NASCAR XFINITY Series drivers will race 300 miles over 200 laps in the Drive for the Cure 300 on Sunday, October 9th. NBC Sports Network coverage begins at 4 pm ET (or immediately after the Sprint Cup race – whichever comes first) with radio coverage on PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90.
What to Watch For: Daniel Suarez (6.6) and Elliott Sadler (8.9) – both of whom have advanced to the NASCAR XFINITY Series Chase Round of 8 via victories – lead all championship contenders in average finish at 1.5-mile tracks this year.
The Chase bubble is packed with ten drivers within 17 points of elimination. Here’s where the drivers who haven’t clinched berths in the Round of 8 stand: Justin Allgaier (17 points ahead of Ty Dillon on the cutoff line), Brendan Gaughan (+14), Ryan Reed (+11), Darrell Wallace Jr. (+10), Blake Koch (+4), Brennan Poole (+3), Dillon (-3 points below Brennan Poole on the cutoff line), Erik Jones (-4), Ryan Sieg (-10) and Brandon Jones (-18).
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers Kyle Larson, Matt DiBenedetto, Josh Wise, Brad Keselowski, Austin Dillon, Joey Logano and Kevin Harvick are all scheduled to compete in Sunday’s NASCAR XFINITY Series race.
Suarez, Sadler Only Two Chase Competitors Feeling the Comforts of ‘Win and You’re In’
In the inaugural elimination-style NASCAR XFINITY Series Chase the ultimate prize in each round is to win and advance to the next round to have a shot at the title in Miami. That means former winners Daniel Suarez (Dover) and Elliott Sadler (Kentucky) are the only two drivers in the Chase Round of 12 who have the luxury of rolling into Charlotte Motor Speedway this weekend with few apprehensions about their Chase implications.
Following his win last weekend at Dover, Suarez is now the Round of 12 NASCAR XFINITY Chase standings leader by two points over Elliott Sadler. In 28 starts in his sophomore season, Suarez has posted two poles, two wins (Michigan and Dover) and a series leading 14 top-fives.
Expect Suarez’s recent success to continue this weekend at Charlotte. In three starts at the 1.5-mile speedway, he has posted one top-five, two top-tens and an average finish of 7.3.
In position to advance to the next round with a win, Sadler can enjoy this final race of the NASCAR XFINITY Series Chase Round of 12. Sadler has made 28 starts this season, posting three wins (Talladega, Darlington and Kentucky), 11 top-fives and a series-leading 25 top-tens. Sadler has finished in the top-ten at Charlotte in three of his last four starts there.
Suarez (6.6) and Sadler (8.9) lead all championship contenders in average finish on 1.5-mile tracks this season.
Round of 12 Cutoff Race: Who’s In, Who’s Out?
Charlotte Motor Speedway is the last chance for the Chase contenders without wins to lock themselves into the Round of 8. Below is a look at the Chase contenders in position to advance to the next round, but are not locked in with a win.
- 3. Justin Allgaier – 2,071 (+17) No. 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro – leaped three spots in the Chase standings from sixth to third following his third-place finish at Dover last weekend. Now Allgaier has the largest points cushion (+17 points) ahead of Ty Dillon in ninth among chase contenders without a win. Allgaier’s 2016 season has seen 12 top-fives, 23 top-tens and an average finish of 9.2. Allgaier’s on-track consistency should advance him to the next round. In his last nine starts at Charlotte he has posted seven top-tens and an average finish of 9.6, including a fifth-place finish earlier this season.
- Brendan Gaughan – 2,068 (+14) No. 62 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Camaro – dropped one spot in the Chase standings from third to fourth following his ninth-place finish at Dover last weekend. Gaughan currently is 14 points ahead of ninth-place Ty Dillon as the series heads to Charlotte for the final race of the Round of 12. Gaughan has made 28 starts this season posting four top-fives, 15 top-tens and an average finish of 10.7. Gaughan has been exceptional on 1.5-mile tracks this season posting the third-best average finish among title contenders with a 10.3. Gaughan has made nine starts at Charlotte posting an average finish of 15.1; including a tenth-place finish earlier this season.
- Ryan Reed – 2,065 (+11) No. 16 Roush Fenway Racing Ford Mustang – fell one spot from fourth to fifth in the standings following his tenth-place finish at Dover; his second top-ten of the Chase. Reed now sits fifth in the Chase standings just 11 points ahead of ninth-place Ty Dillon. In Reed’s third full season there is no doubt his skills have progressed. In 28 starts he has posted one top-five, six top-tens and an average finish of 14.6 (a career-best). Reed faces an uphill battle this weekend at Charlotte even though he has an 11-point cushion. Among the 12 Chase contenders, Reed has the second-worst average finish on 1.5-mile tracks this season with an 18.4. Reed has made six starts at Charlotte posting an average finish of 14.2, including a career best at Charlotte (11th) in this event last season.
- Darrell Wallace Jr. – 2,064 (+10) No. 6 Roush Fenway Racing Ford Fusion – like RFR teammate Ryan Reed also dropped one spot in the Chase standings from fifth to sixth following an 11th-place finish at Dover last weekend. Wallace now sits ten points ahead of ninth-place Ty Dillon. Wallace’s 2016 season has been quite productive. In 28 starts he has posted three top-fives, nine top-tens and an average finish of 14.6. Again, much like his teammate Reed, Wallace has struggled on 1.5-mile speedways this season, posting an average finish of 18.0. But don’t count him out this weekend at Charlotte, a track he has made three series starts, notching one top-five, two top-tens an average finish of 13.3.
