The NASCAR Xfinity Series returns to competition in Saturday’s Focused Health 250 (5 p.m. ET on FS1, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) at Circuit of The Americas (COTA) and the big question will be who can stop Kaulig Racing’s A.J. Allmendinger, the two-time defending race winner.
The first road course event of the 2024 season will feature a typically full field of road course aces vying against the series championship regulars. Current points leader, Joe Gibbs Racing’s Chandler Smith has never won a road course. He did turn in a good showing in his only previous Austin start last year, finishing 12th after starting 27th.
Smith says he’s been preparing for COTA and feels more confident about his second start there.
“I’ve done a lot of laps in the simulator for this weekend,” he said. “I think we have a good setup … to go out and compete up front on Saturday.”
Only three drivers currently among the top 10 in the NASCAR Xfinity Series driver points standings have road course wins. Stewart-Haas Racing’s Cole Custer won a pair of road course races last year – at Portland and on the Chicago street course. For Allmendinger, 11 of his 17 Xfinity Series career wins have come on road courses making him by far tops in Saturday’s field. Justin Allgaier has three road course wins and is always competitive in this brand of racing.
Of course, this season Allmendinger will have a chance to race his wares against another road course expert, his new Kaulig Racing teammate, three-time Supercars champion Shane van Gisbergen. This will be the Kiwi’s COTA debut. But the New Zealand rookie is already off to an impressive start to his first fulltime campaign. He’s ranked 14th in the championship – 23 points out of the top-10 – in his four oval starts. He’s had a pair of top-10 finishes in the No. 97 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet, including a best of third place at the Atlanta Motor Speedway 1.5-miler.
Kyle Larson leads an impressive group of NASCAR Cup Series drivers also entered in Saturday’s Xfinity Series race. The former NASCAR Cup Series champion will make his first Xfinity Series start of the year in the No. 17 Chevrolet for his Hendrick Motorsports team. Also entered are Joe Gibbs Racing’s Ty Gibbs, who has four Xfinity Series road course victories, and Legacy Motor Club’s John Hunter Nemechek, who will team with Gibbs in a JGR Toyota.
Of note, two of the three races have been won from pole position.
Today’s practice is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. ET, followed by pole qualifying at 6 p.m. – both televised live on FS1.
Source: Holly Cain | NASCAR Wire Service
