NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoff Picture: Playoff field beaten at Charlotte

A.J. Allmendinger prevented a NASCAR Xfinity Series playoff driver from winning the race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway roval to clinch a berth in the round of 8. How does the playoff picture look?

With a chance on the line for the 11 NASCAR Xfinity Series playoff drivers who hadn’t yet clinched a spot in the round of 8 of the playoffs to do so at the Charlotte Motor Speedway roval, it was part-time driver A.J. Allmendinger of Kaulig Racing who took the checkered flag to win the Drive for the Cure 250.

Four playoff drivers, all of whom still looking to lock up their spots in the round of 8 with just one race remaining in the round of 12, rounded out the top five.

Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell, the only driver who entered this race with a round of 8 berth already secured after winning the round of 12 opener at Richmond Raceway, finished in 12th place after late contact with another playoff driver, Stewart-Haas Racing’s Chase Briscoe.

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Rounding out the top five were Richard Childress Racing’s Tyler Reddick, Team Penske’s Austin Cindric and JR Motorsports teammates Justin Allgaier and Noah Gragson in second, third, fourth and fifth place, respectively.

Despite the fact that they didn’t win the race, all four of these drivers appear to be pretty safe as it pertains to advancing to the round of 8. Reddick sits 52 points above the round of 8 cut line while Cindric sits 50 points above it, Allgaier sits 40 points above it and Gragson sits 26 points above it.

One driver, Stewart-Haas Racing’s Cole Custer, did secure a round of 8 berth in this race despite the fact that he did not win it. He finished the race in ninth place and now sits 71 points above the round of 8 cut line, meaning there is no possible way for him to drop below that cut line in the round of 12 finale at Dover International Speedway.

As for the four drivers below the round of 8 cut line, Joe Gibbs Racing’s Brandon Jones and GMS Racing’s John Hunter Nemechek are only 11 points behind JR Motorsports’ Michael Annett for the eighth and final transfer spot.

But things aren’t looking nearly as good for RSS Racing’s Ryan Sieg and Kaulig Racing’s Justin Haley, who are practically in must-win situations in the round of 12 finale.

Here is the NASCAR Xfinity Series playoff picture following the 2019 Drive for the Cure 250 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway roval.

Rank – Driver – Car, Team, Manufacturer: Points (Behind), Playoff Points (Rank)
1st – Christopher Bell – #20, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota: 2143 (+81), 62 (1st)
2nd – Cole Custer – #00, Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford: 2133 (+71), 45 (2nd)
3rd – Tyler Reddick – #2, Richard Childress Racing, Chevrolet: 2114 (+52), 44 (3rd)
4th – Austin Cindric – #22, Team Penske, Ford: 2112 (+50), 17 (4th)
5th – Justin Allgaier – #7, JR Motorsports, Chevrolet: 2102 (+40), 12 (6th)
6th – Chase Briscoe – #98, Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford: 2097 (+35), 13 (5th)
7th – Noah Gragson – #9, JR Motorsports, Chevrolet: 2088 (+26), 5 (8th)
8th – Michael Annett – #1, JR Motorsports, Chevrolet: 2073 (+11), 9 (7th)
————————— ROUND OF 8 CUT LINE —————————
9th – Brandon Jones – #19, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota: 2062 (-11), 4 (9th)
9th – John Hunter Nemechek – #23, GMS Racing, Chevrolet: 2062 (-11), 0 (12th)
11th – Ryan Sieg – #39, RSS Racing, Chevrolet: 2036 (-37), 1 (11th)
12th – Justin Haley – #11, Kaulig Racing, Chevrolet: 2034 (-39), 3 (10th)

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The Use Your Melon Drive Sober 200 is the third and final race in the round of 12 of the 2019 NASCAR Xfinity Series playoffs, and it is scheduled to take place next Saturday, October 5 at Dover International Speedway in Dover, Delaware. This race is set to be broadcast live on NBC Sports Network beginning at 3:30 p.m. ET.

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