Sports Clips Haircuts VFW 200, Darlington Raceway - Predictions and Odds

It’s time for one of the most anticipated weekends of the NASCAR season.

The series makes its yearly stop at the legendary Darlington Raceway.

Since 2015, teams have been running throwback paint schemes to celebrate NASCAR’s seven decades of history.

But the throwbacks won’t be the only thing to keep an eye on.

With only three races left before the start of the postseason, time is running out for drivers outside the cutoff to secure a spot.

For the top contenders, it’s another chance to add points for the first round of the playoffs.

The field this year is relatively new to Darlington’s unique layout.

Due to the track’s nature, the experience is even more important in order to find a way around the tricky banking.

How to Watch

What: Sports Clips Haircuts VFW 200

Where: Darlington Raceway in Darlington, SC

When: Saturday, August 31st at 4:00 PM EST

How: NBC (TV) | Motor Racing Network (Web radio) | NBC Sports App

Favorites to Win the 2019 Sports Clips Haircuts VFW 200

Denny Hamlin

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Denny Hamlin is the Xfinity Series’ all-time leader in wins at Darlington with five wins.

Hamlin scored all five wins from pole position and led the most laps in two.

The Joe Gibbs driver has never finished lower than the 7th place at Darlington.

He also finished second three times.

The Cup Series driver scored his most recent win in 2017 and finished fourth last year.

This will be Hamlin’s first start in the Xfinity Series since then.

Cole Custer

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Cole Custer, after a runner-up finish in 2018, will be a front-runner again this year.

The Stewart-Haas driver has two starts at the “Too Tough to Tame” oval, with two top 10 finishes.

Custer needs a good result after facing a slight drop in performance the past few races.

Despite scoring three top 10 finishes in the last four starts, he hasn’t finished inside the top 5 since New Hampshire.

While it’s by no means a bad run, it’s slightly below his standards.

Custer is third in points with five wins, 11 top 5 and 15 top 10 finishes in 23 races.

Ryan Blaney

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Ryan Blaney will be the other Cup Series regular in this race.

The Team Penske driver will likely use this opportunity to get more track time at Darlington.

Blaney only has five starts at Darlington, four in the Cup Series and one in Xfinity.

His best result, a seventh-place finish, came in the second-tier series back in 2016.

It was also Blaney’s only start at Darlington in the Xfinity Series.

Blaney has made 18 starts in the Xfinity Series since graduating to a full-time ride in the Cup Series.

He has an impressive 17 top 5 finishes, including three wins during that span.

This will be his second start in the series this season.

Blaney also raced at Watkins Glen, finishing fourth.

His last Xfinity Series win was at Texas in 2018.

Outside Picks for the 2019 Sports Clips Haircuts VFW 200

Tyler Reddick

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Tyler Reddick, much like his closest rivals, does not have much experience at Darlington.

The reigning Xfinity champion only has two career starts at the track.

It didn’t stop him from scoring a solid third-place finish last year.

Reddick is riding a streak of seven consecutive top 5 finishes in the last races.

He scored a win at Bristol during that stretch.

The Richard Childress driver is the current points leader with four wins, 18 top 5 and 20 top 10 finishes.

Christopher Bell

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Christopher Bell only has one career start at Darlington, a DNF last year.

The Joe Gibbs driver learned the hard way as a rookie why the track is considered “too tough to tame”.

Bell crashed out early from last year’s race, only 65 laps into it.

Despite the bad memory, he will likely figure among the front-runners this season.

Bell is coming off a win at Road America, his sixth of the season and first at a road course.

He leads all Xfinity drivers in race wins this year and is second in the standings.

Justin Allgaier

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Justin Allgaier is one of the most experienced drivers at Darlington among the Xfinity Series regulars.

The series’ veteran knows his way around the oval, having scored two top 5 finishes.

Allgaier, however, has never won at Darlington in eight starts.

The JR Motorsports driver is currently fourth in the standings but has not won a race in 2019.

Allgaier has nine top 5 and 15 top 10 finishes in 23 races.

2019 Sports Clips Haircuts VFW 200 Odds

If you are in New Jersey, visit 888Sport to bet on the Sports Clips Haircuts VFW 200. Check out the latest odds below. Good luck!

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