- Blake Koch – 2,058 (+4) No. 11 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet Camaro – is just above the cusp of elimination in the NASCAR XFINITY Series Chase Round of 12 after he moved up one spot to seventh following a 14th-place finish at Dover last weekend. Only four points separate seventh-place Blake Koch from ninth-place Ty Dillon. Koch has made 28 starts this season posting three top-tens and an average finish of 17.7 (a career-best). Unfortunately, 1.5-mile tracks have been the bane of Koch’s success this season; posting a 19.1 average finish on those specific speedways – the worst among Chase contenders. Koch has made six starts at Charlotte posting an average finish of 26.7; including a 14th-place finish earlier this season.
- Brennan Poole – 2,057 (+3) No. 48 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet Camaro – must be mistake free this weekend at Charlotte because his three-point cushion ahead of ninth-place Ty Dillon is a slim margin to bank on. Poole fell one spot to Blake Koch in the Chase standings following his 15th-place finish at Dover last weekend. Poole has made 28 starts this season posting four top-fives, 15 top-tens and an average finish of 12.1. Poole has the eighth best average finish (13.2) on 1.5-mile speedways this season among Chase contenders. In two starts at Charlotte, Poole has posted an average finish of 15.0, including a ninth-place finish earlier this season.
Cutoff Race for Round of 12 has Tension to Advance Running High
The following four drivers will be faced with elimination from the NASCAR XFINITY Series Chase if they do not win or move into the top eight in Chase points this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Below is a look at the drivers in positions ninth through 12th in the Chase standings.
- Ty Dillon – 2,033 (-3) No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Camaro – finds himself on the edge of elimination, just three points behind eighth-place Brennan Poole. Following his runner-up finish at Dover, Dillon jumped three spots from last in the Chase (12th) to ninth. Dillon has been digging himself out of a Chase standings hole since his accident in the first Chase race at Kentucky relegated him to a 27th-place finish. This season has been filled with ups and downs for Dillon. In 28 starts, he has posted eight top-fives, 15 top-tens and an average finish of 10.6. Among the 12 Chase contenders, Ty Dillon has the sixth-best average finish on 1.5-mile speedways (11.1), which is better than four of the Chase contenders who are currently ahead of him in the standings (Poole 13.3; Wallace 18.0; Reed 18.4; and Koch 19.1). Dillon has made five starts at Charlotte posting four top-tens and average finish of 12.2.
- Erik Jones – 2,053 (-4) No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Camry – fell another spot in the standings from ninth to 10th just four points behind eighth-place Blake Koch. Despite winning the pole and leading 54 laps at Dover last weekend, Jones finished 16th. Jones has made 28 starts this season posting four wins, 13 top-fives, 16 top-tens and a rookie-record nine poles. His average finish this season is a 12.2. Anticipate Jones to flex his muscle on track this weekend as the Sunoco Rookie looks to fend off elimination. Jones has the fourth-best average finish (10.2) on 1.5-mile tracks among Chasers this season. In three starts at Charlotte, Jones has posted one pole and one top-five. He finished second in this event last season.
- Ryan Sieg – 2,047 (-10) No. 39 RSS Racing Chevrolet Camaro – has 10 points standing between himself and the Round of 8 in the NASCAR XFINITY Series Chase. Sieg was bumped from tenth to 11th in the Chase standings following a 19th-place finish at Dover last weekend. Sieg has made 28 starts this season posting one top-five, two top-tens and an average finish of 18.0. Sieg faces an uphill climb in the Chase points but one that is not insurmountable. Sieg is ranked ninth among Chase contenders in average finishing position (14.4.) at tracks 1.5-miles in length, which is better than three drivers who are ahead of him the Chase standings (Wallace 18.0; Reed 18.4; and Koch 19.1). Sieg has made five starts at Charlotte, posting an average finish of 18.2, including a 13th-place finish earlier this season.
- Brandon Jones – 2,039 (-18) No. 33 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Camaro – heads to Charlotte with one thing on his mind – win. Sunoco rookie, Brandon Jones plummeted to last in the Chase standings following his 17th-place finish last weekend at Dover. Jones is now 12th in the Chase standings, 18 points behind eighth-place Blake Koch as the series heads to Charlotte. Jones has made 28 starts this season posting 11 top-tens and an average finish of 13.5. Jones will most likely have to win this weekend to advance to the next round. Jones is ranked seventh among Chase challengers in average finish (11.4) on 1.5-mile tracks this season. Jones has made his series debut at Charlotte earlier this season starting 12th and finishing seventh.
Fresh Faces In The NASCAR XFINITY Garage – The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series has a fresh crop of talented drivers budding to get into the NASCAR XFINITY Series and several of those fresh faces will be attempting to compete this weekend. Matt Tifft returns to the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota this weekend with crew chief Chris Gayle. Tifft has made seven starts this season posting one top-five, three top-tens and an average finish of 16.9. Spencer Gallagher will be making his seventh series start this season with crew chief Joey Cohen. Gallagher’s previous six starts have seen one top-five and an average finish of 20.5. Cole Custer will be making his fourth start of the season for JR Motorsports this weekend at Charlotte. Custer has posted one top-five, two top-tens and an average finish of 14.0 in his three previous starts.