NASCAR Xfinity Series at Daytona International Speedway Preview

Three races remain in the regular season for the Xfinity Series, but before we cap off the regular season, they must survive at Daytona International Speedway. Here is everything you need to know about the Wawa 250 on Friday night.

NASCAR Xfinity Series Wawa 250 at Daytona Preview and Predictions

Last year, it was Ryan Truex getting his second win of his part-time season in the Joe Gibbs Racing #20 GR Supra. He led a total of 28 laps, second to AJ Allmendinger, who led 35 laps. Can one of the drivers below the cut-off line win and lock themselves in? Or will one of RCR’s excellent drafting track drivers continue their streak?

Race Preview:

The Wawa 250 powered by Coca-Cola is a 250-mile, 100-lap race around the 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway. Stage cautions will be on laps 30 and 60, and the checkered flag will fly on lap 100. Teams will have the opportunity to earn some of the $1,651,939 dollars in the prize purse for this race.

Teams will have 4 sets of tires, 3 for the race and 1 from qualifying. They are the same tires used at Daytona and Talladega earlier in the year.

The Track-Daytona International Speedway:

The Daytona International Speedway, opened in 1959, as NASCAR Founder Bill France Sr.’s masterpiece. One of the most iconic palaces of motorsport in the world. With its 2.5-mile length and 31 degrees of banking, it was like nothing anyone had seen when it opened. The series has race in the summer since 2002, running 23 races since the first.

Joe Nemechek won the first summer Xfinity series race, driving a Pontiac. Dale Sr. and Tony Stewart hold the record for most Xfinity Series wins, both with seven. Austin Hill holds the record amongst active drivers, with three victories. Another Earnhardt holds the Xfinity Series lap record; Jeffrey Earnhardt set the lap record in 2019, driving his Toyota around the track in 45.554 seconds.

Xfinity Series Playoff Standings:

Here is the battle for the Regular Season Championship:

1. Connor Zilisch: 823 points
2. Justin Allgaier: 816 points
3. Sam Mayer: 799 points
4. Jesse Love: 731 points

And here is the battle for the final positions in the playoffs:

• Sheldon Creed: +77
• Taylor Gray: +76
• Harrison Burton: +30

———–Cut-Off Line———–

• Jeb Burton: -30
• Ryan Sieg: -38
• Christian Eckes: -72
• Dean Thompson: -82

Read More: Ugly Road Racing Overshadows Connor Zilisch’s Xfinity Series Win at Watkins Glen

Drivers Joining The Field:

With a race at Daytona, it brings a lot of cars attempting to make the big show Saturday night. Their are 39 cars attempting to make the 38 car field. The drivers joining the field are:

• Caesar Bacarella, #5 Chevy, Alpha Prime Racing
• Patrick Emerling, #07 Chevy, SS-Greenlight Racing
• Justin Haley, #11 Chevy, Kaulig Racing
• Garrett Smithley, #14 Chevy, SS-Greenlight Racing
• Aric Almirola, #19 Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing
• Rajah Caruth, #32 Chevy, Jordan Anderson Racing
• Josh Williams, #45 Chevy, Alpha Prime Racing
• Joey Gase, #53 Chevy, Joey Gase Motorsports
• Leland Honeyman, #70 Chevy, Cope Family Racing
• Logan Bearden, #74 Chevy, Mike Harmon Racing
• Josh Bilicki, #91 Chevy, DGM Racing
• Natalie Decker, #93 Chevy, DGM Racing

Connor Zilisch, who injured his collar-bone at Watkins Glen, is set to race this Saturday. But on standby is Parker Kligerman to take over.

Who Will Win:

RCR is coming to this race with 3 victories on drafting tracks this season, amongst the 4 run so far. They are by-far the best two cars on these tracks for the last two seasons. It is a toss up between whether Jesse Love or Austin Hill takes the checkered flag, but it is a great chance that they will team up and put the field behind them. Watch out for Richard Childress Racing.

Ford and Toyota have an uphill battle at these track, purely because they lack car numbers. For Ford if a win is going to come, I think it’ll be from Sam Mayer or Ryan Sieg. Haas Factory team has run well here in the past, and I think Sieg just can find a way to win. Look for the Nos. 38 and 41 on Saturday.

While Toyota has some great drivers, I don’t think they have the best drafting abilities. If I have to pick one, I think it could be Aric Almirola. Experience is everything and he has it.

How To Watch:

Here is the schedule for Friday’s Wawa 250 at Daytona:

Friday, August 22nd:

• Qualifying:
  • 3:00 PM Eastern
  • Coverage is on the CW App
• The Wawa 250 Powered by Coca-Cola:
  • 7:30 PM Eastern
  • Coverage is on the CW and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio provided by MRN

Last Word on Motorsports will have all the updates from NASCAR’s weekend at Daytona

Main Photo: James Gilbert, Getty Images

Recording Date: 8/23/2024