2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series Portland Preview
Photo: Getty Images
The NASCAR Xfinity Series begins their version of a ‘West Coast Swing’ as they head to Portland International Raceway for the Pacific Office Automation 147. Coverage begins at 4:30PM EST on FS1.
Last year’s race saw multiple rivalries form between Sheldon Creed and John Hunter Nemechek, to the likes of Chandler Smith and Jeb Burton. But in the end, it was Cole Custer who came away with the win.
AJ Allmendinger +200
The only time that AJ Allmendinger raced at Portland, he won the race back in 2022. He only led 6 laps, but stayed out of trouble at the very end. He needs some of that luck on his side this weekend, as he’s coming off just his second Top 5 finish of the season. Be on the lookout for the road course ringer Dinger this Saturday.
Shane van Gisbergen +200
Shane van Gisbergen made his presence felt when he came on the NASCAR scene in 2023 at the Chicago Street Course, but he’s also making the Xfinity regulars feel it too. He nearly won COTA earlier in the year and would’ve had a Top 5 finish, had he not been penalized for corner cutting. Lookout for the Kiwi this weekend.
Sheldon Creed +800
Sheldon Creed arguably had the best car last year at Portland. Had it not been for John Hunter Nemechek and his rough driving, we could’ve seen Creed score his first career Xfinity win at Portland, or at Watkins Glen. At some point the racing gods owe him one win at some point, it could very well be this weekend.
Cole Custer +900
Cole Custer was the winner of last year’s race in similar fashion to AJ Allmendinger’s win in 2022. Custer stayed out of trouble and just kept his car on the track, leading only 5 laps last year to score his first win of the season. After last weekend’s debacle with Austin Hill and the news of Stewart Haas shutting down at the end of the season, Custer will be on the hunt to score his first win of the year.
Austin Hill +1400
Austin Hill might be known as a Superspeedway merchant and aggressively racing against his competitors, but he’s been underappreciated as a road course driver. He finished inside the Top 10 in seven of the nine road course races last year AND nearly won COTA earlier in the year. Hill will be aggressive on Saturday, looking for his third win on the season.
Josh Bilicki +2200
Josh Bilicki enters this weekend racing the #19 Toyota Supra for Joe Gibbs Racing. With plenty of experience at road course racing, this weekend is the big break that he’s been looking for since he stepped onto the NASCAR scene. He has one Top 10 last year with Mario Gosslin’s team at Road America. Don’t be shocked if Bilicki has a Top 5 performance.