The stakes are high for the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoff contenders as they head to the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course for the Drive for the Cure 250 presented by BlueCross & BlueShield of North Carolina on Saturday, October 12 at 4 p.m. ET (The CW, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) – the first elimination race of the Playoff season.
This weekend’s race will be the seventh time the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course has hosted a NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoff race (2018-2024). The Charlotte Road Course has occupied two spots on the postseason schedule – in 2018 and 2019, the Charlotte ROVAL hosted the second race in the Round of 12 and then from 2020 to 2024, the 2.32-mile road course hosted the Round of 12 elimination race (the third race in the Playoffs).
There have been six Xfinity Series races at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval, producing three different race winners and four different pole winners. A.J. Allmendinger leads the series with wins on the Charlotte road course with four (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022) while Chase Briscoe won the inaugural race in 2018, and Playoff contender Sam Mayer took the checkered flag in last year’s race.
With only one race left in the Round of 12, drivers will be sure to be all gas, no brakes for practice on Saturday, October 12 at 10 a.m. ET followed by qualifying at 11 a.m. ET on the USA Network and streamed on the NBC Sports App.
Playoff Bubble: Allgaier, Van Gisbergen, Mayer, Kligerman under the cusp
Following the second race of the Round of 12 at Talladega Superspeedway, Sammy Smith (by virtue of win) and Chandler Smith (by virtue of points), clinched their way into the Round of 8,
As the series heads to the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course, Cole Custer (37 points above the cutline), Austin Hill (+37), Sheldon Creed (+32), Jesse Love (+22), Riley Herbst (+20), and A.J. Allmendinger (+7) hold the remaining six Playoff spots, but a lot can change, especially on a road course.
Seven points point below the cutline is Justin Allgaier who is no stranger to competing in the Playoffs, having participated in every postseason since the Playoffs started in 2016. Shane van Gisbergen, who is in his first season in the Xfinity Series and his first Playoff appearance, sits 10 points below the cutline. Sam Mayer, who made it all the way to the Championship 4 Round in the Playoffs last season sits 13 points behind the cutline while Parker Kligerman sits 16 points back.
| NASCAR Xfinity Series Driver Playoff Point Standings Projection Following Talladega Superspeedway – 10-5-24 | |||||||
| Rank | Driver | Vehicle | Points | Race Wins | Stage Wins | Playoff Pts | +/- Cutoff |
| 1 | Sammy Smith (P) | 8 | 2,066 | 1 | 0 | 6 | In On Wins |
| 2 | Chandler Smith (P) | 81 | 2,122 | 2 | 7 | 25 | In On Points |
| 3 | Cole Custer (P) | 00 | 2,095 | 2 | 3 | 28 | 37 |
| 4 | Austin Hill (P) | 21 | 2,095 | 3 | 4 | 26 | 37 |
| 5 | Sheldon Creed (P) | 18 | 2,090 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 32 |
| 6 | Jesse Love # (P) | 2 | 2,080 | 1 | 4 | 13 | 22 |
| 7 | Riley Herbst (P) | 98 | 2,078 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 20 |
| 8 | AJ Allmendinger (P) | 16 | 2,065 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 7 |
| 9 | Justin Allgaier (P) | 7 | 2,058 | 2 | 14 | 34 | -7 |
| 10 | Shane van Gisbergen # (P) | 97 | 2,055 | 3 | 2 | 17 | -10 |
| 11 | Sam Mayer (P) | 1 | 2,052 | 2 | 2 | 12 | -13 |
| 12 | Parker Kligerman (P) | 48 | 2,049 | 0 | 1 | -2 | -16 |
Clinch scenarios heading into the Charlotte Roval
With only one opportunity left to advance to the Round of 8, let’s take a look at what it’s going to take for each driver to advance:
Already Clinched
The following 2 drivers have clinched a spot in the 8-driver field of the next round: Chandler Smith, Sammy Smith.
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 ahead of the 8th winless driver in the standings. The same point requirements listed below would hold true if a new win comes from among Chandler Smith, Cole Custer, Austin Hill, Sheldon Creed, Jesse Love, Riley Herbst or AJ Allmendinger.
- Cole Custer: Would clinch with 19 points
- Austin Hill: Would clinch with 19 points
- Sheldon Creed: Would clinch with 24 points
- Jesse Love: Would clinch with 34 points
- Riley Herbst: Would clinch with 36 points
- AJ Allmendinger: Would clinch with 49 points
- Justin Allgaier: Could only clinch with help
- Shane Van Gisbergen: Could only clinch with help
- Sam Mayer: Could only clinch with help
- Parker Kligerman: Could only clinch with help
If there is a new winner from Justin Allgaier or another winless driver lower in the standings but still eligible to advance to the next round, the following drivers could clinch by being ahead of the 7th winless driver in the standings.
- Cole Custer: Would clinch with 26 points
- Austin Hill: Would clinch with 26 points
- Sheldon Creed: Would clinch with 31 points
- Jesse Love: Would clinch with 41 points
- Riley Herbst: Would clinch with 43 points
- AJ Allmendinger: Could only clinch with help
- Justin Allgaier: Could only clinch with help
- Shane Van Gisbergen: Could only clinch with help
- Sam Mayer: Could only clinch with help
- Parker Kligerman: Could only clinch with help
Can clinch via win
The following drivers would clinch on their win alone:
- Cole Custer, Austin Hill, Sheldon Creed, Jesse Love, Riley Herbst, AJ Allmendinger, Justin Allgaier, Shane Van Gisbergen, Sam Mayer, Parker Kligerman
Scouting the Playoff field: Charlotte Roval edition
Drivers have one shot to advance to the Round of 8 starting at Las Vegas Motor Speedway next weekend. Let’s see how they have performed at the 2.28-mile road course.
Sammy Smith: Already clinched into the Round of 8 with his win last weekend at Talladega Superspeedway, he heads to the Charlotte Roval with one start under his belt (2023), posting an 11th-place finish.
Chandler Smith: Clinched into the Round of 8 on points, Smith heads to the Charlotte road course having made one previous start where he finished in 12th.
Cole Custer: He has made three starts at the track, posting one top five (a runner-up finish in 2023) and three top 10s.
Austin Hill: He has made four starts, posting one top-10 finish.
Sheldon Creed: He has made two starts, posting one top-10 finish.
Jesse Love: He will be making his debut on the Charlotte Roval this weekend.
Riley Herbst: He has made four starts on the Charlotte road course, posting one top five and one top 10.
A.J. Allmendinger: He is undefeated at the Charlotte Roval, having posted a win in all four of his starts.
Justin Allgaier: He has made six starts at the track, posting two top fives and three top 10s.
Shane van Gisbergen: He will be making his debut at the track this weekend.
Sam Mayer: He has made three starts, posting one win (2023), one top five and two top 10s.
Parker Kligerman: His only start at the track was in 2023 where he finished in sixth.
NASCAR Xfinity Series Etc.
Sunoco Rookie of the Year Update – Richard Childress Racing’s Jesse Love and Kaulig Racing’s Shane van Gisbergen have been battling for the rookie lead in this postseason, but Love has once again found himself on top with 2,080 points with Van Gisbergen not far behind with 2,055 points.
Sliding into third is Young’s Motorsports’ Leland Honeyman Jr with 426 points and rounding out the competition is Hailie Deegan with 174 points.
| NXS Sunoco Rookie of the Year Standings | ||
| Rookies | Points | Awards |
| Jesse Love | 2,080 | 14 |
| Shane van Gisbergen | 2,055 | 10 |
| Leland Honeyman | 426 | 3 |
| Hailie Deegan | 174 | 1 |
NASCAR PR
