Up to Speed: OneMain Financial 200 at Dover Preview

By Seth Eggert, Staff Writer

It’s the 10^th race of the season and only two full-time NASCAR Xfinity Series regulars have scored a victory as the Xfinity Series returns to Dover International Speedway for the OneMain Financial 200. The final Xfinity Dash 4 Cash, zero Cup drivers, Spencer Gallagher’s suspension, and stage racing are just some of the story lines heading into Saturday’s race.

Coverage for the OneMain Financial 200 is scheduled to start Saturday at 1:30 p.m. ET. Dover has been on the schedule since the inception of the NASCAR Xfinity Series, and has hosted the 10^th race of the season just three times, in 1983, 1986, and 2016. In 68 races at the 1.0-mile high-banked Oval, 49 drivers have claimed victory. The last time a Xfinity Series regular competing exclusively in the Xfinity Series won at Dover was Daniel Suarez in 2016. Jeff Green is the only former winner entered in Saturday’s race.

The last time the Xfinity Series visited Dover, Ryan Blaney took the victory in dominating fashion. Blaney led 136 laps on his way to a 4.852 second victory over Justin Allgaier. Allgaier and Daniel Hemric are the only drivers that finished in the top-five that day to be entered in Saturday’s field.

By the Numbers

What:OneMain Financial 200, NASCAR Xfinity Series Race 10

Where: Dover International Speedway – Dover, Delaware (Opened: 1969)

TV/Radio: Fox Sports 1, 1:30 p.m. ET / MRN and SiriusXM Channel 90

Track Size: 1.0-Mile High-Banked Concrete Oval

Banking: 24 degrees in the turns, and 9 degrees on the straightaways.

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

2017 Race Winner:Kyle Larson – No. 42 Parker Store Chevrolet Camaro SS (Started from the pole position, 137 laps led).

Track Qualifying Record: Erik Jones (158.318 mph – 10/1/2016).

Storylines Heading into the OneMain Financial 200:

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

• The four drivers fighting to the Xfinity Dash 4 Cash are Brandon Jones, Elliott Sadler, Justin Allgaier, and Ryan Sieg.
• Jeb Burton returns to the No. 3 State Water Heaters Chevrolet Camaro SS for Richard Childress Racing.
• Allgaier will have SiteOne Landscape Supply as the primary sponsor of his No. 7 Chevrolet Camaro SS for JR Motorsports.
• Ray Black, Jr. will attempt his to make his first start of the season in the No. 8 Powered by Zomongo and Scubalife Chevrolet Camaro SS for B.J. McLeod Motorsports. Black failed to qualify for the season opener in Daytona.
• Noah Gragson returns to the No. 18 Switch Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing.
• Austin Cindric will be in the No. 22 Menards / Richmond Ford Mustang for Team Penske.
• Talladega winner Spencer Gallagher will not be in the No. 23 Allegiant Airlines Chevrolet Camaro SS for GMS Racing. Gallagher was suspended by NASCAR for violating their substance abuse policy after testing positive in a random drug test. He loses his Playoff Eligibility and Dash 4 Cash positioning. Johnny Sauter will pilot the GMS Racing Chevrolet this weekend.
• Dylan Lupton returns to the No. 28 thinQ Technology Partners Ford Mustang for JGL Racing.
• John Hunter Nemechek returns to the No. 42 Fire Alarm Services Chevrolet Camaro SS for Chip Ganassi Racing.
• Ty Majeski returns to the No. 60 Ford Mustang for Roush Fenway Racing.

Weekend Schedule (All Times Eastern)

Friday, May 4

• NXS Practice 1 (10:05 a.m. – 10:55 a.m., on Fox Sports 1)
• NXS Practice 2 (2:05 p.m. – 2:50 p.m., on Fox Sports 1)

Saturday, May 5

• NXS Qualifying (10:35 a.m., on Fox Sports 1)
• NXS OneMain Financial 200 (1:30 p.m. – 200 laps, 200 miles – on Fox Sports 1, SiriusXM Channel 90, and the Motor Racing Network)