The NASCAR Xfinity Series Kansas event, scheduled for Saturday, September 27 at Kansas Speedway, carries significant implications for the playoff standings and drivers’ championship hopes. As the series enters its second playoff race, contenders and underdogs alike will face a challenging 1.5-mile oval with only two chances left to secure their advancement before the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course cutoff race.
Kansas Speedway Prepares for High-Stakes NASCAR Weekend
The Kansas Lottery 300, the next race in the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series schedule, marks the 26th time the Xfinity Series has competed at Kansas Speedway, a tradition that began in 2001. This event features a 300-mile sprint over 200 laps, with stage breaks scheduled at laps 45, 90, and 200, and a notable prize purse of nearly $1.65 million. Viewers can tune in on CW at 3:30 p.m. ET, with live race coverage beginning at 4 p.m. ET. On the airwaves, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio will provide live commentary.
The weekend also features a packed schedule across NASCAR’s various series. On Friday, September 26, fans can watch the ARCA Menards Series Reese’s 150 at 8 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, and SiriusXM. Saturday offers a full lineup: Xfinity Series practice and pole qualifying via the CW App at 10:30 a.m. ET, followed by NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) practice and pole qualifying at 1 p.m. ET on truTV, MRN, and SiriusXM. Sunday, September 28, brings the Hollywood Casino 400 NASCAR Cup race, airing at 3 p.m. ET on USA Network and radio platforms.
Playoff Picture: Elimination Looms as Field Battles in Kansas
Kansas Speedway serves as the second race in the Round of 12 for the Xfinity Series playoffs, acting as a pivotal stepping stone for hopeful championship contenders. The four lowest drivers in the points standings after next week’s Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course race will be eliminated from title contention, making performance in Kansas critical to stay in the postseason hunt.
This year marks the eighth time Kansas has hosted an Xfinity Series playoff race since the format’s introduction in 2016, though notably, the event was part of the regular season in both 2022 and 2023. The 1.5-mile oval has historically favored drama—four of the previous 25 races have extended into overtime, with the most recent in July 2020.
Any driver who concludes the Kansas weekend 57 or more points above eighth place is assured advancement to the Round of 8 on points, bypassing the need for a win at the unpredictable Charlotte cutoff. As of now, no driver has mathematically clinched a berth in the next playoff round, which keeps pressure high for all remaining 12 contenders.
Drivers to Watch: Record-Breakers and Rising Stars
Connor Zilisch stands out as a dominant force in the 2024 season. Heading into Kansas, he is 85 points above the elimination threshold and boasts numerous statistical milestones, including a record-tying 15 consecutive top-five finishes—a streak matching the legendary Sam Ard from 1983. Should Zilisch score another top-five, he will set a new series record. Zilisch’s 2.1 average finish over the last 15 races is unmatched in series history, and his nine wins are the most by a rookie in a single season. In just 27 starts, he has claimed victory in approximately one-third of his races, an unprecedented rate in the series.
JR Motorsports (JRM) continues to be another headline, winning sixteen races this season across six different drivers, a series record. This depth is underscored by JRM’s impressive stretch of 29 consecutive races with a car finishing in the top five. Notably, Sheldon Creed, who recently notched his 15th career runner-up finish at Bristol, holds the distinction of most second-place finishes in series history without a win. Meanwhile, Brandon Jones remains the only active driver to have won at Kansas in the Xfinity Series, having achieved this feat twice.
Recent races have offered unexpected twists in the playoff battle. At Bristol, non-playoff driver Aric Almirola captured the victory, marking the third straight time a non-contender has spoiled a playoff race. For Joe Gibbs Racing, the Bristol triumph ended an 18-race dry spell—their longest since the mid-2000s. With Kansas next, another result outside the points leaders could further upend playoff projections.
Track Success and Manufacturer Dominance
Kansas has proven welcoming to drivers with versatile backgrounds. Seven competitors entered this weekend have celebrated victory at Kansas’s 1.5-mile circuit across different series: Brandon Jones (Xfinity), Christian Eckes (Trucks, ARCA), Austin Hill (Trucks), Nick Sanchez (ARCA), Sheldon Creed (ARCA), Jesse Love (ARCA), and Brenden “Butterbean” Queen (ARCA). Queen will make his second start in the Xfinity Series at Kansas, racing the Kaulig Racing #11 entry. Rajah Caruth returns to the seat of Hendrick Motorsports’ #17 for his first Xfinity effort since finishing 14th at Phoenix in November 2023.
Chevrolet has ruled the manufacturer standings, leading 77% of laps this season and securing 23 wins in 27 races—a record pace for dominance. JR Motorsports has won three of the four races contested on 1.5-mile tracks during 2024. Justin Allgaier, piloting a Chevrolet, leads all active drivers with six victories on these intermediate ovals and has accumulated a series-best eleven stage wins this year. A win at Kansas would move his career total to 29, tying him with Matt Kenseth for 8th all-time, and his pursuit of 300 career top-ten finishes—a first in series history—could reach its climax this weekend. Allgaier is also set to make his 499th career Xfinity Series start in Kansas.
The series has not lacked for excitement—five races this year have seen the leader change on the final lap, and passes for victory have been decided on overtime restarts in each of the last three 1.5-mile events.
Points Situation: Clinching Scenarios for Contenders
No driver has yet secured a spot in the Round of 8 via points or victory entering Kansas. The clinching scenarios are complex, hinging on both finishes and potential race winners outside the playoff cut. If a non-playoff driver, or someone already guaranteed advancement, wins at Kansas, Connor Zilisch could clinch with 23 points, while Justin Allgaier would need 52 points. Sam Mayer, Carson Kvapil, Harrison Burton, Brandon Jones, and Sheldon Creed could only move on with outside help.
Should Carson Kvapil take the win, Zilisch’s requirements bump to 24 points, and Allgaier to 53. If Harrison Burton, Brandon Jones, or Sheldon Creed claim victory, Zilisch must earn 26 points and Allgaier 55 to ensure advancement. A new winner from further down the standings, such as Taylor Gray or another winless, eligible driver, means Zilisch will need 27 points and Allgaier 56. The scenarios stress just how pivotal every stage and lap will be, as small points swings could determine who moves on and who faces elimination.
A win by any playoff-eligible driver—Zilisch, Allgaier, Mayer, Kvapil, Burton, Jones, Creed, Gray, Sanchez, Love, Hill, or Smith—would secure an automatic berth in the Round of 8.
Spotlight on Teams, Crew Chiefs, and Strategic Moves
Preparation for next season has already begun for some, as Randall Burnett was recently announced as Connor Zilisch’s crew chief ahead of Zilisch’s move to Trackhouse Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series. Team strategies and crew chief decisions are critical as teams like Joe Gibbs Racing, JR Motorsports, Richard Childress Racing, and Hendrick Motorsports plot their drivers’ paths through this high-stakes portion of the year.
What the Kansas Race Means for the Season Ahead
The upcoming NASCAR Xfinity Series Kansas race offers a pivotal battleground in the 2024 playoffs, where experience, manufacturer strength, and momentum will all play crucial roles. Performances here will set the tone for the tense elimination race at Charlotte and shape the championship picture for the remainder of the season. For drivers on the postseason bubble, every point earned or lost in Kansas could determine the fate of their playoff journey. Fans and teams alike will be watching closely as the drama unfolds at Kansas Speedway, making this one of the season’s most significant and unpredictable weekends.
