The road to the NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship 4 is heating up, and Talladega Superspeedway could be the make-or-break moment for several drivers. With just two races left to finalize the championship field, every position is still up for grabs, setting the stage for a thrilling weekend at the United Rentals 250 (airing at 4 p.m. ET on the CW Network, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). But here’s where it gets controversial: Talladega’s unpredictable nature means even the smallest mistake could cost a driver their shot at the title—or, conversely, a bold move could secure their place in the final four.
Joe Gibbs Racing’s Aric Almirola, the 2017 Talladega winner, clinched a spot in the owner’s championship last week with a victory at Las Vegas, but the drivers’ championship remains wide open. And this is the part most people miss: Talladega is now a crucial part of the final round schedule for the first time, adding an extra layer of pressure as at least two drivers will advance based solely on points.
Championship leader Connor Zilisch, JR Motorsports’ rookie phenom, extended his lead with a runner-up finish at Las Vegas, sitting 82 points above the cutoff line. But his teammate, reigning champion Justin Allgaier, is hot on his heels, just 38 points behind. Richard Childress Racing’s Jesse Love and Haas Factory Team’s Sam Mayer hold slim advantages, but JGR’s Brandon Jones, Haas’ Sheldon Creed, and JR Motorsports’ Carson Kvapil and Sammy Smith are all within striking distance, separated by a mere 24 points.
Here’s where it gets even more intriguing: Talladega has a history of last-lap drama, with three of the last five races ending in a final-lap pass for the win. Love and Smith are the only current Playoff drivers with Talladega trophies, but Austin Hill, Love’s RCR teammate, has proven himself a master of drafting tracks, winning at all three (Atlanta, Daytona, and Talladega). Bold prediction: Could Hill’s drafting prowess shake up the standings this weekend?
One stat to keep in mind: No driver has ever won Race 2 of this final round and gone on to claim the championship. Will history repeat itself, or will someone break the trend? Kennametal Pole Qualifying on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. ET (CW App) could set the tone, though only three drivers in the series’ 38-race history at Talladega have won from pole position—the last being Justin Haley in 2020.
As the stakes rise, one question lingers: Who will rise to the occasion at Talladega, and who will fall short? Let us know your predictions in the comments—and don’t hold back on the debate!
