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Dave's NASCAR DFS Picks (Xfinity Series) for the Nu Way 200 at World Wide Technology Raceway (2025). Read his daily fantasy NASCAR advice and Xfinity DFS sleepers.
This weekend marks the final race before the start of the 2025 Xfinity Series Playoffs. The battle for the 12th and final playoff spot should be fun. Harrison Burton is currently on the bubble and sits in 12th place in the standings. He has a 31-point buffer over his cousin Jebb Burton for the final playoff spot. We could even see some exciting strategy calls from drivers further down the standings in an attempt to steal a victory and sneak into the playoffs. The final race of the regular season is a bit of a wild card. The series returns to World Wide Technology Raceway (Gateway) for the first time since 2010. To give you an idea of how much the Xfinity Series has changed since that race: Mike Bliss, Jason Leffler, Reed Sorenson, and Paul Menard all finished inside the top 10 the last time the Xfinity cars ran at Gateway. 68-year-old Morgan Shepard (shoutout if you remember that name) also ran in that race.
There are only a couple of drivers in the field this weekend who were in the last Xfinity Series race at Gateway. That's going to make it a little difficult to predict how things will play out. Gateway is another unique track. The best comparison points on the Xfinity Series schedule are probably Nashville and Phoenix. We will try and use the results from those tracks as a guide for what to possibly expect here. But honestly, it's been 15 years since the series ran at Gateway, so this weekend might be more of a crapshoot.
The one thing that has been predictable in the Xfinity Series this year, though? Connor Zilisch winning races in dominant fashion. He snagged his eighth victory of the year last weekend at Portland. Will Zilisch continue his dominance at Gateway? Or will someone outside the playoff picture pick up a surprise win? Let's break down some NASCAR Xfinity DFS lineup picks for the NASCAR Xfinity Series Nu Way 200 at Gateway on DraftKings. Also, make sure to check out our NASCAR Premium Tools for the Xfinity Series, including our DFS Lineup Optimizer and powerful Research Station. This slate locks on 9/6/25 at 7:38 p.m. EDT.
Happy New Year! Save 30% on any Premium Pass using discount code NEW. Win more with our DFS, Betting and Season-Long Pass, get expert tools and advice from proven winners! GAIN ACCESS*Please note: Xfinity Series qualifying takes place on 9/6 at 3:00 PM EST. Check back after qualifying for any updates.*
Xfinity DFS Preview - DraftKings
Be sure to also check out all of our other weekly NASCAR DFS articles and analyses to help you set your optimal DFS lineups on DraftKings and FanDuel.
Top NASCAR Xfinity Series DFS Plays
Justin Allgaier ($11.5K)
Starts 14th
Allgaier is one of the few drivers in the field with experience at Gateway. He finished third and led 88 laps the last time the series ran at the track in 2010.
It's interesting to see Allgaier listed as the most expensive driver this weekend over his teammate, Connor Zilisch. That might have to do with Allgaier's previous experience at the track. It might also have something to do with the fact that Allgaier won at Nashville earlier this year and also finished fifth at Phoenix.
Justin Allgaier wins at Nashville, his 28th career win, 9th all-time.
Chevrolet has now won 12 of the 14 Xfinity Series races in 2025, the most through 14 races by a manufacturer in series history. pic.twitter.com/EFKsxSLjxh
— NASCAR Insights (@NASCARInsights) June 1, 2025
He is battling Zilisch for the Xfinity Series regular season title and is 20 points behind his teammate for that crown. Allgaier will need a strong outing as well as some bad luck on Zilisch's end to win the regular season title. There is plenty of motivation for Allgaier and his team to run well and enter the playoffs on a high note. Starting 14th, Allgaier should also return some place differential points.
Connor Zilisch ($11K)
Starts First
Zilisch dominated the race at Portland last weekend and picked up his eighth win of the year.
WHAT A FINISH!!!@ConnorZilisch captures his 8th #XfinitySeries victory of the season with a dramatic overtime win in Portland! pic.twitter.com/IIOZHy14A8
— The CW Sports (@TheCW_Sports) August 31, 2025
Some people have criticized Zilisch's move to run the chicane when he appeared to overdrive Turn 1. Folks seem to have strong opinions on that decision, but Zilisch still gets credited for the win regardless of what others think. Can you really hate a guy for exploiting the rules like that? If so, then you must not have been a fan of Ross Chastain's video game move at Martinsville a couple of years ago either.
