How the XFINITY Chasers stack up at Phoenix

Saturday night’s Galaxy 300 at Phoenix International Raceway will determine which four drivers will race for the NASCAR XFINITY Series championship next week at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Eight drivers are still alive in the title hunt, but four will be eliminated at Phoenix, with the remaining competitors having their point totals reset to 4,000 each. Whichever one of the four who make it to the final round has the best finish at Homestead will be the series champion.

Interestingly, none of the eight XFINITY contenders has won a race in this round, so no one has clinched a berth at Homestead — yet. If one of the eight wins tonight at Phoenix, he will automatically lock himself into the title race. 

Here’s how the eight stack up:

With a victory in Friday night’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race, Suarez’s weekend already is off to a strong start. Now comes the real work for the Monterrey, Mexico, native.  The Joe Gibbs Racing driver will advance can advance to the championship round by finishing 15^th or better at Phoenix with no laps led, or 16^th and at least one lap led.

Driving for JR Motorsports, the popular Virginia veteran has put together an exceptional season so far, and he’d like to parlay that into his first NASCAR championship. According to NASCAR, Sadler’s clinch options are the same as those of Suarez: finish 15^th or better with no laps led or 16^th with at least one lap led.

Last year’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion is looking to become the XFINITY champ this year, and he gives the powerhouse Joe Gibbs Racing team a second shot at the title to go with teammate Daniel Suarez. To advance to Homestead, Jones needs to finish fifth or better with no laps led, sixth with one lap led or seventh with the most laps led.

Here’s where things get really tight. Koch, the driver of the No. 11 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet, leads fifth-place Justin Allgaier by just a single point. The only guaranteed ways Koch can advance are by winning or finishing second tonight, but if other challengers have troubles he could advance. 

 

The following drivers can only guarantee a spot in the Championship 4 with a win. Each could also advance on points with help:

Teammate to Elliott Sadler at JR Motorsports, Allgaier is just a single point below the Chase cutline right now, so he stands a good chance of advancing if one or more of the drivers ahead of him have problems in the race.

Reed, the driver of the No. 16 Roush Fenway Racing Ford Mustang, is five points in back of the Chase cutline and not only will need a good finish, but will need more than one driver ahead of him to struggle.

Realistically, Wallace’s only shot to advance is to park the No. 6 Roush Fenway Racing Ford in Victory Lane.

Earlier this week, Gaughan and No. 62 Richard Childress Racing team were hit with a 10-point penalty for a rules infraction at Texas Motor Speedway last weekend. He is truly in a must-win situation.