2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series Michigan Preview
Photo: NASCAR.com
On Saturday the NASCAR Xfinity Series will cruise into the Irish Hills of Michigan Speedway for their only appearance on a two mile oval. But this year’s race will be ran with the same superspeedway engine package at Indianapolis three weeks ago. Coverage of the ‘Cabo Wabo 250’ begins at 3:30PM EST on USA.
Last year’s race was won by John Hunter Nemechek, despite being involved in an early caution with JGR teammates Ty Gibbs and Sammy Smith, with Gibbs showing displeasure afterwards.
Justin Allgaier +400 | Top 5 -140
Justin Allgaier enters this weekend as the favorite, riding on a wave of consistency on the season. He’s finished inside the Top 10 in the last five Xfinity races, snagging two Top 5s in that span. At Michigan, Allgaier has five Top 10 finishes in his last seven starts since he joined JR Motorsports in 2016. Last year he finished 14th but led 32 laps, the most he’s led in a race at Michigan. Saturday could be the day Allgaier finally gets a win at Michigan.
John Hunter Nemechek +500 | Top 5 -125
John Hunter Nemechek won this race last year, and also won at Auto Club, the only two mile ovals NASCAR went to in 2023. Nemechek is also due for a good finish given his stats for the 2024 Xfinity Series season: 7th at Daytona, 32nd in Atlanta, 1st at Las Vegas, 32nd in Phoenix, 3rd at COTA, 23rd in Darlington, 8th at Sonoma, 27th at Iowa, 1st in Nashville, 25th at Chicago. Superstitious about JHN this weekend.
Austin Hill +700 | Top 5 +120
Austin Hill only has one Top 5 finish in two starts at Michigan, but he does have a Truck Series win under his belt in 2019. Not to mention, the superspeedway engine package will be run this weekend, something he excels in. He finished 6th last week in the package at Indianapolis, and Michigan has more banked corners than the Brickyard. the ball is in Hill’s court this Saturday.
Riley Herbst +700 | Top 5 +120
Riley Herbst finally broke through for his first win of the season three weeks ago at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He’s taken a liking to the superspeedway engine package since 2023, with two Top 10s in the Cup Series at Daytona and Talladega. This season, Herbst has finished 6th at Daytona and 2nd at Talladega in the Xfinity Series. His confidence is at an all time high, increasing his chances at winning this weekend.
Sheldon Creed +1500 | Top 5 +200
Sheldon Creed has the most 2nd place finishes before getting their first win in NASCAR history with TEN! Three of those finishes have come this year, where he’s earned nine Top 5s and twelve Top 10s in 20 race this season for JGR. Creed has to break through at some point, he’s been a contender at all the superspeedway style races this season, no reason he shouldn’t be one this weekend.
Brandon Jones +2200 | Top 5 +275
Brandon Jones has an average finish of 3rd at Michigan since the Xfinity Series returned to Michgian in 2021, the best out of anyone. He’s won twice in ARCA in 2016 and 2017, and in total has five Top 10s in seven Xfinity starts. With his 2025 plans undecided, he could be the odd man out at JRM, with Allgaier, Smith, and Zilisch secured rides for 2025. He’ll be looking to put the field on notice this Saturday.