Previewing the NASCAR Xfinity Series ToyotaCare 250 at Richmond

By Seth Eggert, NASCAR Writer 

The last time the NASCAR Xfinity Series visited Richmond International Raceway, Kyle Busch took home the victory in dominant fashion, beating Erik Jones by 6.453 seconds.

The last time a NASCAR Xfinity Series regular won at Richmond was Chase Elliott in the Fall race in 2015.

There are no former winners in this weekend’s race, guaranteeing a different winner for the fifth Richmond race in a row.

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers in the field this weekend include Austin Dillon, Ryan Blaney, Daniel Suarez, Kyle Larson, and Ty Dillon.

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series regular Jordan Anderson is also entered in Saturday’s event.

Xfinity Series Championship

Justin Allgaier, Ryan Reed, Elliott Sadler, Daniel Hemric, and William Byron are the only four NASCAR Xfinity Series regulars that have Playoff points. Allgaier and Reed have five Playoff points each while Sadler has two Playoff points. Both Byron and Hemric have a single Playoff point.

Richmond is the third Xfinity Dash 4 Cash race of the season, meaning that Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers with five of more years of experience are not eligible to compete.

Hemric won the Xfinity Dash 4 Cash last weekend. Should he win this weekend, he would receive a Playoff berth.

In the Owner’s Championship, the Team Penske No. 22 was penalized 10 Owner’s Points after the car was too low in post-race tech at Bristol Motor Speedway. NASCAR deemed this an ‘encumbered’ finish. Crew chief Greg Erwin was also suspended for one race weekend.

At Richmond, the first stage ends on lap 75, the second stage on lap 150, and the final stage on lap 250.

What to Watch For

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

• Will a Cup Series regular win again, or will a Xfinity Series Championship contender take the win?
• Elliott Sadler will have Golden Corral as the primary sponsor of his JR Motorsports No. 1 Chevrolet Camaro for the first time this season.
• Austin Dillon returns to the No. 2 Rheem Chevrolet Camaro for Richard Childress Racing.
• Ty Dillon returns to the No. 3 Red Kap/Prudential Overall Supply Chevrolet Camaro for Richard Childress Racing.
• Darrell Wallace Jr. will have Mello Yello as the primary sponsor of his Roush Fenway Racing No. 6 Ford Mustang for the first time this season.
• Daniel Suarez returns to the No. 18 Juniper Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing.
• Kyle Benjamin will make his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut in the No. 20 Toyota Care Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing.
• Ryan Blaney returns in the No. 22 Discount Tire Ford Mustang for Team Penske. Blaney will have a substitute crew chief on the pit box after Greg Erwin was suspended after the No. 22 Ford Mustang failed post-race tech last weekend.
• Dylan Lupton will be in the No. 24 Nut UpToyota Camry for JGL Racing.
• Kyle Larson returns to the No. 42 Credit One Bank Chevrolet Camaro for Chip Ganassi Racing.
• Quin Houff returns after an impressive NASCAR Xfinity Series debut in the No 46 beatincancerwithduke.org for Precision Performance Motorsports.

Where and When to Watch (All Times Eastern)

Practice 1: Friday, April 28, at 1:00 p.m. on Fox Sports 1

Practice 2: Friday, April 28, at 3:00 p.m. on Fox Sports 1

Qualifying: Saturday, April 29, at 10:00 a.m. on Fox Sports 1

Race: Saturday, April 29, at 1:00 p.m. on Fox Sports 1, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, and the Motor Racing Network.