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Dave's NASCAR DFS Picks (Xfinity Series) for the Pacific Office Automation 147 at Portland (2025). Read his daily fantasy NASCAR advice and Xfinity DFS sleepers.
The NASCAR Xfinity Series returns to Portland International Raceway this weekend for another round of road course action. This will be the series' sixth road course event of the season.
Rookie Connor Zilisch has been incredible at the road courses this year. With the Cup Series competing on the complete opposite side of the country this weekend at Darlington Raceway, there are no Cup Series regulars slated to compete in this race. That will have major implications for the prices on the DFS slate. It should be no surprise to anyone that Zilisch is the heavy favorite to win this race.
With two races to go until the start of the Xfinity Series Playoffs, will anyone prevent Zilisch from taking home his eighth checkered flag of the season? Can one of the drivers on the playoff bubble break through for a huge win to lock up a spot in the postseason? Let's break down some NASCAR Xfinity DFS lineup picks for the NASCAR Xfinity Series Pacific Office Automation 147 at Portland 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 8/30/25 at 7:38 p.m. EDT.
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Xfinity DFS Preview - DraftKings
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Top NASCAR Xfinity Series DFS Plays
Connor Zilisch ($15K)
Starts First
Yeah, Zilisch is extremely expensive this weekend. But how can you argue against it? He's clearly the most talented driver in the field. Despite fracturing his collarbone while celebrating in victory lane at Watkins Glen three weeks ago, Zilisch was still able to suit up last weekend at Daytona.
Parker Kligerman came in to relieve Zilisch after 13 laps and would go on to win the race. Since Zilisch started the race, he got credit for his seventh victory of 2025.
PARKER KLIGERMAN!!! 🏁
He hops in Connor Zilisch’s car mid-race and WINS at Daytona for Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s NASCAR Xfinity Series team.
🎥: @NASCAR_Xfinity pic.twitter.com/I5JV5UxLRU
— Motorsport (@Motorsport) August 23, 2025
Unbelievable. Even when Zilisch isn't driving his car, he still finds a way to victory lane.
Jokes aside, Zilisch is the real deal. Thanks to his efforts this year, Zilisch will be going Cup racing in 2026 as he is set to join Trackhouse Racing at the end of the 2025 season.
NASCAR's biggest prospect will compete full-time in the Cup Series next year — Zilisch signs a multi-year deal with Trackhouse. https://t.co/TgPE5WvO5z pic.twitter.com/JoY7nck59b
— Road & Track (@RoadandTrack) August 23, 2025
As for this weekend, is it really worth paying the high premium on Zilisch in Portland? It sure is. There are plenty of cheap options available on the slate that carry the potential for place differential points. Build your lineups around the star rookie and don't think twice.
Austin Hill ($9.5K)
Starts Third
While Hill is primarily known for his work on drafting tracks, he's actually a skilled road racer. He has four top-5 finishes in five road course starts already this year. It's only a matter of time before he breaks through for a road course win.
Perhaps Hill can be the driver who pulls the upset and stuns Zilisch this weekend. If you're looking for some contrarian plays and want to fade Zilisch, Hill should be at the top of your list.
NASCAR Xfinity Series DFS Fades
Sam Mayer ($11K)
Starts Fifth
Mayer has finished third, 23rd, eighth, 17th, and second at the road circuits this year. These are good results, but is it enough to justify him as the second-highest priced driver this weekend? Mayer has only led five laps at road courses this year and finished 28th in this race last season.
Pass at this price and target other options that are more affordable.
Justin Allgaier ($10.5K)
Starts Second
Even though Allgaier finished runner-up in this race last year, he just hasn't been good enough at the road courses this year to play him at this price. Before a pair of sixth-place finishes at Sonoma and Watkins Glen, here are Allgaier's other road course results this year:
- Chicago Street Race - 23rd
- Autodromo - 34th
- Circuit of the Americas - 29th
This just isn't good enough to consider a play at this price. Unless Allgaier draws a poor starting spot, he is a fade this weekend.
Mid-Tier NASCAR Xfinity Series DFS Options
Sammy Smith ($8.8K)
Starts Eighth
Smith finished third at Portland last year. He's also finished inside the top 10 in four of five road course starts this year, with his worst finish being 11th at COTA. This is a good price to play him this weekend as he should post another solid finish.
Christian Eckes ($8K)
Starts 15th
Eckes' first season in the Xfinity Series has not gone as he'd hoped. He was dominant in the Truck Series last year but has struggled to find consistent speed in NASCAR's secondary series in 2025.
Portland will offer Eckes a chance for a good finish as he's got two top-5s and three top-10s at the road courses this year.
William Sawalich ($7.4K)
Starts Fourth
Sawalich only has six top-10s all year, but half of them have come on road courses. Keep an eye on him in qualifying and practice. Even though he qualified well, Sawalich might be worth a play in lineups as he's been solid on the road courses this year.
NASCAR Xfinity Series DFS Value Options
Daniel Dye ($6.7K)
Starts 26th
Dye has three top 20s on road courses this year. That might not sound super appealing, but top-20s can be very useful, especially if Dye starts toward the rear. Since he starts 26th, gamers can feel comfortable targeting Dye as a place differential play.
Dean Thompson ($6.3K)
Starts 22nd
Thompson has finished inside the top 20 in every road course event this year and has three top-15s as well. He's a solid place differential play to offset the expensive price of Zilisch.
Brennan Poole ($6.1K)
Starts 28th
Poole finished 10th at Chicago and 12th at Watkins Glen. He has an average finish of 20.4 against an average starting position of 30th at the road courses so far in 2025. He makes for a good place differential play. Those points can make a big difference, especially at road courses.
Alex Labbe ($6.8K)
Starts 37th
Labbe has three top-15 finishes in four road course starts this year. As long as he stays out of trouble, Labbe should have another solid finish this weekend. Starting shotgun on the field, Labbe becomes a fantastic place differential play.
Parker Retzlaff ($6K)
Starts 29th
Retzlaff finished ninth in this race last year. He hasn't been great at the road courses this year, but he might be a good place differential play.
Blaine Perkins ($5.8K)
Starts 23rd
This one is pretty gross, but Perkins did finish 10th at COTA earlier this season. He's a very cheap place differential play.
Jeremy Clements ($5.5K)
Starts 25th
Clements finished 15th at Watkins Glen earlier this month and has a win at Road America on his resume. He's another cheap place differential play.
Kyle Sieg ($5.4K)
Starts 34th
After Ryan Sieg qualified 20th, we are swapping him out for Kyle Sieg. He's hasn't been particularly good at the road courses this year, but does off some value as a place differential play.
More DFS Lineup Picks and Analysis
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