martinsville xfinity

I was right on with the prediction of a caution and wreck filled race for the Trucks Series. But a lot of my targets got caught up in those wrecks -- mostly being unlucky and in the wrong place at the wrong time. That's short track racing.

The Xfinity Series has not raced at Martinsville in recent years. So we're looking at tracks like Richmond and Phoenix as the closest comparison to this short, flat track. This is another cut-off race to set the Championship 4, so I think we see very aggressive action up front. Chase Briscoe has already advanced so he'll be going for the win at all costs. Cindric, Allgaier and Haley are up in points, but barely so. Jones, Chastain and Gragson are on the outside looking in coming into the race. All these guys should be battling in the Top 10 and I fully expect to see a lot of banging as the race goes on and the pressure turns up.

Target List--

• A.J. Allmendinger -- 100% must play in cash games. Kaulig has been bringing really good cars to the short tracks and A.J. should be able to work into the Top 10 by the end of the day. 
• Myatt Snider -- Another 100% must play for me. He is back in the #21 RCR car this weekend, which is easily a Top 8-10 car. He's mispriced because he's spent most of the season in a third tier (at best) car.  Myatt also has some experience at Martinsville from the Trucks Series where he finished 6th, 3rd and 6th in three races with the ThorSport team in 2018 and 2019. Top 10 and 10+ position difference upside for $7,100.
• Justin Allgaier -- He's probably the best driver in this Series at the short, flat tracks. He was the best car all weekend long at the Richmond doubleheader in early September -- dominating and winning both races.  He also led 51 laps and ran 20 fastest laps at Phoenix earlier this year. 
• Riley Herbst -- He could make some noise starting 24th. Personally, I don't trust him enough to use him in cash games, but a Top 10-12 run isn't out of the question.
• Timmy Hill -- Probably too expensive since his upside is capped at about 25th unless we see a ton of wrecks. What I do like is the 35th starting spot, he's in the #13 so is unlikely to park and he's got some Martinsville experience - including Friday night's Truck Series race where he finished 14th.
• Gray Gaulding -- I've got a lot of respect for Gray Gaulding as a driver and any time I can get him starting 31st in a somewhat decent car, I like it. He's run Martinsville before. I think he's got fringe Top 20 and +10 position difference upside. The #07 motor did blow up last week with David Starr driving but I wouldn't expect to see any carryover since this is probably a different car for the short track.
• Mason Diaz -- He's in the part-time #26 car, which has been decent when it runs. Mason has some limited experience in Xfinity and Trucks and has run Martinsville before. I am worried about him not having any on track time in the Series this year and not having any pre-race practice. But he starts 38th and go really only go up from there.
• Chad Finchum -- He's in the #61 and starts 33rd for only $5,100. A lot to like here. Cheap, not a start and park car and veteran driver.
• The cluster of Stephan Parsons, JJ Yeley and Kyle Weatherman is playable too. All have pretty unreliable cars so you never know. But, if they stay in one piece, they should be able to get you +5-8 position difference with a potential for a bit more if there are a lot of wrecks.