The NASCAR XFINITY Series travels to Phoenix International Raceway for the 18th annual Ticket Galaxy 200. The series will run race No. 32 of 33 in 2016 and set the ‘Championship Four’ for next weekend’s finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Kyle Busch, who will pilot the No. 18 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing on Saturday, enters the weekend as the defending race winner.
There are 44 drivers and teams entered. Some of these include Austin Dillon, Matt DiBenedetto, Cole Whitt, DJ Kennington, Brad Keselowski, Corey LaJoie, Austin Theriault, Justin Marks, Brandon Gdovic, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Dexter Stacey, Alex Bowman, Alex Labbe, Josh Bilicki, Aric Almirola and Jeff Green. Four drivers will go home after round one of qualifying on Saturday.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will join the NASCAR XFINITY Series for the first time since 2013 at Texas Motor Speedway. Stenhouse scored the series driver championship in two back-to-back seasons in 2011 and 2012. He currently races in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with Roush Fenway Racing.
“I’m really looking forward to getting back in the XFINITY car this weekend at Phoenix,” Stenhouse said in a release. “With this being one of the XFINITY Chase cut-off races, I think having the extra car for RFR could be beneficial for Ryan (Reed) and Bubba (Wallace), just in information sharing as they are trying to advance.
Stenhouse holds 107 starts in the series and has gathered eight victories, 39 top five and 62 top 10 finishes since 2009. The driver continues to look for his first career Sprint Cup Series victory.
Aric Almirola will also join the series this weekend at Phoenix International Raceway. Almirola last raced in the XFINITY Series at Daytona International Speedway in July where he took his No. 98 Ford to victory lane.
“Our short-track program has been much better here recently,” said Almirola in a release. “Three or four years ago, our mile-and-a-half program was definitely our strongest program and short tracks were a struggle. But, over the past few years, we’ve been developing our program, and it’s become more respectable. I’m looking forward to going to Phoenix. The XFINITY race will be fun. Last time I went racing with Biagi-DenBeste Racing, it went pretty well. And, we’ve run really well at Phoenix in our Cup cars too, and I’m excited to close out the year with a good run in Phoenix.”
In eight starts this season, Almirola has one top five and three top 10 finishes. In the Sprint Cup Series, through 34 races in 2016, he has only one top 10 finish.
The first ever XFINITY Series Chase heats up as the field will downsize from eight to four drivers after Phoenix International Raceway. The four drivers will move onto next weekend’s season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway where the highest finishing Chase driver will take home the championship. Coming into Phoenix, Daniel Suarez, Elliott Sadler, Erik Jones and Blake Koch all sit inside the top four. Sitting outside of the top four are Justin Allgaier, Ryan Reed, Darrell Wallace Jr. and Brandon Gaughan.
NXS Championship 4 Clinching for Phoenix
Daniel Suarez (0 Wins, 3075 Points) – Would clinch on points with 26 Points (15th and no laps led, 16th and led at least one lap, 16th and led most laps). With a win, would clinch a spot on wins.
Elliott Sadler (0 Wins, 3074 Points) – Would clinch on points with 26 Points (15th and no laps led, 16th and led at least one lap, 16th and led most laps). With a win, would clinch a next round spot on wins.
Erik Jones (0 Wins, 3065 Points) – Would clinch on points with 36 Points (5th and no laps led, 6th and led at least one lap, 7th and led most laps). With a win, would clinch a next round spot on wins.
Blake Koch (0 Wins, 3059 Points) – If there is a winner who has already been eliminated or is currently in a transfer spot, would clinch with a 2nd place finish. With a win, would clinch a spot. Could clinch on points with a new winner and help.
The following drivers can only guarantee a spot with a win. Each could also clinch on points with help:
Justin Allgaier (0 Wins, 3058 Points)
Ryan Reed (0 Wins, 3054 Points)
Darrell Wallace Jr (0 Wins, 3039 Points)
Brendan Gaughan (0 Wins, 3036 Points)
You can catch Saturday’s Ticket Galaxy 200 live on NBCSN at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM Channel 90 will have the live radio broadcast.
About Me: Brett has been following the sport of NASCAR since the beginning of the 2006 NASCAR Sprint Cup season. Since Brett was 13, he has had a passion of chasing a job in sports that not many get the opportunity of doing. He has been in the NASCAR media since the middle of the 2010 season. Since then, he has been a part of many racing podcast shows to improve his talents. He has written for racingonfuel.com and theracingwheel.com. Currently, Brett writes for motorsportsnat.com and TracksideChatter.com. You can find him on twitter @NASCAR_Brett.
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