3 NASCAR Xfinity playoff drivers look to recover at Texas
Justin Allgaier and John Hunter Nemechek roll into Texas Motor Speedway feeling better than other NASCAR Xfinity Series drivers will Saturday.
Allgaier won at Bristol and is locked into the second round, while Nemechek is +55 points to the cutline.
On the other end are Allgaier’s JR Motorsports teammates.
SAM MAYER AND JOSH BERRY
Mayer and Berry are 10th and 12th in points, -14 and -24 points to the cutline, respectively. They’re there after a heartbreaking wreck on lap 166 at Bristol.
Going into turn one, Berry blew a right-front tire while racing Mayer. Berry and Mayer wrecked and collected teammate Brandon Jones in the process.
Jones, Mayer and Berry finished 34th-36th, all out of the race.
Heading into Texas, Berry and Mayer have hope. Both drivers earned a pair of top-10 finishes last year at Texas.
In the May race, Berry led 46 of 167 laps while Mayer finished third.
PARKER KLIGERMAN
Kligerman started strong at Bristol. He drove from 13th to 7th in the opening, caution-free 86-lap stage – earning four bonus points.
However, Kligerman tumbled down the running order after a hub issue on lap 142.
Kligerman fell 54 laps down and finished 31st. That sent him to 11th in points, -22 points to the cutline.
“Pro sports are hard. We are down but not out. Team displayed a ton of grit tonight. We are still in this,” Kligerman said on social media post-race.
At Texas, Big Machine Racing has intermediate track promise to lean on. Kligerman recently wheeled a brand-new car to a top-5 finish at Kansas Speedway.
Even if Texas isn’t strong, Parker Kligerman could rely on the Charlotte Roval.
Kligerman’s worst finish in the last five road course races is ninth in Chicago. In that run are finishes of second at Road America and third at Watkins Glen.
Each race featured a chaotic overtime where he seized upon a good position to contend for the win.
Should the dominoes fall that way at the Roval, he could get a win that may become necessary if the deficit remains too much after Texas.
While Kligerman has earned more points than his competitors on road courses, it may not be good enough to get into the next round on points alone:
- Chandler Smith: +36 (11-point loss projected)
- Daniel Hemric +30 (9-point loss)
- Sammy Smith +23 (11-point loss)
- Jeb Burton +18 (13-point loss)
For now, the focus is on the Andy’s Frozen Custard 300, 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday at Texas Motor Speedway. The broadcast is on USA Network, some PRN affiliates and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Ch. 90.
NASCAR XFINITY SERIES PLAYOFF STANDINGS
- Justin Allgaier WIN
- John Hunter Nemechek +55
- Cole Custer +39
- Austin Hill +21
- Chandler Smith +18
- Daniel Hemric +12
- Sammy Smith +5
- Sheldon Creed +4
- Jeb Burton -4
- Sam Mayer -14
- Parker Kligerman -22
- Josh Berry -24
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Jonathan Fjeld View All
Jonathan Fjeld is the co-owner of the The Racing Experts, LLC. He has been with TRE since 2010.
A Twin Valley, MN, native, Fjeld became a motorsports fan at just three years old (first race was the 2002 Pennsylvania 500). He worked as a contributor and writer for TRE from 2010-18. Since then, he has stepped up and covered 24 NASCAR race weekends and taken on a larger role with TRE. He became the co-owner and managing editor in 2023 and has guided the site to massive growth in that time.
Fjeld has covered a wide array of stories and moments over the years, including Kevin Harvick's final Cup Series season, the first NASCAR national series disqualification in over 50 years, Shane van Gisbergen's stunning win in Chicago and the first Cup Series race at Road America in 66 years – as well as up-and-coming drivers' stories and stories from inside the sport, like the tech it takes for Hendrick Motorsports to remain a top-tier team.
Currently, he resides in Albuquerque, N.M., where he works for KOB 4, an NBC station. He works as a digital producer and does on-air reports. He loves spending time with friends and family, playing and listening to music, exploring new places, being outdoors, reading books and writing among other activities. You can email him at fjeldjonathan@gmail.com