanta and Loudon. And then...he crashed. Literally. Nemechek wrecked at Pocono and finished 32nd, then wrecked at Road America and finished 34th.
Still, he was really rounding into form before that. I'm not going to let some accidents scare me off of one of the best drivers in the Xfinity Series field.
Nemechek also brings a lot of Michigan experience. He's made three Xfinity Series starts here, with a best finish of eighth in 2019, and he's run five Truck Series and two Cup Series races at this track. He was also the winner at Fontana earlier this year, a track that shares a lot of similarities with Michigan.
Daniel Hemric
Starting 16th - $8,200
Hemric was 11th at Road America last week, ending a string of five consecutive top-10 finishes for the former Xfinity Series champion. He comes into Michigan with a lot of upside, including in-place differential, as there are probably six to 12 points available there for Hemric.
Hemric's results here have been strong, aside from crashing out of the 2021 race. He finished second here back in 2018 when he was driving for Richard Childress Racing, and was eighth in this race last season. And back in 2019 when he ran his one year of Cup for RCR, he was 12th in one of the two races here, one of his best results of what was a disappointing rookie campaign for Hemric.
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Parker Kligerman
Starting 17th - $7,900
Kligerman was second last week at Road America, which marked the seventh time in the last eight races that he's recorded a top-15 finish in this 48 car. He might not have race-winning speed on a weekly basis, but he's delivering some really good results. Like Hemric, he offers some solid place differential upside, likely the same six to 12-ish points that the Kaulig driver has for a few hundred cheaper.
One worry I have with Kligerman is that despite being around NASCAR for a long time, he isn't super experienced at Michigan. He only has one Xfinity Series start here and it came way back in 2013, when he finished 25th but did lead 13 laps. He does have three Truck Series starts though, which includes top 1os in 2012 and 2020. If he can remember how to drive this track like he did back in the Truck Series, he can have a solid run.
Kaz Grala
Starting 25th - $7,300
Grala has really struggled in qualifying this season, with an average starting spot of 24.5. But he's run a lot better during the races, as his average finish is 18.3, which includes three DNFs. He figures the car out—it just takes a bit.
He finished 13th at Fontana earlier in the season, the best comparison this season for Michigan, and he has been top 20 in both of his Xfinity Series starts at this track. He was also 12th here in 2017 in his only Truck Series start. It's a solid track for him, making Grala a strong PD play.
Ryan Ellis
Starting 35th - $5,200
The place differential upside for Ryan Ellis, who on Friday announced he's be full time for Alpha Prime next year, makes him one of my top value options on this slate. I also like his APR teammates this week too for their PD upside, but Ellis is the cheapest and starts the deepest, so he's who I'm highlighting.
Ellis has had some decent runs lately, with top 20s at Loudon and Pocono. While he doesn't have much of a track record at this specific track, it's hard to hold that against him, because he hasn't been here in great equipment. APR seems to be improving right now, and Ellis has a chance to sneak into the top 20 if he runs a clean race.
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