The NASCAR Xfinity Series kicked off the 2024 Playoffs last weekend at Kansas Speedway and is now setting its eyes on Talladega Superspeedway for the United Rentals 250 on Saturday, October 5 at 4 p.m. ET on the CW Network, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90) – for the second race of the Round of 12.
There have been 36 Xfinity Series races at Talladega, producing 29 different race winners and 23 different pole winners. Only three races have been won from the pole or first starting position – Justin Haley (2020), Tony Stewart (2008) and Joe Nemechek (1998).
Nemechek holds quite a few records at the track – most poles (five), top 10s (nine), lead lap finishes (14), laps completed (2,153), laps led (202), and is tied with Joey Logano for most top fives with seven. Martin Truex Jr. sits as the track’s winningest driver with three victories (2004, 2005, 2006).
This will be the fourth time that Talladega Superspeedway serves as the second race in the Round of 12 (2024, 2022, 2021, 2020), The 2.66-mile track did not serve as a Playoff track in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2023.
Xfinity Series drivers will skip practice this weekend and head straight for qualifying on Saturday, October 5 at 11:30 a.m. ET on the USA Network and streamed on the NBC Sports App.
Playoff Clinch Scenarios: ‘Dega Style
With a win by Joe Gibbs Racing’s Aric Almirola in the Round of 12 opener at Kansas last weekend, not one of the 12 Playoff drivers have clinched their spot in the Round of 8, and now get to line-up at Talladega Superspeedway hoping to get a good finish at the unpredictable track. Here are the clinch scenarios heading into this weekend’s United Rentals 250.
Already Clinched
No drivers have clinched a spot in the 8-driver field of the next round.
Can Clinch Via Points
If there is a repeat winner or a win by a driver who cannot advance to the next round, the following drivers could clinch by being 56 points above the 8th winless driver in the standings. The same point requirements listed below would hold true if a new win comes from among Cole Custer, Chandler Smith, Austin Hill, Sam Mayer, Sheldon Creed, Shane Van Gisbergen or Jesse Love.
- Cole Custer: Could only clinch with help
- Chandler Smith: Could only clinch with help
- Austin Hill: Could only clinch with help
- Sam Mayer: Could only clinch with help
- Sheldon Creed: Could only clinch with help
- Shane Van Gisbergen: Could only clinch with help
- Jesse Love: Could only clinch with help
If there is a new winner from Riley Herbst or another winless driver lower in the standings but still eligible to advance to the next round, the following drivers could clinch by being 56 points above the 7th winless driver in the standings.
- Cole Custer: Could only clinch with help
- Chandler Smith: Could only clinch with help
- Austin Hill: Could only clinch with help
- Sam Mayer: Could only clinch with help
- Sheldon Creed: Could only clinch with help
- Shane Van Gisbergen: Could only clinch with help
Can Clinch Via Win
The following drivers would clinch on their win alone:
- Cole Custer, Chandler Smith, Austin Hill, Sam Mayer, Sheldon Creed, Shane Van Gisbergen, Jesse Love, Riley Herbst, Justin Allgaier, AJ Allmendinger, Parker Kligerman, Sammy Smith
| NASCAR Xfinity Series Driver Playoff Projection Following Kansas Speedway – 9/28/24 | |||||||
| Rank | Driver | Vehicle | Points | Race Wins | Stage Wins | Playoff Pts | +/- Cutoff |
| 1 | Cole Custer (P) | 00 | 2,079 | 2 | 3 | 28 | 41 |
| 2 | Chandler Smith (P) | 81 | 2,074 | 2 | 6 | 24 | 36 |
| 3 | Austin Hill (P) | 21 | 2,064 | 3 | 3 | 25 | 26 |
| 4 | Sam Mayer (P) | 1 | 2,051 | 2 | 2 | 12 | 13 |
| 5 | Sheldon Creed (P) | 18 | 2,048 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 10 |
| 6 | Shane van Gisbergen # (P) | 97 | 2,046 | 3 | 2 | 17 | 8 |
| 7 | Jesse Love # (P) | 2 | 2,041 | 1 | 4 | 13 | 3 |
| 8 | Riley Herbst (P) | 98 | 2,039 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 1 |
| 9 | Justin Allgaier (P) | 7 | 2,038 | 2 | 14 | 34 | -1 |
| 10 | AJ Allmendinger (P) | 16 | 2,026 | 0 | 1 | 6 | -13 |
| 11 | Parker Kligerman (P) | 48 | 2,024 | 0 | 1 | -2 | -15 |
| 12 | Sammy Smith (P) | 8 | 2,016 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -23 |
Scouting the Xfinity Series Playoff field at Talladega
With only two opportunities left to advance to the Round of 8, drivers will be sure to put on their best show at a track that always leaves fans expecting the unexpected.
Let’s take a look at how the Playoff field has done at the Talladega, Alabama 2.66-mile track (in standings order):
- Cole Custer has made five starts posting one top five, three top 10s, and has led four laps.
- Chandler Smith has made three starts posting a best finish of 25th in 2023 and 2024 and has led four laps.
- Austin Hill has made five starts posting three poles, a best finish of 14th in 2022 and 2024, and has led 182 laps.
- Sam Mayer has made five starts, with a best finish of runner-up in 2022 and has led five laps.
- Sheldon Creed has made four starts posting one top five, two top 10s and has led 14 laps.
- Shane van Gisbergen made his debut at the track earlier this season where he finished 22nd.
- Jesse Love also made his debut earlier this season and won his first Xfinity Series race.
- Riley Herbst has made eight starts posting two top fives, three top 10s, and has led 39 laps.
- Justin Allgaier has made 17 starts posting four top fives, seven top 10s, and has led 112 laps.
- A.J. Allmendinger has made seven starts posting one win (2022), three top fives, four top 10s, and has led 36 laps.
- Parker Kligerman has made five starts posting one top five, three top 10s, and has led 14 laps.
- Sammy Smith has made two starts, with a best finish of 21st earlier this season.
NASCAR PR
