The NASCAR Xfinity Series drivers will be back for some left and right turn action as they head to Watkins Glen International on Saturday, September 14 for the Mission 200 at The Glen at 3 p.m. ET (USA Network, NBC Sports App, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
Watkins Glen International has hosted 29 NASCAR Xfinity Series races, producing 18 different race winners and just as many pole winners.
Nine Xfinity Series Watkins Glen races have been won from the pole or first starting position, most recently by Joey Logano in 2018.
Terry Labonte and Marcos Ambrose sit as the track’s winningest drivers in the series, each with four respective wins. Labonte won the inaugural race in 1991, followed by three consecutive wins in 1994, 1995 and 1996. Ambrose also had three consecutive wins (2008, 2009, 2010), followed by a win in 2014.
Three former Watkins Glen Xfinity Series winners are entered in this weekend’s race – Joey Logano (2015, 2016, 2018), Ty Gibbs (2021) and Sam Mayer (2023).
NASCAR Xfinity Series drivers will have a jam-packed Saturday as they kick off their race day with practice at 9:30 a.m. ET followed by qualifying at 10 a.m. ET. Both sessions can be streamed on the NBC Sports App.
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Next Race: Mission 200 at The Glen
The Place: Watkins Glen International
The Date: Saturday, September 14
The Time: 3 p.m. ET
The Purse: $1,312,465
TV: USA, 2:30 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Distance: 200.9 miles (82 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 20),
Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 40), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 82)
Road course ringers: Watkins Glen edition
Shane van Gisbergen is an obvious favorite to win this weekend’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Watkins Glen International given that he’s won three out of the four road course races this season, but a few drivers might give him a run for his money.
There are three drivers entered in Saturday’s Mission 200 at The Glen who have conquered the track’s 2.45-mile course previously – Joey Logano (2015, 2016, 2018), Ty Gibbs (2021) and Sam Mayer (2023).
Mayer’s win came in 2023 after he took the lead from Gibbs with two laps remaining. He has made a total of three starts at the track, posting one win, one top five and three top 10s.
Logano, who will be running in the No. 15 Ford for AM Racing this weekend, has made 11 starts at Watkins Glen in the Xfinity Series, posting three wins (2015, 2016, 2018), seven top fives and eight top 10s.
Gibbs, who will be piloting the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, has made three Xfinity Series Watkins Glen starts, posting one win (2021), one top five and one top 10.
Xfinity Clinch Scenarios: Two to go in the regular season
It’s crunch time for NASCAR Xfinity Series drivers still vying for a spot in the Playoffs that are set to kick off on Saturday, September 28 at Kansas Speedway. With two to go in the regular season, things are sure to heat up as the series heads to Watkins Glen International. Below is a look at the clinch scenarios heading into the weekend:
Already Clinched
The following 8 drivers have clinched a spot in the 12-driver postseason field: Justin Allgaier, Cole Custer, Chandler Smith, Austin Hill, Riley Herbst, Jesse Love, Shane Van Gisbergen, Sam Mayer.
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 56 points above the 4th winless driver in the standings. The same point requirements listed below would hold true if a new win comes from among AJ Allmendinger, Sheldon Creed or Parker Kligerman.
- AJ Allmendinger: Would clinch with 11 points
- Sheldon Creed: Would clinch with 31 points
- Parker Kligerman: Could only clinch with help
If there is a new winner from Sammy Smith or another winless driver lower in the standings but still eligible to advance to the playoffs, the following drivers could clinch by being 56 points above the 3rd winless driver in the standings.
- AJ Allmendinger: Would clinch with 41 points
- Sheldon Creed: Could only clinch with help
Can Clinch Via Win
The following drivers would clinch on their win alone:
- AJ Allmendinger, Sheldon Creed, Parker Kligerman, Sammy Smith, Ryan Sieg, Brandon Jones, Anthony Alfredo, Brennan Poole, Josh Williams, Leland Honeyman, Parker Retzlaff, Jeb Burton, Kyle Weatherman, Jeremy Clements, Ryan Ellis, Blaine Perkins
Can Clinch Regular Season Championship
Additionally, the Regular Season Championship could be clinched by the following drivers:
- Justin Allgaier: Could only clinch with help
Xfinity Series Playoffs outlook following Atlanta
With another win by Georgia native Austin Hill at Atlanta Motor Speedway, four spots still remain for the taking in the NASCAR Xfinity Playoffs with only two races left in the regular season.
