With the close competition in the NASCAR Xfinity Series this season, there is only one real option that guarantees the drivers currently outside the Playoff cutoff to advance to the next round – and that’s to win. But keep in mind there is always chance they could point their way into the next round as well with a little help from those above the cut line.
Joe Gibbs Racing’s Brandon Jones announced this week he will be returning next season to the JGR camp to once again compete for a Xfinity title. Currently the up-and-coming star is ninth in the NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Playoff standings, 15 points back from the Round of 8’s final transfer spot (eighth-place Noah Gragson). Jones is having a career season, posting four top fives and 13 top 10s. But his Playoffs did not start like he anticipated, he qualified 11th and finished 11th at Richmond last weekend.
Turning to the Roval this weekend, Jones is looking to keep his Playoff aspirations alive, but it will be a challenge. Jones started last season’s event 22nd and finished 22nd. This season he has put up the 11th-best average finish (14.3) from the three previous road course stops on the 2019 Xfinity Series schedule (Watkins Glen, Mid-Ohio and Road America).
RSS Racing’s Ryan Sieg is currently 10th in the Xfinity Playoff standings, 19 points behind eighth-place Noah Gragson in the postseason’s final transfer spot to the next round. This year, Sieg has wheeled two top fives and nine top 10s in his career-best series performance.
Looking ahead to Charlotte this Saturday, Sieg returns to the road course looking to rebound from last season when he was sidelined early in the race due to suspension issues; he ultimately finished the event 36th. This season he has the 13th-best average finish (19.0) from the three previous road course stops on the 2019 Xfinity Series schedule (Watkins Glen, Mid-Ohio and Road America).
Kaulig Racing’s Justin Haley is holding on to 11th in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoff standings, 20 points behind eighth-place Noah Gragson in the final Playoff transfer spot. Haley has been navigating his rookie season quite well, amassing three top fives and 17 top 10s. But his Playoff hopes took a shot last weekend at Richmond after he qualified a respectable seventh but dropped to 17th for the finish.
Now with just two races left in the Round of 12 to advance to the Round of 8, Haley will have his work cut out for him as he will be making his series track debut at the Roval this weekend. On the bright side, though, Haley has run well on the road courses this season, posting the eighth-best average finish (9.3) on the three previous road course stops in 2019.
Last, but not least, is GMS Racing’s John Hunter Nemechek who currently sits 12th in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs, 21 points behind eighth-place Noah Gragson in the final transfer spot. Nemechek’s rookie season has seen four top fives and 13 top 10s. But he started 38th in the Playoff opener at Richmond and wrestled a 15th-place finish from the competition. As a result, he now faces possible elimination from the Playoffs in the next two races.
And just when Nemechek thought it couldn’t be much more difficult to keep his title hunt alive, he will have to make his series track debut at the Roval this weekend.
Keep in mind, if Haley and Nemechek do not advance to the next round, not only will their championship chances be dashed but they will also be eliminated from contention for the Sunoco Rookie of the Year title.
NASCAR PR
