by Reed Spencer, NASCAR
Anyone who prizes numbers and statistics has to be impressed with Justin Allgaier’s collective NASCAR Xfinity Series performances at Bristol Motor Speedway, a record he’ll try to enhance in Saturday’s SciAps 300 (5 p.m. ET on CW, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
With two victories at the high-banked 0.533-mile short track, Allgaier is the only driver in Saturday’s field who has won more than once at Thunder Valley. Kyle Larson, trying for a weekend triple, is the only other former Bristol winner on the entry list.
Allgaier has led 60 laps or more in the last eight Bristol races. He has led the most laps in five of the last six and has won eight of the last 16 stages at the track.
The driver of the No. 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet already has two victories to his credit this season and tops the NASCAR Xfinity Series standings by a whopping 71 points over Sam Mayer of the Haas Factory Team.
It’s no wonder that Allgaier approaches Saturday’s race with supreme confidence.
“Bristol has always been one of my favorite tracks on the schedule,” said Allgaier, the only driver to finish on the lead lap in every race so far this season. “There’s just something about this place that has suited my driving style.
“It’s definitely a special feeling whenever we get to race here, and I can’t wait to get to the track this weekend and see what we can do with our Jarrett Chevrolet. We’ve had extremely strong cars here in the past, and I know that will be the case again come Saturday.”
The SciAps 300 is the third Xfinity Dash 4 Cash race of the season. Four eligible drivers—Allgaier, Austin Hill, Sheldon Creed and Brennan Poole—will compete for the $100,000 bonus that goes to the driver who finishes highest among the four.
Historically, Allgaier leads the series with a record six Dash 4 Cash victories.
Jesse Love, currently fifth in the series standings, will have a lot to think about this weekend. On Sunday, he’ll be making his NASCAR Cup Series debut in the No. 33 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet.
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Next Race: SciAps 300
The Place: Bristol Motor Speedway
Track Length: 0.533 Mile Concrete Oval
The Date: Saturday, April 12
The Time: 5 p.m. ET
The Purse: $1,651,939
TV: CW, 4:30 p.m. ET
Radio: PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR (Channel 90)
Distance: 159.9 miles (300 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 85),
Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 170), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 300)
Where To Watch NASCAR This Week:
Friday, April 11
NCTS Practice & Kennametal Pole Qualifying (FS2 at 3:30 p.m. ET)
NCTS Race: Weather Guard Truck Race (FS1, NRN, SiriusXM at 7:30 p.m. ET)
Saturday, April 12
NXS Practice & Kennametal Pole Qualifying (The CW App at 11:30 a.m. ET)
NCS Practice & Busch Light Pole Qualifying (Amazon Prime, PRN, SiriusXM at 2 p.m. ET)
NXS Race: SciAps 300 (The CW, PRN, SiriusXM at 5 p.m. ET)
Sunday, April 13
NCS Race: Food City 500 (FS1, PRN, SiriusXM at 3 p.m. ET)