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Dave's NASCAR DFS Picks (Xfinity Series) for the IAA and Ritchie Bros. 250 at Martinsville (2025). Read his daily fantasy NASCAR advice and Xfinity DFS sleepers.
The NASCAR Xfinity Series heads to Martinsville Speedway on Saturday for the IAA and Ritchie Bros. 250. This is the final race of the Round of 8, and no driver has won his way into the Championship 4 yet, as part-time driver Aric Almirola won Las Vegas and Austin Hill, who was eliminated in the previous round, won Talladega.
That doesn't mean, though, that all four spots are up for grabs. Based on their playoff points and their performance to start this round, Connor Zilisch and Justin Allgaier have clinched spots based on points, leaving two positions up for grabs. Jesse Love is in the best position to advance, while Carson Kvapil has 11 points on the cut line. Sammy Smith, Brandon Jones, Sam Mayer, and Sheldon Creed enter Martinsville on the wrong side of the bubble, but anything can happen here.
Let's talk about some NASCAR Xfinity DFS lineup picks for the NASCAR Xfinity Series IAA and Ritchie Bros. 250 at Martinsville on DraftKings. Make sure you check out our NASCAR Premium Tools for the Xfinity Series, including our DFS Lineup Optimizer and powerful Research Station. This slate locks on 10/25/25 at 7:48 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 10/25 at 2:05 PM EST. Check back after qualifying for any updates.*
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Post-Qualifying Updates
Top Place Differential Plays
- Jesse Love (Starts 21st)
- Daniel Dye (Starts 22nd)
- Sam Mayer (Starts 24th)
- Dean Thompson (Starts 30th)
- Josh Williams (Starts 32nd)
- Patrick Staropoli (Starts 33rd)
- Jeremy Clements (Starts 35th)
- Connor Zilisch (Starts 38th) - Obvious chalk here. You have to play him in H2H contests but it might be wise to go light in GPPs since he'll be in so many lineups.
Top Fades
- Harrison Burton (Starts First) - Burton is a good driver, but playing him from the pole feels like it just leads to negative place differential points
- Ryan Sieg (Starts Seventh) - Not a full fade, but starts a little high and I'll limit exposure
- Brenden Queen (Starts Eighth)
- Parker Retzlaff (Starts 10th) - Originally had him penciled in as a great value play, but I'll limit my exposure since he starts in the top 10
Top NASCAR Xfinity Series DFS Plays
Justin Allgaier ($11.5K)
Justin Allgaier has two consecutive finishes outside of the top 10 on short tracks, but don't let that scare you off here. Before that, he had five consecutive top fives at this track type, including a third-place result here earlier this season.
Allgaier has also been on fire at Martinsville. Over his past six starts at this track, Allgaier has a victory and his worst finish in that span was a sixth in 2023.
Connor Zilisch ($11K)
Rookie sensation Connor Zilisch was only 28th here in the spring, but that really doesn't explain his race. See, Zilisch found himself in the wrong spot at the wrong time at a few points in that race, but before that, he won the pole and led the first 61 laps of the race. He'd ultimately lead 100 of the 256 laps.
Aric Almirola ($10.5K)
Pre-practice NASCAR Xfinity Series predictions for Martinsville:
1. Aric Almirola 27.7%
2. Connor Zilisch 23.5%
3. Justin Allgaier 8.7%
4. Jesse Love 6.7%
5. Sheldon Creed 4.5%Full win/T3/T5/T10 sims plus values at @FDSportsbook ⬇️ https://t.co/LZkGJc9E3T
— Jim Sannes (@JimSannes) October 24, 2025
Any time that Aric Almirola steps into this No. 19 car for Joe Gibbs Racing, he's a threat to win. In 15 starts this season, Almirola has won three times, and he has six top fives and nine top 10s. He also won both Martinsville races last season. If someone beats the JR Motorsports duo of Zilisch and Allgaier this weekend, my money is on Almirola.
Sam Mayer ($10K)
Sam Mayer faces tough odds to advance to the next round, but he has a short track win already this season and was fifth in the first Martinsville race. In eight Xfinity starts at this track, Mayer has five finishes of sixth or better.
NASCAR Xfinity Series DFS Fades
Sammy Smith ($10.3K)
I like Sammy Smith. I just don't like this price for him. He's been good at short tracks during his career, but not quite as good in 2025 as in previous years. He was 10th here in the spring, his worst finish at this track since 2022, but...I don't know. It's just tough to pay $10.3K for Sammy Smith, you know?
