Ambetter Health 302 Predictions: Playoffs Are Down to the Nitty-Gritty

• It’s not a superspeedway, but Austin Hill has a record of success at Vegas

• Aric Almirola is the favorite as he tries to secure owners’ championship

• Riley Herbst is out of the Playoffs but not out of the running at his home track

Ambetter Health 302 Betting Odds

The following odds are taken from bet365 Sportsbook. Use our promo code WSN365 at bet365 to claim your bonus of choice: $1,000 Safety Net Bet OR $200 in Bonus Bets.

Our Picks for the Ambetter Health 302

• Riley Herbst to win the race at +1200 via bet365

• Austin Hill to finish in the top three at +375 via bet365

• Austin Hill to beat Sheldon Creed head-to-head at +110 via bet365

Ambetter Health 302 Predictions

Austin Hill Is Undervalued, Given His Record at Las Vegas

It’s only natural to associate Austin Hill with so-called drafting tracks. After all, seven of his nine NASCAR Xfinity Series victories have come at tracks that use NASCAR’s superspeedway competition package.

But Hill also has a recent win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on his resume. In the spring race of 2023, he took the checkered flag 0.268 seconds ahead of runner-up Justin Allgaier.

In the two races since that victory, Hill has finished seventh and fourth at the 1.5-mile track in Sin City.

Though we’re not picking him to win this week, we think he’ll begin the Round of 8 of the series Playoffs with a top-three finish at +375 via bet365 Sportsbook.

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There’s a Title on the Line for Aric Almirola, Even in Part-Time Role

No doubt former full-time NASCAR Cup Series driver Aric Almirola will be in top-quality equipment this weekend.

The No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota he drives part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series is leading the owners’ standings with four races left in the season.

For those not familiar, NASCAR can have a bifurcated championship where a driver can win one title and a car driven by multiple drivers can win the owner’s title.

The owners’ championship is an incentive for Almirola to run well on Saturday, but his record suggests otherwise. In five Xfinity races at the track, he has never scored a top 10, and in 21 Cup starts there, he has no top fives and four top 10s.

Hence, we’re steering clear of Almirola in the favorite’s role at +400 via bet365.

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Riley Herbst Has Nothing to Lose in Return to His Home Track

Last week, we gave you Sam Mayer to win in an upset at the Charlotte Roval, and that’s what he did—at a hefty price of +1200.

In addition, we advised a bet on Mayer to finish in the top three (winner!) and on Parker Kligerman to beat defending Xfinity Series champion Cole Custer head-to-head (winner!).

This week, we’re making another pick at a +1200 price via bet365—Riley Herbst.

After all, Herbst is the defending winner of this race, and he has nothing to lose on Saturday, given that he already has exited the series Playoffs and won’t have to worry about scoring points.

In 10 starts at the 1.5-mile track, Herbst has scored five top 10s, including the win and a fifth-place run in his last two outings.

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How to Watch Ambetter Health 302

Race: Ambetter Health 302 NASCAR Xfinity Series race

Location: Las Vegas Motor Speedway

Time: Saturday, October 19, 7 p.m. ET

How to Watch: The CW