{"id":11962,"date":"2022-10-20T12:00:55","date_gmt":"2022-10-20T16:00:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/?p=11962"},"modified":"2022-11-21T16:55:26","modified_gmt":"2022-11-21T21:55:26","slug":"nascar-xfinity-series-homestead-preview-predictions-and-how-to-watch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/2022\/10\/20\/nascar-xfinity-series-homestead-preview-predictions-and-how-to-watch\/","title":{"rendered":"NASCAR Xfinity Series: Homestead Preview, Predictions, and How To Watch"},"content":{"rendered":"

The NASCAR Xfinity Series takes its talents south of South Beach to Homestead-Miami Speedway as seven playoff drivers look to join Vegas winner Josh Berry in the Championship 4.<\/b><\/h3>\n

South Florida hosts the second race of the NASCAR Xfinity Series playoff Round of 8 this weekend, and if you\u2019re a fan of JR Motorsports, the playoff picture is shaping up rather nicely. Three of four drivers above the cutline, including already-clinched <\/span>Josh Berry<\/b>, are in Dale Earnhardt Jr.-owned Chevrolets.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Barring the unforeseen, the success of JR Motorsports cars should carry over to another intermediate track like Homestead-Miami. The team\u2019s biggest competition comes from the #54 Toyota of <\/span>Ty Gibbs<\/b>, currently third in the playoff standings, 25 points to the good of the playoff cutline.<\/span><\/p>\n

Unsurprisingly, the form of <\/span>Noah Gragson<\/b> and JR Motorsports as a whole has made the #9 car the favorite for Saturday\u2019s Contender Boats 300. Gragson has proven he can win on basically any type of track in his Xfinity Series-leading seven victories this season and was probably another ten laps away from catching Josh Berry at the end in Vegas.<\/span><\/p>\n

Last week\u2019s race did see one playoff contender tumble down the standings and below the playoff cutline, as <\/span>AJ Allmendinger<\/b><\/a> and his Kaulig Racing team had a tough day at the office. Allmendinger had two loose wheels following a late caution pit stop in Vegas and was forced to pit again, falling two laps down and ultimately finishing 22nd. The Dinger will likely need a victory at either Miami or Martinsville to make the Championship 4.<\/span><\/p>\n

Justin Allgaier<\/b> will be looking to parlay JR Motorsports’ success into a trip to victory lane in South Florida. Allgaier thrives at the intermediates and won earlier this season at Darlington, another intermediate oval with two true straightaways similar to Homestead.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Track<\/b><\/h3>\n

\"File:Homestead-Miami<\/p>\n

As previously mentioned, Homestead-Miami Speedway is an intermediate track, just a hair short of 1.5 miles around. Unlike many of NASCAR\u2019s ovals, it\u2019s a true oval with no tri-oval or dogleg at the start\/finish line.<\/span><\/p>\n

The track opened in 1995 with a Busch Series race and was formerly home to CART\/IndyCar racing from 1996-2010. The track opened as a rectangular oval, similar to Indianapolis Motor Speedway, with flat, sharp turns at each corner. Passing was a challenge, and racing was poor, and in 1997 the track was reconfigured into a standard oval.<\/span><\/p>\n

Until 2019, Homestead was the home of the final weekend of the NASCAR<\/a> season. Now the South Florida track plays a pivotal role in the playoff chase, with Saturday\u2019s Contender Boats 300 right in the middle of the round of eight.<\/span><\/p>\n

Playoff Standings<\/b><\/h3>\n

IN:<\/b><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Josh Berry, JR Motorsports: 1 Win – Clinched Championship Berth<\/strong><\/li>\n
  2. Noah Gragson, JR Motorsports: 3109 points, +44 from the cutoff<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Ty Gibbs, Joe Gibbs Racing: 3090 points, +25 from the cutoff<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Justin Allgaier, JR Motorsports: 3080 points, +15 from the cutoff<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    ——–PLAYOFF CUTLINE——–<\/span><\/p>\n

    OUT:<\/b><\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Austin Hill, Richard Childress Racing: 3065 points, -15 from the cutoff<\/span><\/li>\n
    2. AJ Allmendinger, Kaulig Racing: 3064 points, -16 from the cutoff<\/span><\/li>\n
    3. Brandon Jones, Joe Gibbs Racing: 3053 points, -27 from the cutoff<\/span><\/li>\n
    4. Sam Mayer, JR Motorsports: 3044 points, -36 from the cutoff<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Predictions<\/b><\/h3>\n

      As noted, Noah Gragson comes into yet another NASCAR Xfinity Series race as the favorite, between his success and the success of JR Motorsports. It\u2019s make-or-break time for the four drivers below the cutline, and you\u2019d expect to see guys like <\/span>Austin Hill<\/b>, <\/span>Brandon Jones<\/b>, AJ Allmendinger, and <\/span>Sam Mayer <\/b>emptying the tank to pull out a victory in suburban Miami.<\/span><\/p>\n

      Personally, I think it\u2019s Justin Allgaier\u2019s race to lose, and expect a similar result to what we saw in Darlington earlier this season, where Allgaier and Noah Gragson battled it out for the checkered flag after a late caution. I expect more intermediate struggles for AJ Allmendinger, even if his pit crew makes sure all his wheels are on tight.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

      How To Watch (All times EST)<\/b><\/h3>\n