What hurts the most for Taylor Gray. Had he not gotten dumped by Sammy Smith at Martinsville, he would be advancing to the Round of 8 right now. Instead the driver who dumped him is the last one in.#NASCAR | #XfinitySeries | @MtrsprtsToday
— Tim Moore (@IveBeenTimMoore) October 4, 2025
I also have to say I'm slightly worried that Taylor Gray wrecks him. Remember: Smith spun Gray from the lead in the spring race, and the lost playoff points there are why Gray is out of the playoffs. This might be the best chance for him to get revenge.
Brandon Jones ($9.3K)
Brandon Jones has finished outside of the top 10 in three consecutive short track starts. Before that, he had six consecutive finishes outside the top 10. He used to run well at Martinsville and even won here in 2022, but his last six starts here feature one top 10 and four finishes outside of the top 20.
William Sawalich ($8.2K)
Despite driving a Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, William Sawalich has never recorded a top 10 on a short track. He was 27th at Martinsville earlier this year. It's just tough to trust this car at this track type.
Mid-Tier NASCAR Xfinity Series DFS Options
Sheldon Creed ($9.5K)
Sheldon Creed seems very hit-or-miss on short tracks right now, but you likely want some exposure for the hits. His four short track finishes this year are 36th, second, 37th, and seventh. That runner-up performance was here at Martinsville and was the third time he's finished second at this track.
Jesse Love ($8.8K)
Yes, Jesse Love finished 37th here earlier this season, but he has a win and a second-place in the two short track races since then. This isn't his best track by any means, but improved short track performance should start to translate here.
Austin Hill ($8.5K)
Coming into the spring Martinsville race, Austin Hill had gone four consecutive Martinsville starts without a top 10. In that race, he found himself in the right place at the right time and won. At $8.5K, a bet on Hill accidentally lucking into another strong result is worth the risk.
Austin Hill’s battered car from Martinsville has a new home in the @RCRracing museum. It was the team’s 100th Xfinity win. pic.twitter.com/rmu90o5qG7
— John Newby (@JohnNewby_) May 28, 2025
Taylor Gray ($8.4K)
Unfortunately for Taylor Gray, his shot of winning here earlier this year was dashed when Sammy Smith wrecked him out of the lead at the end of the race. Gray led 87 laps and had the best car at the end, but finished 29th. Considering how well he ran during the race, he's a great value at $8.4K this weekend.
NASCAR Xfinity Series DFS Value Options
Christian Eckes ($7.8K)
Christian Eckes and Sheldon Creed are similar plays in that both have been very hit or miss at short tracks in 2025. Eckes has a lower ceiling, but he also has a lower salary, making him slightly less of a risk.
Harrison Burton ($7.5K)
Harrison Burton enters this weekend with top fives in the past two short track races, but he only finished 24th in the first Martinsville race. I'm not sure which stat to trust more, but it's probably worth sprinkling him into a couple of lineups.
Ryan Sieg ($7.3K)
Ryan Sieg has three top 10s in four short track starts this year, including an eighth in the spring Martinsville race. He has three consecutive top 20s at this track.
Daniel Dye ($7.1K)
Daniel Dye finished seventh in his only Martinsville Xfinity Series start. He's not the most exciting option in the world, but $7.1K for a guy capable of sneaking away with a top 10 is a good value.
Jeb Burton ($7.0K)
Jeb Burton has finished in he top 15 in five of his past six Martinsville starts, including an 11th earlier this season. Another boring play who can help fill out your lineup.
Parker Retzlaff ($6.7K)
This is by far the best play under $7.0K, because Parker Retzlaff has been very fast at short tracks this season. In four short track starts, Retzlaff's worst finish is 13th, and he was third at Rockingham. It's a major change from his complete lack of success on this track type last season, but it's been enough races now that I'd bet on current performance mattering more than his overall track record.
Myatt Snider ($6.4K)
It's always good to see Myatt Snider back in Xfinity. He finished in the top 10 in this race last season. He hasn't been great in three starts this season in this No. 91 car, but he did have an average position of 21st in the first Martinsville race before a late crash ended his day. He ran in the top 15 of 22 percent of that race.
Brennan Poole ($6.2K)
Brennan Poole continues to make the most of this Alpha Prime Racing car, consistently running ahead of where this equipment should run. He has two short-track top fives this year, including a fourth at Martinsville. He was top 15 in both races here last season.
Patrick Staropoli ($5.4K)
This is the cheapest driver that I'm willing to play, but I also feel pretty good about him. Unlike all the other drivers priced this deep, Staropoli is in solid equipment as he pilots the Sam Hunt Racing No. 24. He raced here earlier in the season and recorded a very respectable 16th-place finish.
More DFS Lineup Picks and Analysis
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