Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey 200 Predictions, Picks & Odds (Xfinity Series)

• Defending race winner Austin Cindric is the favorite—but perhaps he shouldn’t be.
• AJ Allmendinger will enter Saturday’s race with 72 laps already under his belt. 
• Michael Annett returns from injury hoping to escape the Playoff bubble.

After a one-year hiatus necessitated by the coronavirus pandemic, the NASCAR Xfinity Series returns to Watkins Glen International for the second leg of a Saturday doubleheader with the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

Typically, the Xfinity Series race at Watkins Glen has been a playground for moonlighting NASCAR Cup Series drivers, but that won’t be the case on Saturday, with Austin Dillon and Erik Jones the only full-time Cup drivers entered.

The Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey 200 will be contested over 82 laps (200.9 miles), with stage breaks scheduled after 20 and 40 laps. Austin Cindric is the defending winner of the race.

How to Watch Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey 200

Austin Cindric Is the Favorite, But Does He Deserve That Distinction?

Racing aficionados know that Austin Cindric is a skilled road racer. Appropriately enough, he claimed his first NASCAR Xfinity Series victory at Watkins Glen International in 2019, driving Team Penske’s No. 22 Ford.

But that was only Cindric’s second start at the 2.45-mile road course. In his first, in 2018, he started 14th in Roush Fenway Racing’s No. 60 Ford and finished 13th.

Other excellent road course racers in the field have considerably more experience at the Glen. AJ Allmendinger (+220 via DraftKings Sportsbook) boasts a combined 12 starts at the high-speed course. Justin Allgaier (+1000) has 11 and has posted six straight top-10 Xfinity Series finishes at the track.

So don’t give the trophy to Cindric (+180) just yet, even though he’s the defending winner, not to mention the defending series champion.

AJ Allmendinger Will Have Plenty of Track Time Before the Xfinity Race

For several reasons, we like AJ Allmendinger to win Saturday’s race. First, he’s the most skilled road course racer in the field, as he has proved in a variety of different race cars.

Second, Allmendinger has been hired as a relief driver in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race that precedes the Xfinity contest. Allmendinger is replacing GMS Racing driver Chase Purdy, who tested positive for COVID-19.

Accordingly, Allmendinger (+220) will have 72 laps on the track before the Xfinity drivers start their race. That extra seat time should give him enough of an edge to beat Cindric to the checkered flag.

We rest our case.

Michael Annett Returns to Action, Hoping to Escape the Playoff Bubble

Michael Annett was in excellent position to secure a NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoff berth—before a stress fracture in his right femur sidelined him for the last two races.

During that span, Annett’s lead over Riley Herbst for the final Playoff spot dwindled to a less-than-comfortable 32 points.

Annett had surgery to repair the fracture and recovered during the two-week Olympic break. He retained his Playoff eligibility through a medical waiver from NASCAR and was cleared to race at Watkins Glen this weekend.

It would take a leap of faith, however, to expect Annett (+7000 at DraftKings Sportsbook) to win at Watkins Glen. Even a top-five finish (+900) is far-fetched. But Annett is more interested in widening his advantage over Herbst—and that he should be able to do over the next seven races.

Just don’t waste a bet on the driver of the No. 1 JR Motorsports Chevrolet this weekend.