NASCAR
Pocono Offers Challenge For Xfinity Series Drivers
LONG POND, Pa. — Pocono Raceway offers a unique challenge for the Xfinity Series.After an exciting international foray to Mexico, the NASCAR Xfinity Series returns to oval action with Saturday’s Explore the Pocono Mountains 250.
As triumphant a day as it was for NASCAR Cup Series regular and hometown favorite Daniel Suarez to claim the trophy in Mexico City, it was a tough luck day for NASCAR Xfinity Series championship leader Justin Allgaier, who had trouble early in the race and finished 34th – the second finish of 30th or worst in the last four races for the season’s three-time winner.
He still leads the championship by 54 points over Richard Childress Racing’s Austin Hill. And there’s certainly reason to be optimistic as the series returns stateside this week. Allgaier has top-10 finishes in four of the last five races at the 2.5-mile Pocono track and was runner-up last summer.
On the flip side, his closest title rival, Hill put together a solid day in what was a chaotic Mexico race at times – finishing third for his sixth consecutive top-10 and 11th in the 15 races this season. And Hill is the only fulltime Xfinity Series driver to have won previously at Pocono, celebrating in Victory Lane in 2023. He has top-10 finishes in three of the four Pocono races he’s competed in.
Three young drivers, 22-year-old Sam Mayer, 20-year-old Jesse Love and 18-year-old rookie Connor Zilisch round out the top five in the standings. Mayer, who drives the No. 41 Haas Factory Team Ford, is still looking for his first victory of the year but has seven top-five finishes. He’s strong at Pocono too with top-10 results in his last three starts.
Love and Zilisch – who have both already clinched Playoff berths with victories this season – are still relatively new to the Pocono track. The RCR driver Love finished 22nd in his only start last year.
Zilisch is one of eight drivers making their first start at the Tricky Triangle; in fact it’s Zilisch’s first visit ever to the famed track. His JR Motorsports team co-owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. revealed this week, he will serve as crew chief for Zilisch, as the team’s fulltime crew chief is suspended a week for a rules infraction. The team has earned top-five finishes in the three races leading into the weekend.
Three drivers tied or earned their best career finish last week in Mexico City – Taylor Gray (second – tied career best), Christian Eckes (fourth) and William Sawalich).
There have been eight different winners in nine Xfinity Series races at Pocono – former series champ Cole Custer is the only two-time winner. Seven of the past eight winners – with the exception of Hill – are now fulltime NASCAR Cup Series drivers.
Chase Elliott (No. 17 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy) will be making his second NASCAR Xfinity Series start of the season.
LONG POND, Pa. — Pocono Raceway offers a unique challenge for the Xfinity Series.
After an exciting international foray to Mexico, the NASCAR Xfinity Series returns to oval action with Saturday’s Explore the Pocono Mountains 250.
As triumphant a day as it was for NASCAR Cup Series regular and hometown favorite Daniel Suarez to claim the trophy in Mexico City, it was a tough luck day for NASCAR Xfinity Series championship leader Justin Allgaier, who had trouble early in the race and finished 34th – the second finish of 30th or worst in the last four races for the season’s three-time winner.
He still leads the championship by 54 points over Richard Childress Racing’s Austin Hill. And there’s certainly reason to be optimistic as the series returns stateside this week. Allgaier has top-10 finishes in four of the last five races at the 2.5-mile Pocono track and was runner-up last summer.
On the flip side, his closest title rival, Hill put together a solid day in what was a chaotic Mexico race at times – finishing third for his sixth consecutive top-10 and 11th in the 15 races this season. And Hill is the only fulltime Xfinity Series driver to have won previously at Pocono, celebrating in Victory Lane in 2023. He has top-10 finishes in three of the four Pocono races he’s competed in.
Three young drivers, 22-year-old Sam Mayer, 20-year-old Jesse Love and 18-year-old rookie Connor Zilisch round out the top five in the standings. Mayer, who drives the No. 41 Haas Factory Team Ford, is still looking for his first victory of the year but has seven top-five finishes. He’s strong at Pocono too with top-10 results in his last three starts.
Love and Zilisch – who have both already clinched Playoff berths with victories this season – are still relatively new to the Pocono track. The RCR driver Love finished 22nd in his only start last year.
Zilisch is one of eight drivers making their first start at the Tricky Triangle; in fact it’s Zilisch’s first visit ever to the famed track. His JR Motorsports team co-owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. revealed this week, he will serve as crew chief for Zilisch, as the team’s fulltime crew chief is suspended a week for a rules infraction. The team has earned top-five finishes in the three races leading into the weekend.
Three drivers tied or earned their best career finish last week in Mexico City – Taylor Gray (second – tied career best), Christian Eckes (fourth) and William Sawalich).
There have been eight different winners in nine Xfinity Series races at Pocono – former series champ Cole Custer is the only two-time winner. Seven of the past eight winners – with the exception of Hill – are now fulltime NASCAR Cup Series drivers.
Chase Elliott (No. 17 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy) will be making his second NASCAR Xfinity Series start of the season.
Source: Speed Sport
