The NASCAR Xfinity Series will resume with the ToyotaCare 250 at the Richmond International Raceway this Saturday. This year’s edition of the ToyotaCare 250 will return to its 250-lap distance with the new stage format which will see stages 1 and 2 at 75 laps long, with stage 3 making up the remaining 100 laps. There should be plenty of intrigue heading in to this week’s Xfinity race, especially with last year’s ToyotaCare 250 winner in the spotlight following a shocking announcement this week.
Event Details
Event: ToyotaCare 250
Category: NASCAR Xfinity series
Date: April 29, 2017
Location: Richmond International Raceway, Richmond, Virginia
Dale Earnhardt Jr. announced on Tuesday that he will retire from the sport following the 2017 season. Earnhardt Jr. has been battling health issues and that is a big reason why he has struggled in NASCAR’s top flight this year. Dale Jr. won the ToyotaCare 250 last year when the main event was reduced to 140 laps, while 70 other laps were divided in to two heat races for the Xfinity Dash 4 Cash program.
Taking a look at the Xfinity standings, it is Elliott Sadler who enters the week as our points leader. He has 260 points with three top fives and six Top 10’s in seven starts this year. He’s followed by William Byron, who is second place with 244 points. Byron has five Top 10’s in seven starts this year and has finished in the Top 20 every single time. No other driver in the Top 9 can boast that same claim. In third place is Justin Allgaier, who has 200 points. He is 60 off the pace but he has one win on the year – the only driver in the top three with a win – and five Top 20’s. Ryan Reed and Daniel Hemric round out the top five. Reed has 184 points and Hemric has 180.
Past Five Winners
2016: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
2015: Denny Hamlin
2014: Kevin Harvick
2013: Brad Keselowski
2012: Kurt Busch
What To Know About The Track
The D-shaped track at Richmond International Raceway is .75-mile in distance and offers plenty of excitement as another short track. Richmond is different in size and shape compared to some of the other short tracks including Bristol and yet there have been similar results to some of the other short tracks over the years. Richmond feels longer as the speeds are higher than you might think, which is why there is a decent amount of passing. Teams with savvy crew chiefs should have an advantage at this track. Experience should also count for something at the Richmond International Raceway.
The Field
Dale Jr. will not compete in this week’s race, which means a new champion will be crowned at the ToyotaCare 250. A number of big names have won this race in the past including Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick and Brad Keselowski so keep that in mind when evaluating this year’s field. Erik Jones is the only driver with multiple wins in the Xfinity Series this season. Meanwhile, Elliott Sadler is the current points leader with six top-10 finishes in seven starts this season.
A Good Matchup To Bet: Elliott Sadler over Darrell Wallace Jr.
Sadler has been absolutely dominant in the Xfinity Series so far this season. He has registered top-10 finishes in all but one of his starts, including three top-five finishes. Sadler is still looking for his first win of the year and it could come this week at Richmond. His consistency is what makes him such a strong pick in the head-to-head matchup with Wallace this weekend.
Top-Five Pick: Kyle Busch
If Busch races in this week’s Xfinity Series he will be tough to beat. Busch has been unlucky in the Sprint Cup Series but he is overdue for a victory at either level and he has dominated at this track in the past. Busch has a 5.48 average finish at this track with 15 top-five finishes in 21 starts. Busch is the best bet on the board in terms of a pick to win this race outright and he should be a lock to finish in the top-five at the ToyotaCare 250 on Saturday.
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