Previewing the NASCAR Xfinity Series Kansas Lottery 300 at Kansas

By Seth Eggert, NASCAR Writer 

29 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 three times) have scored victories during the 2017 season.

This weekend the NASCAR Xfinity Series travels to Kansas Speedway for the Drive for the Cure 300, the 30th race of the season. After the events at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Byron leads the points standings with his JR Motorsports teammate Allgaier three-points behind in second.

The last time the Xfinity Series visited Kansas, Kyle Busch took the victory in dominant fashion. He beat Sadler by 4.025 seconds, leading 150 of 200 laps. Daniel Suarez, Joey Logano, and Kyle Larson rounded out the top five that day. Sadler is the only driver that finished in the top five that day entered in this weekend’s race.

Jeff Green is the only former winner at Kansas in Saturday’s field. The last time a driver competing solely for the Xfinity Series Championship won at Kansas was Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. in 2012. With Green driving one of RSS Racing’s ‘start & park’ entries, it is very likely that the Xfinity Series will have a new Kansas winner.

Xfinity Series Championship

After the race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, four drivers, Michael Annett, Blake Koch, Brendan Gaughan, and Clements were eliminated from the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs.

Byron leads the point standings with 3,026 points. Allgaier is three back with Sadler six-points behind. Daniel Hemric was reseeded into fourth, 17-points behind. Cole Custer is now fifth with 3,007 points, behind the cutoff for the Round of Four by two points. Brennan Poole is still in sixth with 3,006 points. Reed is seventh with 3,005 points while Matt Tifft has 3,004 points.

At Kansas, 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 Kansas Lottery 300

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

• Austin Dillon returns to the No. 2 Ruud Chevrolet Camaro for Richard Childress Racing.
• Ty Dillon returns to the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops / Tracker Boats Chevrolet Camaro for Richard Childress Racing.
• William Byron will have VANNOY Construction as the primary sponsor of his No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro for JR Motorsports.
• Christopher Bell will be in the No. 18 JBL Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing.
• Erik Jones will be in the No. 20 Reser’s American Classic Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing.
• Ryan Blaney will be in the No. 22 Discount Tire Ford Mustang for Team Penske.
• Dylan Lupton returns in the No. 24 Nut Up Toyota Camry for JGL Racing.
• Tyler Reddick returns in the No. 42 BBR / Dustin Lynch Chevrolet Camaro for Chip Ganassi Racing.
• Quin Houff returns in the No. 46 Chevrolet Camaro for Precision Performance Motorsports.
• Jennifer Jo Cobb will be in the No. 78 Mark One Electric Chevrolet Camaro for BJ McLeod Motorsports.

Where and When to Watch (All Times Eastern)

Practice 1: Friday, October 20, at 2:30 p.m., NBC Sports App

Practice 2: Friday, October 20, at 5:00 p.m., NBCSN

Qualifying: Saturday, October 21, at 12:05 p.m., NBC Sports App

Race: Saturday, October 21, at 3:00 p.m., NBCSN, NBC Sports Live Extra, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, and the Motor Racing Network.