Previewing the NASCAR Xfinity Series Ford EcoBoost 300 at Homestead

By Seth Eggert, NASCAR Writer

In a season dominated by Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers, the NASCAR Xfinity Series season finale is finally here. 32 races into the NASCAR Xfinity Series season, only four of the NASCAR Xfinity Series regulars (Jeremy Clements, Ryan Reed, Justin Allgaier twice, and William Byron four times) have scored victories during the 2017 season.

This weekend the NASCAR Xfinity Series travels to Homestead-Miami Speedway for the Ford EcoBoost 300, the 33^rd and final race of the season. The Championship Four at Homestead include race winners Allgaier and Byron, as well as Elliott Sadler and Daniel Hemric.

The last time the Xfinity Series visited Homestead, Daniel Suarez dominated, leading 133 laps en-route to winning and becoming the first International driver to win a National Series Championship in NASCAR. He beat Ty Dillon by 0.968 seconds. Sadler, Ryan Blaney, and Austin Dillon rounded out the top five that day.

There are no former winners entered in Saturday’s race, guaranteeing the sixth different winner in a row at Homestead.

Xfinity Series Championship

With the Championship Four set, Allgaier, Byron, Hemric, and Sadler will battle for the NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship. The Series is guaranteed a new Champion for the sixth straight season. The highest finisher of these four will win the Xfinity Series Championship.

There is also a chance that should a driver not fighting for the Championship win that for the second time in Series history, that there could be a winless Champion in either Hemric or Sadler. Austin Dillon was the first winless Champion in 2013.

Allgaier will be without crew chief Jason Burdett for the Ford EcoBoost 300 after NASCAR found his car had an unattached brake cooling hose following the race Ticket Galaxy 200 at Phoenix. JR Motorsports named veteran car chief Billy Wilburn as crew chief of the No. 7 BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet Camaro. Wilburn has been the car chief of the No. 7 for the past four seasons.

At Homestead, the first stage ends on lap 45, the second stage on lap 90, and the final stage on lap 200.

What to Watch for in the Ford EcoBoost 300

There are several storylines going into this weekend’s race to watch for:

• Ben Kennedy returns to the No. 2 Rheem / Emerson Chevrolet Camaro for Richard Childress Racing.
• Scott Lagasse, Jr. returns to the No. 3 Chevrolet Camaro for Richard Childress Racing.
• Caesar Bacarella returns in the Alpha Prime Apparel Chevrolet Camaro for BJ McLeod Motorsports
• Ryan Preece will be in the No. 18 Safelite Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing.
• Matt Tifft will have Dollar Shave Club #DSC500 as the primary sponsor of his No. 19 Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing.
• Christopher Bell will be in the No. 20 GameStop / Power A Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing.
• Sam Hornish, Jr. will be in the No. 22 REV / Fleetwood Ford Mustang for Team Penske.
• Corey LaJoie returns in the No. 24 youtheory Toyota Camry for JGL Racing.
• Tyler Reddick returns in the No. 42 BBR / Dustin Lynch Chevrolet Camaro for Chip Ganassi Racing.
• Ty Majeski returns in the No. 60 Ford EcoBoost Ford Mustang for Roush Fenway Racing.
• Casey Mears returns in the No. 98 Geico Military Ford Mustang for Biagi Denbeste Racing.

Where and When to Watch (All Times Eastern)

Practice 1: Friday, November 17, at 2:30 p.m., on NBCSN.

Practice 2: Friday, November 17, at 5:00 p.m., on NBCSN.

Qualifying: Saturday, November 18, at 11:15 a.m., on CNBC.

Race: Saturday, November 18, at 3:30 p.m., on NBCSN, NBC Sports Live Extra, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, and the Motor Racing Network.