The 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs continue with the Drive for the Cure 250 presented by Blue Cross NC on Saturday, October 4, 2025, at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL in Concord, North Carolina. This race is one of the most unpredictable events on the schedule, as the 17‑turn, 2.28‑mile road course/oval hybrid has become a fan favorite for its chaos, strategy, and playoff drama. With the Round of 12 elimination looming, drivers will be fighting for every stage point and position to keep their championship hopes alive.
Venue & Race Details
Race: Drive for the Cure 250 – NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs
Location: Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL, Concord, NC
Track Layout: 2.28 miles, 17 turns
Race Distance: 67 laps / 155 miles
Stages: Lap 20, Lap 40, Final at Lap 67
Start Time: 5:00 p.m. ET
Broadcast: The CW (TV), PRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Radio), streaming on FOX Sports app ^1][^2]
Weather Outlook
Forecast: Sunny to partly cloudy
High Temperature: ~79°F (26°C)
Rain Chance: 10%
Impact: Ideal racing conditions; track grip will improve as the evening cools, favoring late‑race charges.
Playoff Picture & Driver Updates
The Xfinity Series Playoffs Round of 12 is on the line, with several big names in contention:
Connor Zilisch (#88): Series points leader with 9 wins in 2025; dominant on road courses and enters as the favorite [^1].
Justin Allgaier (#7): Veteran contender with 897 laps led this season; looking to advance with consistency.
Sam Mayer (#41): Strong road course racer, sitting comfortably above the cutline.
Brandon Jones (#20) & Taylor Gray (#54): Both in tight points battles, needing stage points to secure advancement.
Harrison Burton (#25, AM Racing): Clinched the final playoff spot; enters 8 points below the cutline and must deliver at the ROVAL [^3].
Key Driver Matchups
Connor Zilisch vs. Justin Allgaier: Youth vs. experience — Zilisch’s road course dominance against Allgaier’s playoff savvy.
Sam Mayer vs. Brandon Jones: Teammates battling for playoff survival.
Harrison Burton vs. Sheldon Creed: Both on the bubble; one mistake could end their playoff run.
Recent Form & Track History
Connor Zilisch: 17 top‑5 finishes in 2025, including multiple road course wins.
Justin Allgaier: Veteran consistency, but still chasing his first ROVAL victory.
Sam Mayer: Won at Road America earlier this season; thrives on technical layouts.
Past ROVAL Winners: AJ Allmendinger (multiple wins), Ty Gibbs, and Sam Mayer — proving road course specialists often shine here.
Betting Trends
Road course specialists have won 4 of the last 6 Xfinity races at the ROVAL.
The pole sitter has never won at the ROVAL in Xfinity competition — track position is important, but chaos often reshuffles the order.
Playoff bubble drivers often overperform under pressure; expect aggressive stage racing.
Driver Odds
Connor Zilisch – 165
Sam Mayer + 650
Justin Allgaier + 1000
Sheldon Creed + 1500
Austin Hill + 1800
Taylor Gray + 2000
Aric Almirola + 2000
William Sawalich + 2200
Sammy Smith + 2200
Nicholas Sanchez + 2200
Jesse Love + 2200
Christian Eckes + 2500
Carson Kvapil + 2800
Connor Mosack + 3000
Austin Green + 3500
Daniel Hemric + 4000
Kaz Grala + 10000
Brandon Jones + 10000
Harrison Burton + 12000
Corey Day + 15000
Alex Labbe + 35000
Jeb Burton + 40000
Daniel Dye + 50000
Ryan Sieg + 70000
Parker Retzlaff + 70000
Josh Williams + 70000
Josh Bilicki + 70000
Dean Thompson + 70000
Anthony Alfredo + 70000
Ryan Ellis + 90000
Preston Pardus + 90000
Matt DiBenedetto + 90000
Jeremy Clements + 90000
Brennan Poole + 90000
Blaine Perkins + 90000
Austin J Hill + 90000
Andrew Patterson + 90000
Thomas Annunziata + 100000
Sage Karam + 100000
Leland Honeyman Jr. + 100000
Kyle Sieg + 100000
Garrett Smithley + 100000
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, October 3, 2025
