Up to Speed: My Bariatric Solutions 300 at Texas Preview

By Seth Eggert, Staff Writer

It’s the sixth race of the season and only one NASCAR Xfinity Series regular has scored a victory. The Xfinity Series returns to Texas Motor Speedway for the My Bariatric Solutions 300. Cup drivers, series regulars looking to qualify for the Xfinity Dash 4 Cash, and stage racing are just some of the storylines heading into the fifth race of the season.

Coverage for the My Bariatric Solutions 300 is scheduled to start Saturday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. ET. Texas Motor Speedway has hosted the sixth race of the season since the 2011 season. In 34 races at the 1.5-mile Quad Oval, 16 drivers have claimed victory. The last time an Xfinity Series regular competing exclusively in the Xfinity Series won at Texas Motor Speedway was Chase Elliott in 2014.

The last time the Xfinity Series visited Texas Motor Speedway, Erik Jones took the victory in dominating fashion. Jones lead 142 laps on his way to a 1.018 second victory over fellow Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series regular Ryan Blaney. Elliott Sadler was the highest finish Xfinity regular in fourth.

By the Numbers

What: My Bariatric Solutions 300, NASCAR Xfinity Series Race Six

Where: Texas Motor Speedway – Fort Worth, Texas (Opened: 1996)

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

Track Size: 1.5-mile Quad Oval

Banking: 20 degrees in turns 1&2, 24 degrees in turns 3&4.

Race Length: 200 Laps, 300 Miles (Three Stages, 45/90/200)

2017 Race Winner: Erik Jones – No. 20 GameStop / GAEMS Toyota Camry (Started second, 112 laps led).

Track Qualifying Record: Jeff Green (27.908 seconds, 193.493 mph – 4/5/2002).

Storylines Heading into the My Bariatric Solutions 300:

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

• Cole Custer will have Thompson Pipe Group as the primary sponsor of his No. 00 Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing.
• Garrett Smithley will have FAME as the primary sponsor of his JD Motorsports No. 0 Chevrolet Camaro SS.
• Ty Dillon will be in the No. 3 Wrangler FR / FTS International Chevrolet Camaro SS for Richard Childress Racing.
• Bayley Currey will make his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut in the No. 8 CHASCO Chevrolet Camaro SS.
• Austin Cindric will be in the No. 12 Mazak Ford Mustang for Team Penske.
• Ryan Preece returns in the No. 18 Ruud/RTP Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing.
• Ryan Blaney will be in the No. 22 Fitzgerald Glider Kits Ford Mustang for Team Penske.
• Jamie McMurray returns to the No. 42 DC Solar Chevrolet Camaro SS for Chip Ganassi Racing.
• Chase Briscoe returns to the No. 60 Nutri Chomps Ford Mustang for Roush Fenway Racing.
• Kevin Harvick returns in the No. 98 Hunt Brothers Pizza Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing with Biagi-Denbeste Racing.

Weekend Schedule (All Times Eastern)

Friday, April 6

• NXS Practice 1 (2:05 p.m. – 2:55 p.m., on Fox Sports 1)
• NXS Practice 2 (4:05 p.m. – 4:55 p.m., on Fox Sports 1)

Saturday, April 7

• NXS Qualifying (12:10 p.m., on Fox Sports 1)
• NXS My Bariatric Solutions 300 (3:00 p.m. – 200 laps, 300 miles – on FOX, SiriusXM Channel 90, and the Performance Racing Network)