The Playoff picture in the NASCAR Xfinity Series is still taking shape, with only three of 12 drivers having clinched berths with five races left in the regular season.
Multiple race winners John Hunter Nemechek, Austin Hill and Cole Custer know they’ll race for the title. Single race winners Justin Allgaier, Sam Mayer, Chandler Smith, Sammy Smith and Jeb Burton are relatively secure, though their surest path to the Playoffs is to win again.
The scenario should gain more clarity after Saturday’s Pennzoil 150 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course (5:30 p.m. ET on USA, IMS Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
If no Xfinity Series regular can win on Saturday, the Playoff contenders wouldn’t object to seeing defending race winner AJ Allmendinger take the checkered flag. A full-time NASCAR Cup driver, Allmendinger is racing in both NASCAR events at the Indianapolis Road Course this weekend.
Likewise, Ty Gibbs is running both events as he strives to maintain his grip on the final Cup Series Playoff berth.
But don’t look past Allgaier, who finished third behind Allmendinger and Cup driver Alex Bowman in last year’s race.
“It’s always a special feeling getting to race at Indianapolis,” said Allgaier, who also won in 2018 on the IMS oval. “Whether it is on the oval or on the road course, this is a race that is circled every year.
“We had a really strong Chevrolet here last season, and with the speed we’ve had on road courses thus far in 2023, I feel extremely confident that we’ll have a strong Camaro on Saturday.”
Source: Reid Spencer/NASCAR Wire Service
