Up to Speed: Drive for the Cure 200 at Charlotte Preview

By Seth Eggert, Staff Writer

CONCORD, N.C. – It’s the 28^th race of the season, and the second of the Playoffs. Four full-time NASCAR Xfinity Series regulars have combined to score 12 victories. The Xfinity Series returns to Charlotte Motor Speedway for the second time this season but will compete on the 2.28-mile road course-oval hybrid for the first time.

The Playoff battle, the unknown of the Roval, possibility of racing in the rain, and stage racing are just some of the storylines heading into the 28^th race of the season.

Coverage for the Drive for the Cure 200 is scheduled to start Saturday at 3:00 p.m. ET. Charlotte Motor Speedway last hosted the 28^th race of the season, on the oval in 2000. This is the first time that the series will compete on the 17-Turn, 2.28-Mile road course layout.

By the Numbers

What: Drive for the Cure 200, NASCAR Xfinity Series Race 28

Where: Charlotte Motor Speedway– Concord, North Carolina (Opened: 1960)

TV/Radio: NBCSN, 3:00 p.m. ET / PRN and SiriusXM Channel 90

Track Size: 2.28-Mile, 17-Turn Road Course

Banking: Varies

Race Length: 55 Laps, 200 Miles (Three Stages, 15/30/55)

2017 Race Winner: None.

Track Qualifying Record: None.

The Playoff Picture:

After the events of Richmond Raceway, Christopher Bell has earned a guaranteed spot in the Round of Eight. Bell leads Daniel Hemric by 28-points. Justin Allgaier falls to third after an accident, 34-Points behind, with Ross Chastain now in fourth, 37 behind. Elliott Sadler is 39-points back, with Matt Tifft 43 behind and Tyler Reddick 44-Points behind Bell.

Brandon Jones still holds the cutoff for the Round of Eight, 55-Points behind Bell. He is only ahead of Cole Custer via a tie-breaker. Ryan Truex is two points out. Also on the outside looking in are Austin Cindric, seven points behind, and Ryan Reed, eight points behind Jones.

Storylines Heading into the Drive for the Cure 200:

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

• Lawson Aschenbach will make his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut in the No. 01 Chevrolet Camaro SS for JD Motorsports.
• Brendan Gaughan returns to the No. 3 South Point Hotel / Beard Oil Distributing Chevrolet Camaro SS for Richard Childress Racing.
• Ross Chastain returns to the No. 4 Chevrolet Camaro SS for JD Motorsports.
• Katherine Legge will be in the No. 15 Chevrolet Camaro SS for JD Motorsports.
• Ryan Preece returns to the No. 18 Rheem Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing.
• Justin Marks will make his final series start in the No. 42 Chevrolet Accessories Chevrolet Camaro SS for Chip Ganassi Racing.
• Ty Majeski returns to the No. 60 Ford Mustang for Roush Fenway Racing.
• Kaz Grala returns in the IT Coalition Ford Mustang for Fury Race Cars LLC.
• Andy Lally returns in the No. 90 Alpha Prime USA Chevrolet Camaro SS for DGM Racing.
• Tanner Berryhill will attempt to make his first start since 2014 in the No. 97 Vroombrand Chevrolet Camaro SS for Obaika Racing.
• Chase Briscoe returns in the No. 98 Nutri Chomps Ford Mustang for Biagi-Denbeste Racing.

Weekend Schedule (All Times Eastern)

Friday, September 28

• NXS Practice 1 (1:05 p.m. – 1:55 p.m. on NBCSN)
• NXS Practice 2 (3:05 p.m. – 3:55 p.m. on NBCSN)

Saturday, September 29

• NXS Qualifying (12:10 p.m. on CNBC)
• NXS Drive for the Cure 200 (3:00 p.m. – 55 laps, 200 miles – on NBCSN, SiriusXM Channel 90, and the Performance Racing Network)