talladega trucks/xfinity

I don't usually say a whole lot about the superspeedway races. The strategy of using guys starting near the back to avoid a lot of negative points when the big one(s) happen is pretty well known. In the Trucks and Xfinity series, I prefer guys who have some plate track experience and I'm willing to inch up a little further in the field to get it if necessary.

Trucks
I don't think you need to go past 28th for Trucks and I think it's best to avoid Willie Allen, Jennifer Jo Cobb and Norm Benning. So that leaves ten options listed roughly in my preferred order based on plate track experience, starting position and overall truck and driver reliability.

• Parker Klingerman
• Jordan Anderson
• Jason White
• Clay Greenfield
• Codie Rohrbaugh
• Spencer Boyd
• Lawless Alan -- first plate track start
• Keith McGee -- first plate track start
• Cory Roper
• Bryan Dauzat

Xfinity
Plenty of options starting 30th on back. Ferrucci, Bacarella and Graf would worry me the most. Rough order--

• J.J. Yeley
• Garrett Smithley
• Matt Mills
• Jeffrey Earnhardt
• Joe Graf
• C.J. McLaughlin
• Alex Labbe
• Jason White
• Joey Gase
• Santino Ferrucci
• Cesar Bacarella

Betting
Lastly, a quick bet to mention for the Cup Series race on Sunday. A Ford has won 10 of the last 12 Talladega races and Ford has generally been the manufacturer that has its drivers work together the best at the plate tracks. Ford is +145 to be the winning manufacturer Sunday and I think that's a pretty good play.