Saturday, June 2, 2018

Xfinity Series: A Look At The Top Five In Points Nearing Halfway Of The Regular Season

Daniel Hemric, driver of the #21 South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet,
practices for the NASCAR Xfinity Series Pocono Green 250 Recycled by
J.P. Mascaro & Sons at Pocono Raceway (Jared C. Tilton)

Nearing the halfway point of the NASCAR Xfinity Series regular season, the top five drivers in the title hunt are all still within 62 points of the standings lead, making the regular season championship and the 15 Playoff points that go with it still anyone’s to win.

Here is a quick look at the top five in points and their accomplishments this season:

  1. Elliott Sadler – No. 1 JR Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro – is the current standings leader with a 48-point lead over second place Christopher Bell. Sadler has held the points lead following all but two races thus far this season. In 11 starts in 2018, Sadler has posted nine top fives and 11 top 10s. He also has produced a series-leading 4.6 average finish this season and won three stages, accumulating three Playoff points. Coming into this weekend, Sadler has made both previous series starts at Pocono, posting one top five, two top 10s and an average finish of 5.0. Sadler is looking to end a winless streak that has reached 51 consecutive races, dating back to Kentucky in 2016.
  2. Christopher Bell – No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Camry – resides in second in the series driver standings, 48 points behind Elliott Sadler in the points lead, and a mere seven points ahead of third-place Tyler Reddick. Bell and the No. 20 JGR team were dinged with a 10-point penalty following Charlotte, but were able to hold onto second in the standings. In 11 starts this season, Bell has amassed three poles, one win (Richmond), seven top fives and an average finish of 10.9. The Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender has also accumulated seven Playoff points this season – five from his win at Richmond and two more from stage wins. This weekend will be a challenge for Bell, as it will be his debut in this aero package and his series track debut at Pocono Raceway.
  3. Tyler Reddick – No. 9 JR Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro – currently hangs on to third in the NASCAR Xfinity Series driver championship standings, just seven points behind second-place Christopher Bell and just two points ahead of fourth-place Daniel Hemric. Reddick kicked the season off with a big win at Daytona and since has been trying to navigate the steep learning curve a title hunt in your rookie season can throw at you. In 11 starts this season, Reddick has posted one win (Daytona), two top fives, seven top 10s and an average finish of 11.1. This weekend will be Reddick’s series track debut at Pocono Raceway, but he is not a stranger to the new aero package as he competed at Indianapolis last season for Chip Ganassi Racing – he started 18th but finished 37th after being caught in an incident.
  4. Daniel Hemric – No. 21 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Camaro – sits fourth in the NASCAR Xfinity Series driver standings two points back from Tyler Reddick in third and five points ahead of fifth-place Cole Custer. After a slow start to the season, Hemric has found his stride in the title hunt. In 11 starts this season, Hemric has produced two poles, four top fives, seven top 10s and an average finish of 11.1. Hemric has also won two stages, accumulating two Playoff points. He made series track debut at Pocono last season, starting second and finishing ninth. He also competed at Indianapolis last season in the aero package that will be run this weekend, posting an eighth-place finish.
  5. Cole Custer – No. 00 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford Mustang – rounds out the top five in the NASCAR Xfinity Series driver standings, five points behind fourth-place Daniel Hemric and 15 points ahead of sixth-place Justin Allgaier. Custer’s talent is continuing to blossom before our eyes. In 11 starts this season, he has posted two poles, two top fives and eight top 10s (second-most this season behind Elliott Sadler’s 11). His average finish this season is 10.7. Custer made his series track debut at Pocono last season; starting third and finishing seventh. He also competed at Indianapolis last season, posting a top five in the aero package that will be run this weekend at Pocono.


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  4. Pocono Raceway Weekend Schedule
  5. Last Weekend’s #NASCAR Penalty Report

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