Now we turn the page to look at the Xfinity Series championship race — the final one with Xfinity as the title sponsor. On Saturday night, we’ll see the series take the track in what’s sure to be a thriller at Phoenix Raceway. Let’s jump right into it!

Carson Kvapil
Perhaps the most unexpected of the Championship 4 drivers, Carson Kvapil finds himself in position to possibly win a title in his rookie season — despite not yet visiting victory lane this year. Although he’s voiced disagreement with the current points system, Kvapil still has a 25% shot at the title this weekend. He’s one of three JR Motorsports drivers in the Championship 4 and faces a tall task, but it’s a challenge that can absolutely be conquered.

Jesse Love
Jesse Love hasn’t had the same level of success as his RCR teammate Austin Hill or his close friend Connor Zilisch, but he’s remained consistent enough to keep himself in championship contention with one race to go. Love will pilot his No. 2 Chevrolet as the only non–JR Motorsports driver eligible for the title. He also had a win earlier this season at Rockingham, a track similar in size to Phoenix — though it was later disqualified following post-race inspection. Officially, his lone win this year came at Daytona in February. Can Love bookend his season with victories and close it out in the desert?

Justin Allgaier
The defending 2024 Xfinity Series Champion, Justin Allgaier, returns to Phoenix with three wins already this year. The veteran JR Motorsports driver captured last season’s championship at this same track and also earned a Phoenix victory back in 2019. Allgaier faces a tough road this time, as he’ll have to contend with his red-hot rookie teammate Connor Zilisch, the heavy favorite heading into the weekend. Can the seasoned veteran hold off the rising star and go back-to-back?

Connor Zilisch
What more can be said about Connor Zilisch? The 19-year-old phenom has been nothing short of dominant this season, racking up 10 wins and finishing outside the top five only twice since Memorial Day Weekend. He’s widely considered one of the best NASCAR prospects since Jeff Gordon, and his results speak for themselves. A 23rd-place finish at Talladega and a ninth at Martinsville last weekend are the only recent blemishes on an otherwise spectacular rookie campaign. Zilisch finished fourth in this race last season while running part-time. Can he cap off his storybook rookie season with a championship before moving up to the Cup Series in 2026? It’s hard to think otherwise — and if he doesn’t, it might only fuel more calls for a playoff system overhaul.

Owners Championship Drama
One storyline that’s flown under the radar: while Jesse Love is in the Drivers’ Championship 4, it’s his RCR teammate Austin Hill who’s competing for the Owners Championship. Hill lost his playoff eligibility after being docked points for an intentional crash at Indianapolis earlier this summer, but his team’s owner points remained intact. That means RCR has a shot at taking home both the drivers’ and owners’ titles — a rare and fascinating scenario as the season wraps up in Welcome, North Carolina.

Check back tomorrow for our Cup Series Championship preview! I truly believe we’re in for a fantastic weekend of racing and can’t wait for every second of it. Until next time!

Champion Predictions
Zach Akers (Mountain Top Sports): Connor Zilisch
Jerry Scott (Mountain Top Media): Connor Zilisch
Heath Robinson (Co-Host, Hail Podcast): Connor Zilisch
Cody Mitchell (Local iRacing Driver): Connor Zilisch

This Day in NASCAR History:
October 31, 1993 – Mark Martin dominated the Slick 50 500 at Phoenix Raceway for one of his most commanding wins of the season.