NASCAR XFINITY Series, One Main Financial 200 at Dover Preview

NASCAR XFINITY Series teams are ready for action in the One Main Financial 200 at Dover International Speedway this Saturday, June 3 at 1 pm ET. Coverage is available on FOX Sports 1, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio and MRN starting at 12:30 pm ET.

Erik Jones and his crew chief Chris Gabehart are the defending XFINITY Series winners at Dover this weekend. Teams will race 200 miles over 200 laps with Stage 1 ending on lap 60 and Stage 2 ending on lap 120. The last stage will end on the last lap 200. 

What To Watch For: The XFINITY Series Dash 4 Cash returns for the last time this season at Dover. A Dash 4 Cash win by Daniel Hemric would earn him a playoff berth along with the $100,000 bonus.

Elliott Sadler attempts to increase his six-point standings lead over second-place Justin Allgaier.

The average age of the winning XFINITY Series drivers this season is 25 years old.

XFINITY Series Teams Supporting Autism Delaware with Decals this Weekend

A total of 23 drivers from the XFINITY Series will be showing their support for Autism Delaware’s mission this weekend at Dover International Speedway by displaying a special decal on their cars.

Autism Delaware, a leader in the First State on autism awareness since its founding in 1998, is working to raise funds and awareness during the June 2-4 NASCAR weekend.

This will be the 11th consecutive year that Dover International Speedway’s spring events has had a tie-in with the cause of autism awareness. 

Show Me the Money: Dash 4 Cash is Back for One Last Go Around

Dover International Speedway is the last chance this season XFINITY Series championship contending drivers will have to battle it out for a Dash 4 Cash win, and the giant $100,000 check that comes with it.

JR Motorsport’s driver Justin Allgaier snagged the first Dash 4 Cash win by visiting Victory Lane at Phoenix International Raceway. Then Richard Childress Racing’s Daniel Hemric grabbed the second installment of the program and his first Dash 4 Cash win at Bristol Motor Speedway. But Allgaier enjoyed his first big check so much, he won a second at Richmond International Raceway in the third segment of the program. Now the series has reached the last call of the 2017 Dash 4 Cash program at Dover.

Dover International Speedway has been a part of the Dash 4 Cash program since 2011. Only two drivers have won the Dash 4 Cash at Dover – Regan Smith in 2015 and Erik Jones in 2016. 

A Quick Reminder Of Dash 4 Cash Eligibility

  • The top-two finishing NASCAR XFINITY Series drivers who have declared for series points in each of the two stages will make up the four-driver Dash 4 Cash field for the Final Stage. Once Stage 1 is complete, the two drivers who lock into the main field won’t have their position counted against other Dash 4 Cash-eligible drivers following Stage 2 to ensure a four-driver field.
  • The field will then begin the race with Stage 1, followed by Stage 2 and the Final Stage. At Dover International Speedway: Stage 1 (Ends on lap 60), Stage 2 (Ends on lap 120), Final Stage (Ends on lap 200)
  • The highest finisher in the final stage among the four Dash 4 Cash drivers wins the Dash 4 Cash and a $100,000 prize.
  • Plus, don’t forget if a driver earns two Dash 4 Cash bonus wins over the four Dash 4 Cash races, that qualifies them for the NASCAR XFINITY Series playoffs – currently, Daniel Hemric is in position to complete this feat.  

Points Tighten at the Top-as Series Heads to Dover

With ten races complete in the 2017 regular season, Justin Allgaier has reduced Elliott Sadler’s XFINITY Series driver standings points lead from 29 markers down to just six as the series heads to Dover International Speedway for the One Main Financial 200.

Allgaier capitalized on his JR Motorsports teammate’s misfortune at Charlotte Motor Speedway last weekend by finishing 12th, after Sadler spun off turn four late in the race hitting the inside wall ending his day early in the 35th position.

Now with Sadler in striking distance in the standings, Allgaier hopes to take the points lead at Dover – a track he has outperformed Sadler in the past. Sadler has made 24 series starts at Dover posting three top-tens and an average finish of 21.8. While Allgaier has made 12 series starts at Dover posting three top-fives, six top-tens and an average finish of 13.8. 

