Only three races remain in the NASCAR Xfinity Series regular season and things are sure to heat up as drivers get ready to race under the lights this Friday, August 25 at Daytona International Speedway for the Wawa 250 Powered by Coca-Cola at 7:30 p.m. ET on the USA Network, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
The 2.5-mile superspeedway has hosted 63 NASCAR Xfinity Series races, producing 36 different race winners and 43 different pole winners. Only six races have been won from the pole or first starting position, most recently by Austin Hill earlier this year at the season opener.
NASCAR Hall of Famers Dale Earnhardt and Tony Stewart are tied for most wins at the track with seven each. Only three of the 36 race winners will be active in the field this weekend – Justin Haley (2020, 2021), Austin Hill (2022, 2023) and Jeremy Clements (2022).
A couple others have also gone down in the Daytona record books for their performances at the track – Kevin Harvick currently holds the record for most top fives (12) and is tied with Dale Earnhardt Jr. for most top 10s (14). Earnhardt Jr. also sits as the driver with the most lead lap finishes (19) and laps led (560).
The NASCAR Xfinity Series will be skipping practice this weekend and heading straight for qualifying at 3 p.m. ET on Friday, August 25. Qualifying will be on the USA Network starting at 4 p.m. ET.
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Next Race: Wawa 250 Powered by Coca-Cola
The Place: Daytona International Speedway
The Date: Friday, August 25
The Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
The Purse: $1,640,749
TV: USA, 7 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR (Channel 90)
Distance: 250 miles (100 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 30),
Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 60), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 100)
Richard Childress Racing’s Austin Hill looks for a Daytona single season sweep
Richard Childress Racing’s Austin Hill will be coming back to Daytona International Speedway hoping for a single season sweep after winning the season opener in February (2023). The 29-year-old driver is all too familiar with finding Victory Lane at the iconic Daytona track, having also won the season opener in 2022.
Hill tried to sweep Daytona last season but after a wild race that saw three overtime restarts, Jeremy Clements ultimately took the checkered flag, while Hill finished in 14th.
The Winston, Georgia native, Hill, heads into the weekend with some momentum, having already accumulated four wins (Daytona, Las Vegas, Atlanta -1, Pocono), 13 top fives, 17 top 10s and has led 238 laps this season.
The NASCAR Xfinity Series started racing at Daytona twice a year in 2002. If Hill is able to win this weekend and accomplish the single season sweep, he will become just the second driver all-time to accomplish the feat, joining NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2003).
Daytona Clinch Scenarios: Three races to go in the regular season
With another Sam Mayer win last weekend at Watkins Glen, drivers that have not clinched a spot in the Playoffs will be pushing the limits to secure a spot in the 12-driver postseason field this weekend at Daytona International Speedway. With only three races to go in the regular season, let’s take a look at the clinch scenarios as we head into Friday’s race at Daytona this weekend:
Already Clinched
The following eight drivers have clinched a spot in the 12-driver postseason field: Austin Hill, John Hunter Nemechek, Justin Allgaier, Cole Custer, Sam Mayer, Chandler Smith, Sammy Smith, Jeb Burton.
Can Clinch Via Points
If there is a repeat winner or a win by a driver who cannot advance to the playoffs, the following drivers could clinch by being 111 points above the 3rd winless driver in the standings. The same point requirements listed below would hold true if a new win comes from among Josh Berry or Daniel Hemric.
- Josh Berry: Could only clinch with help
If there is a new winner from Sheldon Creed or another winless driver lower in the standings but still eligible to advance to the playoffs, the following drivers could clinch by being 111 points above the 2nd winless driver in the standings.
- Josh Berry: Could only clinch with help
Can Clinch Via Win
The following drivers would clinch on their win alone: Josh Berry, Daniel Hemric, Sheldon Creed, Riley Herbst, Parker Kligerman, Brandon Jones, Brett Moffitt, Kaz Grala, Parker Retzlaff, Ryan Sieg, Jeremy Clements, Anthony Alfredo, Josh Williams, Joe Graf Jr., Brennan Poole
Never Lift: Superspeedway Ringers
Daytona International Speedway is infamous for its wild, action-packed racing and unexpected finishes but there are always a few drivers who seem to be able to escape trouble and run out front.
Richard Childress Racing’s Austin Hill is an obvious favorite for this weekend’s Wawa 250 Powered by Coca-Cola given that he’s won the last two season openers at Daytona. In last year’s action-packed summer race, he managed to race his way to a 14th-place finish.
JR Motorsports’ Justin Allgaier is quite the veteran when it comes to racing at Daytona. He’s made 25 starts at the track, dating back to 2009 when he made his debut at the track at the season opener. He’s had some ups and downs but has put up some solid finishes, including seven top fives, 11 top 10s and has led 109 laps. At the season opener in February, he pulled off a third-place finish.
Stewart-Haas Racing’s Riley Herbst has had a solid season thus far, posting five top fives and 10 top 10s. He’s hoping that he’ll be able to keep this momentum alive as he looks towards this weekend’s race to post his first-ever NASCAR Xfinity Series win. He’s made eight starts at the 2.5-mile track, posting two top fives and four top 10s. He posted a sixth-place finish at the season opener in February.
NASCAR Xfinity Series, Etc.
Double duty drivers at Daytona – Cup Series regulars Justin Haley and Ty Gibbs will be getting some extra track time this weekend as they will run in the Wawa 250 Powered by Coca-Cola.
Haley will be driving the No. 10 Chevrolet for Kaulig Racing. This will be his fifth Xfinity Series start of the 2023 season and his 10th Xfinity Series start at Daytona International Speedway. In his previous nine starts, he has posted two wins (2020, 2021) and three top fives.
Gibbs will be behind the wheel of the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. He has made eight Xfinity Series starts this season thus far, posting one win (Indianapolis RC), five top fives and six top 10s. He has only made two Daytona starts in the series. He finished 11th at his debut at the track in 2022 and seventh in last year’s August race.
Sunoco Rookie of the Year update – The NASCAR Xfinity Series Sunoco Rookie of the Year competitors now have 23 races under their belts as they gear up for their second stint at Daytona International Speedway this season.
Kaulig Racing’s Chandler Smith continues to lead the competition with one win (Richmond), five top fives, nine top 10s and 651 points.
Not far behind is Joe Gibbs Racing’s Sammy Smith, who has racked up one win (Phoenix), four top fives, 10 top 10s and 586 points.
Jordan Anderson Racing’s Parker Retzlaff has posted one top five and five top 10s this season, accumulating 426 points.
Closing out the competition is Blaine Perkins with 184 points.
