By Reggie Gatlin-Holt

NASCAR Xfinity Series

Next Race: Cabo Wabo 250

The Place: Michigan International Speedway

Track Length: 2 Mile Asphalt Oval

The Date: Saturday, August 17

The Time: 3:30 p.m. ET

The Purse: $1,367,917

TV: USA, 3 p.m. ET

Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Distance: 250 miles (125 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 30),

Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 60), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 125)

NASCAR Xfinity Series

NASCAR Xfinity Series revs up for Michigan International Speedway

While the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series head back to the action at Richmond Raceway after a two-week Olympic break, the NASCAR Xfinity Series will be taking one more week off before heading to Michigan International Speedway on Saturday, August 17 for the Cabo Wabo 250 at 3:30 p.m. ET on the USA Network, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

There have been 31 NASCAR Xfinity Series races at Michigan International Speedway, producing 23 different winners and 24 different pole winners. Only three of the 31 Xfinity races have been won from the pole or first starting position – 1998 (Jeff Burton), 2008 (Carl Edwards) and 2010 (Brad Keselowski).

Eight different drivers are tied for most wins at the track with two victories each – Todd Bodine (1992, 2000), Kyle Busch (2004, 2015), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (1999, 2006), Denny Hamlin (2007, 2017), Carl Edwards (2008, 2011), Brad Keselowski (2009, 2010), Mark Martin (1993, 1995) and Ryan Newman (2001, 2005).

Other drivers have set records in the Xfinity Series at Michigan International Speedway as well:

• Most poles: Kyle Busch, Paul Menard, and Austin Dillon – two each
• Most top fives: Kyle Busch – nine
• Most top 10s: Paul Menard – 12
• Most lead lap finishes: Paul Menard – 13
• Most laps led: Mark Martin – 309

Hot, Hot, Hot: Michigan different winners streak could continue

Michigan International Speedway is currently riding a wave of different winners in the NASCAR Xfinity Series that has reached 13 drivers in Victory Lane and dates back to 2010. Next weekend, the Cabo Wabo 250 has the chance to produce another new winner bringing the total to 14 to keep the streak alive.

The streak of different winners began in 2010 with Brad Keselowski, then Carl Edwards (2011), Joey Logano (2012), Regan Smith (2013), Paul Menard (2014), Kyle Busch (2015), Daniel Suárez (2016), Denny Hamlin (2017), Austin Dillon (2018), Tyler Reddick (2019), AJ Allmendinger (2021), Ty Gibbs (2022), and John Hunter Nemechek (2023). The series did not compete at Michigan in 2020 due to the pandemic.

Xfinity Series Playoff picture following Indy

The NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoff picture got a tad bit tighter as Riley Herbst got to kiss the bricks at the last race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Eight drivers have now locked themselves into the 12-competitor Playoff grid by virtue of wins, including Shane van Gisbergen, Chandler Smith, Austin Hill, Sam Mayer, Cole Custer, Justin Allgaier, Jesse Love and Riley Herbst.

As of now, AJ Allmendinger (+102), Sheldon Creed (+69), Parker Kligerman (+46), and Ryan Sieg (+3) occupy the final four spots to clinch a Playoff berth on points. JR Motorsport’s teammates Sammy Smith (-3), and Brandon Jones (-69) currently hold the first spots below the postseason cut line, followed by Our Motorsport’s driver Anthony Alfredo (-114).

Here’s how the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoff standings look heading into Michigan:

NASCAR Xfinity Series, Etc.

Parker Retzlaff to make NASCAR Cup Series debut at Richmond – The Rhinelander, Wisconsin native, Parker Retzlaff, will attempt to make his NASCAR Cup Series debut this weekend at Richmond Raceway in the No. 66 Power Source Ford. Retzlaff will collaborate with crew chief Carl Long in Sunday’s Cook Out 400.

The 21-year-old Retzlaff is a full-time NASCAR Xfinity Series driver that is competing for the series championship with Jordan Anderson Racing. In 20 Xfinity Series starts this season, Retzlaff has put up two top fives, four top 10s and a pole.

Connor Zilisch to join JR Motorsports in 2025 – Eighteen-year-old Connor Zilisch, who is a Trackhouse Racing development driver, will be joining JR Motorsports fulltime behind the wheel of the No. 88 Chevrolet next season.

At his young age, he’s already made a name for himself, posting wins at the Rolex 24 in Daytona, the Twelve Hours of Sebring, four ARCA races and a CARS Tour event.

“With so much support from Chevrolet and a chance to race in Trucks and ARCA with Silver Hare Racing, I was able to sign with Trackhouse Racing and they went to work to secure an incredible opportunity for me,” said Zilisch. “I am so grateful and can’t wait to show their trust in me is warranted. It is mind-blowing to think that I will drive for JR Motorsports and Dale Earnhardt, Jr., who is one of my heroes. I’m ready to put in the work.”

Zilisch is already getting a head start on the 2025 Xfinity season. He will drive the No. 88 for JR Motorsports in a four-race deal this season. His schedule kicks off at Watkins Glen International (Sept. 14) and includes races at Kansas Speedway (Sept. 28), Homestead-Miami Speedway (Oct. 26) and Phoenix Raceway (Nov .9).

“Connor is such an impressive driver at this young age,” said Earnhardt Jr. “We’re excited for him to get behind the wheel full-time next season. He is on a path to sure success with support from Chevrolet, Trackhouse Racing, and now JR Motorsports.”

COURTESY NASCAR COMMUNICATIONS