Youth Movement: Average Age of Winning Drivers this Season – 25 Years Old

Each week young drivers are proving they belong in the highest ranks of NASCAR and the 2017 XFINITY Series season is a great example of that. Through ten races this season, the average age of the winning eight drivers is 25.6 years of age.

The youngest winner this season is Joe Gibbs Racing’s Erik Jones at the age of 20. Jones has two wins this season at Texas and Bristol.

The eldest winner this season in the NXS is Aric Almirola at the age of 33. Almirola won at Talladega.

Five drivers under the age of 30 have won this season – Erik Jones (20), Ryan Reed (23), Ryan Blaney (23), Kyle Larson (24) and Joey Logano (26).

The youngest winner in series history at Dover International Speedway is Casey Atwood (1999 fall race winner) at the age of 19 years, 1 month.  

Sunoco Rookie Update:

Hemric Continues His Series Standings Ascension, Now Up To Fourth

Richard Childress Racing’s Sunoco Rookie of the Year candidate Daniel Hemric has leapfrogged Roush Fenway Racing’s Darrell Wallace Jr. in the XFINITY Series driver standings to take the fourth-place spot after the race at Charlotte last weekend. Now Hemric is just 22 points back from third-place and fellow Sunoco Rookie of the Year candidate William Byron.

Hemric is climbing the standings since the season-opener at Daytona, where he finished 31st due to an accident, and was 26th in the series points. Since then he has moved up 22 spots in the points. In ten starts this season, Hemric has posted two top-fives and seven top-15 finishes. His average finish this season is a 16.2.

This weekend will be Hemric’s series debut at Dover International Speedway. 

Joe Gibbs Racing’s Erik Jones Returns to Defend Last Season’s Dover Win

Last season’s XFINITY Series Dover winner, Erik Jones, will return to the series this weekend to pilot the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Camry with crew chief Chris Gabehart. Jones is not only looking to defend his win from last season and add to his win’s total (two; Bristol and Texas) this season, but also extend the JGR wins streak at Dover to three consecutive wins – Erik Jones (spring race winner) and Daniel Suarez (fall race winner).

Jones has made three starts at Dover, posting one pole, one win, two top-tens and an average finish of 8.667.

Joe Gibbs Racing leads the series in wins at Dover International Speedway with 11 victories among five drivers – Daniel Suarez (Fall 2016), Erik Jones (Spring 2016), Kyle Busch (2014 sweep, 2010 sweep and Fall 2008), Joey Logano (2012 sweep) and Denny Hamlin (Spring 2008 and Fall 2007). 

Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney Looks to Make it Two in a Row

Ryan Blaney has the wind at his back lately as the 23-year-old superstar captured his first win of the season last weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway, and now the Team Penske standout will attempt to go for two in a row this weekend at Dover International Speedway.

Blaney will be strapping into the No. 22 Team Penske Ford Mustang with crew chief Greg Erwin on the pit box. Blaney has made five series starts this season posting one win (Charlotte), five top-five and a stellar average finish of 2.4.

Blaney has made four series starts at Dover posting one pole, two top-fives and an average finish of 13.8.

Team Penske has two series wins at Dover – both by Joey Logano when he swept the 2013 season. 

Also Noteworthy…

Sieg and Chastain are Going Racing Monster-Style: XFINITY Series championship contenders Ross Chastain and Ryan Sieg will make their attempt to compete this Sunday in the AAA 400 Drive for Autism Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway. Sieg will drive the No. 83 BK Racing Toyota with crew chief Randy Cox and Ross Chastain will drive the No. 15 Premium Motorsports Chevrolet with crew chief Mark Hillman. 

Monster Drivers to Watch on Saturday:  This week six Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers will compete in the XFINITY Series race on Saturday – Austin Dillon, Ty Dillon, Daniel Suarez, Erik Jones, Ryan Blaney and Kyle Larson.