The NASCAR Xfinity Series heads into its regular-season finale with the Nu Way 200 Sauced by Blues Hog at World Wide Technology Raceway carrying high stakes and a field split into two groups for Saturday’s qualifying session. With three playoff berths still open and the Regular Season Championship undecided, pressure is mounting. The 1.25-mile oval in Madison, Illinois, returns to the schedule for the first time since 2010, ensuring drivers face fresh challenges in one of the year’s most pivotal races.
Key Highlights
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Xfinity Series returns to Gateway for the first time since 2010.
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Three playoff spots remain available entering the Nu Way 200.
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Harrison Burton holds 31-point cushion over Jeb Burton for final berth.
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Connor Zilisch leads Justin Allgaier by 20 points for Regular Season Championship.
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Saturday’s qualifying will be one lap, one round per driver.
Qualifying Order and Format
The qualifying order was set using NASCAR’s metric system, combining prior race finish (70%) and owner points (30%). The field has been split into two groups, with Kole Raz and Lavar Scott leading Group 1 while Jeremy Clements and Sammy Smith open Group 2. Saturday’s session will be one lap and one round, with positions on the grid directly tied to execution under pressure.
Practice is scheduled for Friday at 5:05 p.m. ET, airing on The CW App, with qualifying following Saturday at 3 p.m. ET. The main event, the Nu Way 200 Sauced by Blues Hog, rolls off at 7:30 p.m. ET on The CW, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Group 1’s lineup includes experienced names such as Daniel Hemric, Matt DiBenedetto, and Anthony Alfredo alongside rising drivers like Corey Day and Dean Thompson.
| Pos. | Car No. | Driver |
Metric Score
|
| 1 | 76 | Kole Raz | 58.7 |
| 2 | 45 | Lavar Scott | 36.1 |
| 3 | 17 | Corey Day | 35 |
| 4 | 7 | Nick Lietz | 34.5 |
| 5 | 35 | Glen Reen | 32.3 |
| 6 | 11 | Daniel Hemric (i) | 31.1 |
| 7 | 99 | Matt DiBendetto | 31 |
| 8 | 42 | Anthony Alfredo | 30.9 |
| 9 | 70 | Thomas Annunziata | 29.5 |
| 10 | 53 | Joey Gase | 29.3 |
| 11 | 4 | Parker Retzlaff | 29.1 |
| 12 | 14 | Garrett Smithley | 28 |
| 13 | 26 | Dean Thompson # | 27.5 |
| 14 | 19 | Aric Almirola | 25.6 |
| 15 | 91 | Matt Mills | 25.1 |
| 16 | 71 | Ryan Ellis | 23.4 |
| 17 | 28 | Kyle Sieg | 21.7 |
| 18 | 0 | Sheldon Creed | 21.6 |
| 19 | 39 | Ryan Sieg | 21.3 |
Group 2 features regular contenders Brandon Jones, Sam Mayer, Harrison Burton, Justin Allgaier, and Austin Hill, alongside rookies including Connor Zilisch and William Sawalich.
| Pos. | Car No. | Driver |
Metric Score
|
| 20 | 51 | Jeremy Clements | 18.8 |
| 21 | 8 | Sammy Smith | 17.5 |
| 22 | 32 | Jordan Anderson | 16.4 |
| 23 | 20 | Brandon Jones | 15 |
| 24 | 44 | Brennan Poole | 14.8 |
| 25 | 31 | Blaine Perkins | 13.8 |
| 26 | 10 | Daniel Dye # | 13.1 |
| 27 | 54 | Taylor Gray # | 12.8 |
| 28 | 41 | Sam Mayer | 12.1 |
| 29 | 25 | Harrison Burton | 11.7 |
| 30 | 7 | Justin Allgaier | 11.1 |
| 31 | 27 | Jeb Burton | 9.1 |
| 32 | 2 | Jesse Love | 8.2 |
| 33 | 16 | Christian Eckes # | 7.6 |
| 34 | 18 | William Sawalich # | 7.4 |
| 35 | 1 | Carson Kvapil # | 6 |
| 36 | 48 | Nick Sanchez # | 5.7 |
| 37 | 21 | Austin Hill | 5 |
| 38 | 88 | Connor Zilisch # | 1 |
Playoff Picture at Gateway
The Xfinity Series Playoff field remains unsettled heading into Gateway, with three spots yet to be filled. If a repeat winner or a driver ineligible for the playoffs takes the checkered flag Saturday night, Sheldon Creed and Taylor Gray would advance on points. That would set up a showdown between cousins Harrison Burton and Jeb Burton for the final berth.
Harrison Burton currently holds a 31-point edge over Jeb. He needs to score 27 points at Gateway to lock himself into the postseason, with his previous Cup Series experience at the track giving him added confidence.
“I’ve been fortunate to get a few Cup starts at the track, and while the results don’t necessarily show everything we had, I learned a lot about the rhythm of the place and how important track position and execution are over a long run.”
“That experience should definitely help as we go back with our AM Racing team. We know how critical this race is for our playoff hopes, and I believe if we can put together a smart, solid night, we’ll be in good shape to accomplish our goal.” – Harrison Burton
For Jeb Burton, the path is narrower. He must maximize stage points and hope Harrison falters. The Gateway finale promises tension for the Burton family as the cousins’ playoff futures may hinge on every lap.
Championship Battle at the Top
While the playoff bubble garners attention, the Regular Season Championship is also in play. Connor Zilisch has been dominant, winning six of the last seven races and carrying a 20-point lead over teammate Justin Allgaier. With 13 consecutive top-five finishes, Zilisch has emerged as one of the most consistent drivers in the field.
“I’m looking forward to going to World Wide for the first time this weekend.”
“Since our win at Portland (last Saturday), that left World Wide as the only track on the current schedule that JRM has not won at, so I’m hoping we can keep the momentum going and cross that off, too. It’s been fun to win a lot of races lately, but we still have to go out and execute and do our job every week.” – Connor Zilisch
Allgaier, meanwhile, has his own motivation. He last claimed the pole at Gateway in 2010 and sits just 20 points behind Zilisch for the title.
“Hopefully we can go out and have a great day, run up front and gain points on our teammate to get this Regular Season Championship.”
“Either way, our goal remains the same, and that is to win the race.” – Justin Allgaier
Sam Mayer remains mathematically alive, 50 points back, though he would require misfortune for both Zilisch and Allgaier to seize the crown.
News in Brief: Xfinity Series Qualifying Order Set at Gateway
The NASCAR Xfinity Series will qualify Saturday at Gateway for the Nu Way 200 Sauced by Blues Hog, using a one-lap, one-round format. Kole Raz leads Group 1, Jeremy Clements heads Group 2. With three playoff spots still open, Harrison Burton holds a 31-point cushion over Jeb Burton, while Sheldon Creed and Taylor Gray sit poised to advance if no new playoff-eligible driver wins. Connor Zilisch leads Justin Allgaier by 20 points in the Regular Season Championship. Watch the finale live Saturday night.
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