NASCAR insider picks Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s JRM driver as favorite to win 2025 Xfinity race at Martinsville

The 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series season heads to the Martinsville Speedway for the season’s seventh race, the US Marine Corps 250. Ahead of the race, NASCAR insider Bob Pockrass shared his prediction, picking his favorite to win and top-five finishes at the 2025 Xfinity Series US Marine Corps 250.

Pockrass picked Sammy Smith to take the checkered flag at Martinsville on Saturday, March 29. He drives the #8 Chevrolet for Dale Earnhardt Jr. co-owned JR Motorsports and is currently competing in his second season with the team.

Pockrass’ remaining top five predictions are the defending series champion, Justin Allgaier, Austin Hill, rookie Connor Zilisch, and William Sawalich.

Pockrass wrote on X:

“My pick for Xfinity race today at Martinsville: Sammy Smith ... top-5: Smith Allgaier Hill Zilisch Sawalich ET 2:05-Prime-Cup p&q 4:30-CW-NASCAR Countdown 5:10-CW-Xfinity race green, stages 60-60-130, 4 sets, fuel 170-185 NWS: Temps 70s, 0% rain”

Sammy Smith has put in a good performance in the series at Martinsville with two runner-up finishes, a top-five, and a top-10 finish in the last four starts and will start 10th on Saturday. He will look to secure his first win of the season.

NASCAR Xfinity Series drivers and teams will be in action at Martinsville Speedway on Saturday at 5 P.M. ET. Fans can witness the 250-lap Xfinity Series race on CW and MRN.

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Who has higher odds of winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Martinsville?

Aric Almirola, driver of the #19 Younglife Toyota, celebrates with his son, Alex Almirola after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series GOVX 200 at Phoenix Raceway - Source: Getty

The defending winner of the event, Aric Almirola, is the top favorite to win US Marine Corps 250 again with +175 odds. The next closest in the odds table to win are the defending winner of the series, Justin Allgaier, and Sheldon Creed, at +500 and +700 odds, respectively, on Saturday.

1. Aric Almirola: +175
2. Justin Allgaier: +500
3. Sheldon Creed: +700
4. Sammy Smith: +700
5. Sam Mayer: +800
6. Connor Zilisch: +1200
7. Carson Kvapil: +1600
8. Taylor Gray: +1800
9. Brandon Jones: +2000
10. Austin Hill: +2200
11. Jesse Love: +2200
12. Christian Eckes: +2500
13. William Sawalich: +5000
14. Corey Day: +6000
15. Nick Sanchez: +8000
16. Harrison Burton: +10000
17. Jeb Burton: +12500
18. Anthony Alfredo: +15000
19. Daniel Dye: +25000
20. Dean Thompson: +30000
21. Parker Retzlaff: +30000
22. Matt DiBenedetto: +30000
23. Josh Williams: +35000
24. Kris Wright: +50000
25. Jeremy Clements: +50000
26. Kyle Sieg: +75000
27. Myatt Snider: +100000
28. Brennan Poole: +100000
29. Carson Ware: +100000
30. Mason Maggio: +100000
31. Blaine Perkins: +100000
32. Ryan Ellis: +100000
33. Tyler Tomassi: +100000
34. Patrick Staropoli: +200000
35. Garrett Smithley: +200000
36. Thomas Annunziata: +200000
37. Dawson Cram: +200000
38. Brad Perez: +200000
39. Greg Van Alst: +200000