2015 US Cellular 250 Race Picks
NASCAR Xfinity Series Betting Preview
Saturday August 1st, 8:16PM (EST) at Iowa Speedway
by Jay Horne of NASCARWagers.com, NASCAR Handicapping Service
Saturday night short track racing returns to the Xfinity Series tonight with the running of the US Cellular 250 at Iowa Speedway. With both of the Truck and Sprint Cup Series in Pocono this weekend, tonight’s field will consist entirely of Xfinity Series full-time and part-time drivers who will have 250 laps to battle for a victory. Due to the lack of Sprint Cup Series talent tonight, names like Chris Buescher, Erik Jones, Chase Elliot, Ryan Blaney, Daniel Suarez and more will have a better chance of finding victory lane. So who is going to bring home the trophy? Check out our 2015 US Cellular 250 race picks as we preview tonight’s event!
If you like looking at trends to predict NASCAR races, there are a few important ones that stand out going into tonight’s race. To start with, no driver has won a race from outside the top 14 starting positions since the Xfinity Series started coming to Iowa back in 2009 (11 races). The winner has come from the top 5 starting positions in 7 of the last 8 races with the only exception being Trevor Bayne’s victory from the 14th place starting spot in 2013. Additionally, Iowa is one of the very few tracks on the circuit where Ford has dominated. In the 11 races at Iowa, Ford has won 7 races including 7 of the last 9 events. If those trends were to hold true tonight, it would play into the hands of guys like Ryan Blaney and Chris Buescher. Buescher captured a victory at Iowa back in May and Blaney has likely had the fastest Ford so far throughout practices this weekend.
Of course trends can dissipate as quickly as they can accumulate in the world of racing. Guys like Erik Jones, Daniel Suarez, Chase Elliot, and Chris Buescher should be contenders tonight. Jones is actually the overall favorite for tonight’s race but he has yet to turn a lap at Iowa Speedway due to his Truck Series duties in Pocono. Jones 1st lap in the #54 machine will be in qualifying today so it will be interesting to see if Drew Herring provided enough feedback to the team to get the car in good enough condition for Jones to driver it to victory lane. For that reason along with the fact Ryan Blaney has not looked overly strong, I believe tonight’s race could be fairly wide open amongst several talents. Perhaps a face ends up in victory lane tonight that we do not necessarily expect. Also it is worth noting that Kenny Wallace will be making his final start of his career tonight in the #20 US Cellular Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing.
As far as Iowa is concerned, this is a track that fits Erik Jones driving style which is why he is still an overwhelming favorite. However, this Rusty Wallace designed 7/8 mile circuit also suits the driving styles of guys like Daniel Suarez and Darrell Wallace Jr. Iowa was the site of both of Wallace’s first two starts in the Xfinity Series back in 2012 when he drove the #20 car for JGR to two top 10 finishes. Earlier this year, Wallace posted a 6th place finish and his strength on short tracks should put him in-line for yet another solid opportunity tonight. Daniel Suarez won the pole for tonight’s race which should not be too surprising. Suarez has been one of the hottest guys in the Xfinity Series in recent weeks with 3 straight top 5 finishes. He is starting to prove that he can get the job done on any track and I believe his chances of scoring his first victory are pretty solid this evening from a dark horse perspective.
US Cellular 250 Race Picks
Daniel Suarez +450 (1.5 units): 3 straight top 5 finishes in last 3 races, fastest in practice 1, starting on pole, and led 48 laps back in May race
Darrell Wallace Jr +1400 (1 unit): great odds, has improved in every start at Iowa, great short track driver, starting 8th
Two-Team Parlay
Ryan Blaney +225 wins US Cellular 250
Open Slot 2 (for Sunday’s Cup race)
Risking 1 unit
H2H Matchup
Elliot Sadler +165 over Ty Dillon (2 units)
Darrell Wallace Jr -145 over Brian Scott (2 units)
