richmond xfinity

A very compressed Xfinity schedule this week with everything on Friday -- one practice, qualifying and the race all in one day.  Here are my drivers of note heading into Friday:

• Christopher Bell -- It's hard to imagine the scenario for not using him in cash games on Friday.  He won both races here last year, including the Fall race with Dale Earnhardt Jr. running.  In the Spring (with no Cup drivers just like this week), Bell led 120 of 250 laps and had the most fastest laps with 46.  Bell was also tops of Xfinity regulars in the Fall race with 67 laps led and 29 fastest laps.  I expect him to start up front and be a dominator on Friday.
• I really like Noah Gragson at $8,100.  He ran here last Spring, started 11th and finished 2nd to Bell.  Even more impressive, he was second to Bell with 32 fastest laps.  None of the other Xfinity "stars" has a real great record at Richmond, so it wouldn't surprise me to see Gragson grab a Top 5 or even Top 3 finish here.  
• I have some interest in Elliott Sadler at $9,200.  This was one of his better tracks and that's why he's coming out of retirement to do a race here this week.  He's finished between 3rd and 7th in the last 6 races here.  But he's taking a step down from JR Motorsports to Kaulig Racing for this one and he's been out of the car all year so far.  There will probably end up being better options, but he is on the radar heading into Friday because of his experience and consistency here.
• Kaz Grala, Reily Herbst and Zane Smith could be values in the $7,300 - $7,900 range.  Each is running for a top notch team and will be in good equipment with a good crew.  Herbst started 9th and finished 6th in a one off race at Iowa last year.  That's not quite Richmond but shares some similarities in that it's a shorter, flatter track.  Each could be an option depending on starting spot.  Grala will be in RCR equipment for the 2nd time this season.  (Herbst will probably hope Hannah Newhouse isn't covering the race on radio this Friday after their pretty entertaining dust up last weekend.  Google it.)
• Jeremy Clements is too cheap at $6,700.  He's finished in the Top 17 in the last 5 races here -- with a high of 8th last Spring.  He also has Top 15 finishes in 4 of the last 5 races this season.  I'd grab him as long as his starting spot doesn't end up in the Top 15 or so.
• Josh Williams and Brandon Brown -- a word of caution on these two guys.  I normally like these guys and use them often.  They make me nervous this week because neither is running with their regular team.  Josh is normally in the top DGM car, but he'll be down in an extra 3rd car they are running this week.  He is also without sponsorship as of the latest entry list.  Brown usually runs with his family owned #86 team, but that seat was apparently sold to Mason Diaz to get some sponsorship money this weekend.  So Brown shifted over to the #93 (of RSS Racing normally run by Josh Bilicki) in order to keep his eligibility for the playoffs.  I don't believe there is outside sponsorship there either.  So I suspect both guys will be on a very tight budget this weekend.  They won't practice much to avoid tearing up their equipment and it's possible they even park at some point in time during the race.  I would use them with extreme caution and only after watching their Twitter feeds for positive clues that they intend to run the whole race.
• I don't really like any of the salary savers this weekend because there's so much uncertainty.  But you'll probably need one or two depending on your approach.  I'd focus on Timmy Hill, Joey Gase and Chad Finchum.