As Justin Allgaier begins the defense of the long-awaited NASCAR Xfinity Series title he won last year at Phoenix Raceway, the focus, appropriately enough, is on his rookie JR Motorsports teammate, Connor Zilisch.
The 19-year-old driver of the No. 88 Chevrolet has won seven of the last eight races, including the last four straight, tying Sam Ard (1983) and Noah Gragson (2022) for the Xfinity Series record for consecutive victories.
Zilisch, the Regular Season Champion, is 59 points above the current elimination line for the playoffs‘ Round of 8 entering Friday night‘s Food City 300 at Bristol Motor Speedway (7:30 ET on The CW, PRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
MORE: Bristol entry list | Full weekend schedule
He plans to keep his remarkable streak going as the postseason begins.
“This No. 88 team has been on a run this year, and four wins in a row is a rare feat, but we aren‘t going to take any of that for granted going into the playoffs,” Zilisch said. “(Crew chief) Mardy (Lindley), my whole team and my pit crew continue to execute every week, and we don‘t plan on turning down the intensity anytime soon.
“It has been awesome to have the success we have had this season, and we plan to unload another fast WeatherTech Chevrolet this Friday.”
At 30 points above the current cutline, Allgaier is the only playoff driver besides Zilisch with any degree of comfort entering the playoffs.
The remaining 10 playoff drivers, from Sam Mayer in third to Austin Hill in 12th, are covered by a spread of 16 points. Mayer is 11 points to the good while Hill, who lost his regular-season playoff points under penalty for wrecking Aric Almirola at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, is five points below the elimination line.
The extraordinary closeness of the playoff field all but guarantees an intense scramble for position in Friday night‘s playoff opener at Thunder Valley.
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