Xfinity Series playoffs add to silly season
Ross Chastain LAS VEGAS — opened this week preparing forthestartoftheXfinitySeries playoffs and celebrating his promotion to the Cup Series. He isoneof the lucky title contenders – heknowswhere he will be driving next season.
The Xfinity Series prides itself as the “Names Are Made Here” division of NASCAR and it fits this class well. Regular-season champion Austin Cindric wants a Cup Series ride, Chase Briscoe has made earning a promotion a priority this season, JustinHaley is being eyed for a seat at the top level and Chip Ganassi Racing just gave Chastain a Cup job for 2021.
The 12 drivers are all vying to become the first newXfinity Series champion in two years – Tyler Reddickmoved to Cup this season after backto-back titles – at the same time many are also navigating a crowded job market.
“Thewhole‘sillyseason’has just been so confusing up to this point,” saidHaley, a teammate of Chastain’s at Kaulig Racing who didn’t find out his friend was going to drive Ganassi’sNo. 42nextyearuntil it was announced. “I talk to Ross almost every day and the 42 news was, you know,
newstous. I’mnotsurewhere I stand right now.”
Spire Motorsports wants Haley, whowon for the team in 2019 at Daytona in July, to drive one of its Cup cars next year but is still working on a deal as theXfinity Series playoffsbeginSaturdayatLasVegas Motor Speedway.
This year’s field is loaded with potential Cup drivers and should be a fierce race between Briscoe and Cindric, who have combined to win 12 of 26 events this season.
Briscoe began the year chasing eight wins because he believes that number will get him a Cup ride; he’s won seven races for Stewart-Haas Racing. Cindric provedhe can
win on ovals — his first three of five victories came at Kentucky and Texas.
“Timing-wise, amovetothe CupSerieswould probablybe the best thing for my development as a driver,” Cindric said. “I knowwhat it takes to be fast and to execute in races ... that’s why I look at (Cup) as a potential option for me and probably the best-case scenario for me.”
Cindric drives an Xfinity Series car for Team Penske, wherehis father, Tim, is presidentoftheorganization. Team Penske couldkeepthe21-yearoldCindricintheXfinitySeries forafourthfullseasonormove himtoCupbyeitherexpanding its own program to four cars or assigning him to drive for partner Wood Brothers Racing. But this year has been a breakout for him: His five wins, 17 top-fives and 812 laps led are all career highs.
Briscoe has an uncertain future as he returns to Las Vegas, where he scored his first victory of the season in February. His deal to return to SHR for a second season relied on sponsorship that didn’t come together until the offseason and the organization has not said what it plans forBriscoe in2021. Clint Bowyer is the only SHR Cup driver still unsigned for next season but the team has previously said it wants the veteran back. If Bowyer returns it would mean Briscoe, one of Ford’s driver development projects, would need to find a different Cup organization for next year.
The uncertainty is much easier for Briscoe this year becausehe’s aprovenwinner.
“Last year, I’donlywonone race, so I’m not thatpretty girl at the dance that everybody wants.NowthatI’vewonseven races, I’m a lot more wanted in the sport,” Briscoe said. “If I can go win four or five out of these last seven, then obviously it makes the transition -- if I do move up or to want tomove up -- makesme a lot morewanted by the bigger teams.”