Tire Tests Commence At Charlotte; Justin Allgaier Earns Top Odds To Win NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship

Select NASCAR Xfinity Series drivers joined a trio of Cup Series drivers during Goodyear tire test at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Tuesday. 

The tests at the 1.5-mile track will continue Wednesday to help teams generate data for future set-ups at intermediate tracks. With crew chiefs tackling the recent trend of using soft tires to gain short-term gripping advantages, they experimented with long-term wear and tear. 

Three of Xfinity’s top pilots, Aric Almirola (Ford), Sheldon Creed (Toyota) and Austin Hill (Chevrolet) joined Cup Series’ Ryan Blaney (Ford), Chase Briscoe (Toyota) and William Byron (Chevrolet). The Concord, N.C., venue will next host NASCAR National Series events on Memorial Day weekend.  

A driver from all three manufacturers traditionally conduct tire tests at Charlotte. NASCAR’s longest event, the Coca-Cola 600, will be staged May 25. 

“I feel like the tire on the intermediate actually falls off pretty good,” Byron said, as reported by NASCAR.com. “Sure, it could fall off more, but we’re kind of at the limit of blowing tires or cording tires, and I think, honestly, the tires at Vegas were going down to the cords if your balance was off, and some guys blew tires as we ran laps. So I feel like the intermediate racing has been really good, and honestly, I don’t think we need to touch it.  

“Honestly, I think it’s really just a weather thing trying to get hotter races where it’s slicker, but you know, there’s plenty of cautions on intermediates right now, and it seems like there’s plenty of racing going on, so I think the tire’s in a good spot.” 

Entering Saturday’s event at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Allgaier (+300), the reigning Xfinity titleholder, remains the sports-betting favorite to earn consecutive crowns, according to BetOnline Sportsline.

William Byron discusses the Charlotte tire test and then discusses the current state of intermediate racing in #NASCAR
The softer tires question came from @KellyCrandall pic.twitter.com/7FgPo6uPKw

— John Newby (@JohnNewby_) March 18, 2025

2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship Odds    

Here is an early look at the drivers’ odds for capturing the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series championship, according to BetOnline Sportsbook:

*-Odds current at time of publication