UNBELIEVABLE!@RossChastain floors it along the wall to go from 10th to 5th and advance to the CHAMPIONSHIP! #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/9qX3eq7T6h
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) October 30, 2022
As for this weekend, it's a bit surprising that Zilisch is not the top driver on this weekend's slate. He's never started at Gateway before, but did finish runner-up to Allgaier at Nashville earlier this year.
Zilisch is a quick learner and one of the best prospects the sport has seen in recent years. He should have no issues adjusting to the track at Gateway. Feel free to build your lineups around him again this weekend.
Aric Almirola ($10.5K)
Starts Seventh
Almirola has a few Cup and Truck Series starts at Gateway under his belt. He finished fifth in the Cup Series race at Gateway in 2022 and has three top 10s in three Truck Series starts at the track, too.
Almirola won the Xfinity Series race at Phoenix earlier this year and finished sixth at Nashville. Expect him to be in contention again this weekend.
Aric Almirola wins at Phoenix, his 8th career win.
This is Joe Gibbs Racing's 18th win at Phoenix which is the most by ANY team at ANY track in Xfinity Series HISTORY pic.twitter.com/sGkjIjLQVz
— NASCAR Insights (@NASCARInsights) March 9, 2025
NASCAR Xfinity Series DFS Fades
Austin Hill ($10K)
Starts Ninth
Hill had another solid road course finish last week at Portland with a fifth-place result. This week is a different story, though. Hill does not have any Xfinity Series starts at Gateway. He did win the pole at Phoenix earlier this year, but failed to lead a lap and finished 37th in that race. Hill also qualified well at Nashville but finished seventh after starting on the front row.
He's the fourth-highest priced driver on the slate this weekend, and it's a little hard to understand why that's the case. Hill is live for a top 10 finish, but that won't necessarily help us for DFS purposes since he started 10th. He'll need to score a top five or better to be really helpful, but that might not be in the cards this weekend.
Mid-Tier NASCAR Xfinity Series DFS Options
Sam Mayer ($9.5K)
Starts Fourth
Mayer currently sits third in the regular season standings with one week to go until the playoffs begin. He finished third at Nashville. Mayer also scored a seventh-place finish at Phoenix after starting 13th. Mayer should be live for another top five this weekend.
Jesse Love ($9.2K)
Starts 18th
Love has top 10s at Phoenix and Nashville earlier this year. He did not lead laps in either race, but finished well nonetheless. Love is a better play if he starts further back in the field. Luckily, he qualified 18th, so he offers value as a place differential play too.
Sheldon Creed ($9K)
Starts 15th
Creed led 25 laps at Nashville and finished fourth in the process. He also posted stage finishes of fifth and second in that race. Unfortunately, Creed crashed out of the race at Phoenix but did finish fifth in the first stage.
I feel like I say this every week, but he is a sneaky name to keep an eye on this weekend. Creed could be a great play at this price and should finish inside the top 10 with potential for more.
Sammy Smith ($8.8K)
Starts 22nd
I like taking a chance on Smith this week after a bad qualifying run. He's a good place differential target.
Christian Eckes ($8.1K)
Starts 10th
Eckes crashed out of the Nashville race but did finish ninth in the first stage before doing so. He also had a good showing at Phoenix and finished eighth after starting 20th.
Ryan Sieg ($7.7K)
Starts 13th
Sieg sits 68 points behind Harrison Burton for the final playoff spot. He's going to need a win to make the postseason. Sieg didn't have a great showing at Nashville, but did finish fourth at Phoenix after starting 30th.
With a lot on the line this weekend, Sieg could be live for a top 10 finish with the potential for more if his crew successfully executes some bold strategy calls.
NASCAR Xfinity Series DFS Value Options
Jeremy Clements ($6.2K)
Starts 31st
Clements finished 10th the last time the Xfinity Series ran at Gateway back in 2010. However, that was 15 years ago, and a lot has changed since then. Clements did finish 21st at Phoenix and 18th at Nashville earlier this year. Starting 31st, he carries plenty of place differential upside this weekend.
Brennan Poole ($6K)
Starts 27th
Poole finished 17th at Phoenix after starting 23rd. He also finished 16th at Nashville after starting 31st. He's a good place differential target.
More DFS Lineup Picks and Analysis
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