2015 Zippo 200 Race Picks
NASCAR Xfinity Series Betting Preview
Saturday August 8th, 3:18PM (EST) at Iowa Speedway
by Jay Horne of NASCARWagers.com, NASCAR Handicapping Service
The NASCAR Xfinity Series will kick off a weekend of racing at Watkins Glen International this afternoon with the running of the Zippo 200. Today’s race marks the first road course event of the season for NASCAR’s top touring series. Road course racing has grown in popularity over the last several years as a result of races filled with strategy and great racing. Today the Xfinity Series will have their opportunity to put on another great race when the green flag waves at 3:18PM (EST). Check out our preview and 2015 Zippo 200 race picks for today’s action at The Glen.
Today’s race includes several guys from the Sprint Cup Series along with a few road course specialist like Boris Said in the #54 Monster Energy Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing and Kenny Habul who will be driving the #20 Sun Energy 1 Toyota additionally for Joe Gibbs Racing. Penske Racing fielded two drivers this week with the #22 of Brad Keselowski and the #12 of Joey Logano. Penske Racing usually just has the #22 car in the Xfinity Series on a weekly basis which is shared time among Keselowski, Logano, and Ryan Blaney. However, today Penske Racing will have two cars in the field driven by two of the biggest names in the sport. Both Logano and Keselowski are overwhelming favorites to win today’s race considering their recent history in the series. Both guys are a threat anytime they suit up in the Xfinity Series and Logano already has 3 wins on the season. Keselowski captured a victory back at Kentucky in early July and he is the 2013 Zippo 200 winner at Watkins Glen.
It is also worth noting that both Penske drivers looked the best in practices on Friday as well. Logano posted the fastest lap in the first session followed by Keselowski in 2nd. Then in final practice Logano was 2nd with Keselowski being 5th. Therefore do not expect anything to change with the race’s overall favorites despite what may happen in qualifying later today. Outside of the Penske Racing cars, I think you have a host of guys that could make some noise today. Guys like Kyle Larson, Paul Menard, Chris Buescher, and Boris Said have practiced well. Said is a well-known road course specialist and will be in the best equipment he has ever had the chance of driving in the Xfinity Series. However outside of the popularity factor, Said’s best finish is 4th in 8 career starts at Watkins Glen in the Xfinity Series with 6 of those finishes coming outside the top 10.
Chris Buescher is a guy I think has a lot of upside today especially in H2H type situations. In Buescher’s only start at Watkins Glen last season, he had to start at the back due to an engine change and simply had a rough race all afternoon. However, Buescher did capture a win after an impressive run at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course last season to prove he has road racing skills. Buescher has had consistent single lap speed and he could be a guy that makes his presence felt this afternoon. As far as the guy’s with the best shot to win outside of the Penske cars, I believe Kyle Larson, Paul Menard, and Chris Buescher have looked the best.
Neither Menard nor Larson have been known for their road course racing. However, Larson has shown glimpses of big potential on the road courses which has ultimately ended in bad luck. In his two prior Xfinity Series starts, he had a drivetrain issue in 2013, then was battered with a damage racecar and had to overcome speeding penalties in this race last year. So perhaps we have not got a good measuring stick on Larson in the Xfinity Series at The Glen. However, Larson did post a 4th place finish at Watkins Glen last season in the Sprint Cup Series and I believe he could be a driver that could steal a win today if things do not go the way of the Penske Racing drivers.
Zippo 200 Race Picks
Daniel Suarez +1200 (1 unit): early week forums pick, wrecked in practice, has not looked too strong, but already locked in
Kyle Larson +750 (1 unit): fastest in final practice, best of non Penske cars, solid value
Two-Team Parlay
Brad Keselowski +220 wins Zippo 200
Open – (To be used for Sunday’s Cheez-It 355)
Risking 1 unit to win: TBD
H2H Match-up
Chris Buescher -115 over Ty Dillon (3 units)
Paul Menard -125 over Chase Elliot (1 unit)
