With the regular season winding down and Sonoma Raceway up next, the NASCAR Xfinity Series playoff picture is beginning to take shape. Seven drivers have secured their spots with race wins, while five more are hanging on via points—but not without pressure. Behind them, a long list of hopefuls are chasing the final few playoff tickets, and Saturday’s race through Wine Country could bring major movement. From veterans clawing for another shot to rookies making a name, the battle is far from over—and Sonoma might be the chaos agent no one saw coming.
Key Highlights
The Xfinity playoffs feature 12 drivers competing across three elimination rounds
Seven drivers are locked in by race wins, including Connor Zilisch and Nicholas Sanchez
Sam Mayer and Carson Kvapil lead the points-only group, but they’re not entirely safe
Harrison Burton trails Taylor Gray by just 8 points for the final playoff spot
Ryan Sieg, Christian Eckes, and others remain in striking distance
Locked In: The Seven Who’ve Punched Their Ticket
Seven drivers can breathe easy—for now. With wins already on the board, their playoff spots are secured regardless of what happens over the next few weeks. Justin Allgaier and Austin Hill are no strangers to the postseason, while breakout names like Connor Zilisch and Nicholas Sanchez have earned their place through impressive mid-season performances.
Brandon Jones, Sammy Smith, and Jesse Love have also found Victory Lane this year, giving their teams a chance to focus on playoff prep early. For these seven, it’s about building momentum and improving seeding before Round 1 begins.
Holding On: Points-Only Contenders Still in the Fight
With only five spots left in the 12-driver field, the pressure is on the points-only group to keep their noses clean and score consistently. Sam Mayer leads the group with a 149-point cushion. While not technically locked in, it would take an unprecedented string of disasters to knock him out.
Carson Kvapil (+63) has been steady in his rookie campaign, while Sheldon Creed (+30) remains on the bubble but inside for now. Jeb Burton (+12) and Taylor Gray (+8) are right on the edge, and one bad finish could flip the script in a hurry.
Bubble Trouble: Who’s Just Outside Looking In
The fight just outside the cutline is fierce. Harrison Burton is the closest, just 8 points shy of Taylor Gray for the 12th and final spot. Ryan Sieg isn’t far back at -30, and both drivers have enough speed—and experience—to mount a late-season charge.
Christian Eckes (-60), Dean Thompson (-61), and Daniel Dye (-65) are still mathematically alive, but they’ll likely need more than stage points to get in. A win might be their only realistic path. Deeper in the standings, drivers like Brennan Poole, Josh Williams, and Jeremy Clements need miracles—or chaos—to sneak in.
NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoff Standings (Top 28)
| POS | NO. | DRIVER | PLAYOFF STATUS | PLAYOFF MARGIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 | Justin Allgaier | Locked In (Race Win) | – |
| 2 | 21 | Austin Hill | Locked In (Race Win) | – |
| 3 | 88 | Connor Zilisch | Locked In (Race Win) | – |
| 4 | 20 | Brandon Jones | Locked In (Race Win) | – |
| 5 | 8 | Sammy Smith | Locked In (Race Win) | – |
| 6 | 2 | Jesse Love | Locked In (Race Win) | – |
| 7 | 48 | Nicholas Sanchez | Locked In (Race Win) | – |
| 8 | 41 | Sam Mayer | Points Only | +149 |
| 9 | 1 | Carson Kvapil | Points Only | +63 |
| 10 | 00 | Sheldon Creed | Points Only | +30 |
| 11 | 27 | Jeb Burton | Points Only | +12 |
| 12 | 54 | Taylor Gray | Points Only | +8 |
| 13 | 25 | Harrison Burton | Points Only | -8 |
| 14 | 39 | Ryan Sieg | Points Only | -30 |
| 15 | 16 | Christian Eckes | Points Only | -60 |
| 16 | 26 | Dean Thompson | Points Only | -61 |
| 17 | 10 | Daniel Dye | Points Only | -65 |
| 18 | 44 | Brennan Poole | Points Only | -103 |
| 19 | 11 | Josh Williams | Points Only | -127 |
| 20 | 51 | Jeremy Clements | Points Only | -130 |
| 21 | 42 | Anthony Alfredo | Points Only | -174 |
| 22 | 99 | Matt DiBenedetto | Points Only | -179 |
| 23 | 28 | Kyle Sieg | Points Only | -206 |
| 24 | 18 | William Sawalich | Points Only | -207 |
| 25 | 4 | Parker Retzlaff | Points Only | -213 |
| 26 | 31 | Blaine Perkins | Points Only | -214 |
| 27 | 71 | Ryan Ellis | Points Only | -225 |
| 28 | 5 | Kris Wright | Points Only | -287 |
News in Brief: NASCAR Xfinity Playoff Bubble Watch
As the regular season winds down, the Xfinity Series playoff fight is far from settled. With seven spots locked up and five more still up for grabs, the bubble drivers are battling weekly for every position. Harrison Burton and Ryan Sieg are closest to breaking through, but time is running out. Whether through consistency or chaos, the playoff picture could shift at any moment—and the final stretch promises high-stakes drama until the checkered flag.
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