Previewing the NASCAR Xfinity Series O’Reilly Auto Parts 300 at Texas

By Seth Eggert, NASCAR Writer

30 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 Texas Speedway for the O’Reilly Auto Parts 300, the 31^st race of the season. After the events at Kanses Speedway, Allgaier leads the points standings with his JR Motorsports teammate Byron two-points behind in second.

The last time the Xfinity Series visited Texas, Erik Jones took the victory in dominant fashion. He beat Ryan Blaney by 0.512 seconds, leading 112 of 200 laps. Kevin Harvick, Austin Dillon, and Cole Custer rounded out the top five that day.

Jones and Kyle Larson are the only formers winner at Texas in Saturday’s field. The last time a driver competing solely for the Xfinity Series Championship won at Texas was Chase Elliott in 2014.

Xfinity Series Championship

After the race at Kansas Speedway, Allgaier leads the point standings with 3,066 points. Byron is two back with Elliott Sadler 11-points behind. Brennan Poole is now fourth in points, 28 behind Allgaier, and five points ahead of the cutoff for the Championship Four.

Matt Tifft climbed to fifth, 33-points behind Allgaier. Reed and Daniel Hemric are tied for sixth in points with 3,032 points each. Custer dropped to eighth in points, 36-points behind the cutoff.

At Texas, 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 O’Reilly Auto Parts 300

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

• Austin Dillon returns to the No. 2 Rheem / WATTS Chevrolet Camaro for Richard Childress Racing.
• Ty Dillon returns to the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops / Tracker Boats Chevrolet Camaro for Richard Childress Racing.
• Christopher Bell will be in the No. 18 Safelite Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing.
• Erik Jones will be in the No. 20 GameStop Call of Duty WWII 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.
• Kyle Larson returns in the No. 42 ENEOS Chevrolet Camaro for Chip Ganassi Racing.
• Angela Ruch will be in the No. 78 Give A Child A Voice Chevrolet Camaro for BJ McLeod Motorsports.
• David Starr will have WHATABURGER as the primary sponsor of his No. 99 Chevrolet Camaro for BJ McLeod Motorsports.

Where and When to Watch (All Times Eastern)

Practice 1: Friday, November 3, at 3:00 p.m., on NBCSN.

Practice 2: Friday, November 3, at 5:00 p.m., on NBC Sports App.

Qualifying: Saturday, November 4, at 6:05 p.m., on CNBC.

Race: Saturday, November 4, at 8:30 p.m., on NBCSN, NBC Sports Live Extra, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, and the Performance Racing Network.