Eight drivers have secured their spot in the playoff grid by virtue of wins, including Shane van Gisbergen, Justin Allgaier, Chandler Smith, Austin Hill, Sam Mayer, Cole Custer, Jesse Love, and Riley Herbst.
Currently, AJ Allmendinger (+144), Sheldon Creed (+123), Parker Kligerman (+74), and Sammy Smith (+44) occupy the final four spots that would place them into the playoffs based on points accumulated over the season.
Ryan Sieg (-44), Brandon Jones (-139), and Anthony Alfredo (-165) stand as the first three drivers out of the Playoff picture.
Here is the Xfinity Series Playoff picture heading into Atlanta:
| NASCAR Xfinity Series Driver Playoff Projections Following Atlanta Motor Speedway – 09/07/24 | ||||||||
| Rank | Driver | Vehicle | Points | Starts | Race Wins | Stage Wins | Playoff Pts | +/- Cutoff |
| 1 | Austin Hill | 21 | 795 | 24 | 3 | 3 | 18 | In On Wins |
| 2 | Shane van Gisbergen # | 97 | 574 | 24 | 3 | 2 | 17 | |
| 3 | Justin Allgaier | 7 | 866 | 24 | 2 | 14 | 24 | |
| 4 | Chandler Smith | 81 | 799 | 24 | 2 | 5 | 15 | |
| 5 | Sam Mayer | 1 | 542 | 24 | 2 | 1 | 11 | |
| 6 | Cole Custer | 0 | 832 | 24 | 1 | 3 | 8 | |
| 7 | Riley Herbst | 98 | 693 | 24 | 1 | 2 | 7 | |
| 8 | Jesse Love # | 2 | 693 | 24 | 1 | 4 | 9 | |
| 9 | AJ Allmendinger | 16 | 744 | 24 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 144 |
| 10 | Sheldon Creed | 18 | 723 | 24 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 123 |
| 11 | Parker Kligerman | 48 | 674 | 24 | 0 | 1 | -4 | 74 |
| 12 | Sammy Smith | 8 | 644 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 44 |
| 13 | Ryan Sieg | 39 | 600 | 24 | 0 | 2 | 2 | -44 |
| 14 | Brandon Jones | 9 | 505 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -139 |
| 15 | Anthony Alfredo | 5 | 479 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -165 |
| 16 | Brennan Poole | 44 | 417 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -227 |
| 17 | Josh Williams | 11 | 404 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -240 |
| 18 | Leland Honeyman # | 42 | 364 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -280 |
| 19 | Parker Retzlaff | 31 | 363 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -281 |
| 20 | Jeb Burton | 27 | 348 | 24 | 0 | 0 | -5 | -296 |
| 21 | Kyle Weatherman | 91 | 325 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -319 |
| 22 | Jeremy Clements | 51 | 321 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -323 |
| 23 | Ryan Ellis | 43 | 308 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -336 |
| 24 | Blaine Perkins | 29 | 261 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -383 |
NASCAR Xfinity Series, Etc.
Dawson Cram running for DGM Racing – Dawson Cram will be getting behind the wheel of the No. 92 Chevrolet with DGM Racing for five Playoff races this season, starting with Kansas Speedway. He will then race at the Charlotte ROVAL, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Martinsville Speedway and Phoenix Raceway.
“I’m thrilled to join forces with the Gosselin family and Trade With the Pros,” says Dawson Cram. “This partnership provides us a unique opportunity to bridge the gap between race fans and financial education. I’m excited to showcase TWP’s commitment to empowering individuals through their programs and look forward to demonstrating that same commitment to them on and off the track this fall.”