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.

Tough night. RF went down. I’ve worked for @JRMotorsports since 2010 if anyone thinks I just went in and piled 3 of our cars in the wall for the hell of it in the playoffs because we may have banged doors then can’t help ya 🤷🏻‍♂️

— Josh Berry (@joshberry) September 16, 2023

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.

The night was eventful for Parker Kligerman. He headed to the garage in stage 2 with a mechanical issue and fell more than 50 laps behind the leaders as his team continued to work.

Kligerman was able to return to the track and complete more laps before the checkered flag flew. https://t.co/K8rQi3xrRc

— Big Machine Racing (@bigmchnracing) September 16, 2023

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

1. Justin Allgaier WIN
2. John Hunter Nemechek +55
3. Cole Custer +39
4. Austin Hill +21
5. Chandler Smith +18
6. Daniel Hemric +12
7. Sammy Smith +5
8. Sheldon Creed +4
9. Jeb Burton -4
10. Sam Mayer -14
11. Parker Kligerman -22
12. Josh Berry -24