Regular-season title on the line at Food City 300 | Sports

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BRISTOL – Just five points separate AJ Allmendinger and Austin Cindric, as the battle for the NASCAR Xfinity Series regular season championship will take place at Food City 300 on Bristol Motor Speedway on Friday.

Allmendinger, the Cup Series veteran whose career was revived in the Xfinity Series, tops the table in the number 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet. It’s a familiar place for Allmendinger, who made his very first Cup series start in Bristol in 2007, and a place where he has a total of 21 Cup starts.

This will be his second start in the Xfinity Series on the high banks. Although there were no top 5 finishes in Bristol, it is one of Allmendinger’s favorite tracks.

“I’m pumped up but, as always, a little nervous about going to Bristol,” said Allmendinger, three-time winner this season. “This was the first time I started in the Cup Series, so that the racetrack always remains something special. It’s one of those races that you know will get you in trouble and in traffic from start to finish. It’s a difficult race, but I think we’ll be really quick there. “

Cindric, the Xfinity Series defending champion on Team Penske Ford # 22, feels guilty in Bristol after completing 42 laps at last year’s Food City 300 before Chase Briscoe overtook him for victory with five laps to go.

“I certainly have unfinished business in Bristol based on last year so I’m pretty hungry,” said Cindric. “Forget the points. We have to go out there and try to win the race. “

Cindric leads the streak with five wins this season, but the hottest driver lately is Noah Gragson, driver of the JR Motorsports # 9 Chevrolet. He comes to Bristol with consecutive wins at Darlington, Richmond.

Gragson has a win, albeit controversial, in Bristol when he teamed up with teammate Justin Allgaier to win the 2020 Cheddar’s 300. He doesn’t focus on it, but on how his team is progressing.

“Team # 9 has been unloading fast Camaros all year and we are really moving in the right direction,” said Gragson. “Hopefully we can take our third win this weekend and get into the playoffs with a high grade.”

Allgaier, the serial veteran in the No. 7 Chevrolet, took his first win in the Xfinity Series in Bristol in 2008. Since then, he has achieved nine top five finishes and led 764 laps, but was neglected several times.

“I love racing in Bristol. It’s a place that has really suited my driving style over the years and I have the feeling that we have always unloaded with a car that is capable of winning the road, ”said Allgaier. “We only had circumstances that didn’t go our way. Hopefully everything will go well on Friday evening and we can fight for victory and end this regular season with a strong finish. “

Other playoff drivers are Harrison Burton, Daniel Hemric and Brandon Jones of Joe Gibbs Racing and Kaulig Racing shoes Justin Haley and Jeb Burton. Jeremy Clements and Riley Herbst should be locked up while Myatt Snider leads Michael Arnett for the final playoff spot.

Sam Mayer, who won 2020 truck and ARCA races, will be in number 8 on JR Motorsports Chevy. Ty Gibbs, three-time Xfinity Series winner this season, drives the ever-fast No. 54 Toyota.

Former Kingsport Speedway Champion Chad Finchum from Knoxville competed in the No. 61 Toyota. For Finchum, who finished 15th in his last race in Charlotte, it’s only the sixth start of the year.

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