WINS ARE AT A PREMIUM FOR NASCAR XFINITY SERIES DRIVERS

NASCAR XFINITY Series Chase Outlook

Story By:REID SPENCER / NASCAR WIRE SERVICE                                                                                                                      Photos By:GETTY IMAGES / NASCAR

Loudon NH.- July 13, 2016-Nine races remain until the NASCAR XFINITY Series Chase. Since only three series regulars have wins, points are at a premium.

The three drivers who have already clinched berths in the Chase via victories are Erik Jones (2 wins), Daniel Suárez (1) and Elliott Sadler (1). All three get three bonus points per win for the first round of the Chase.

The winning trio is tailed by the 4 through 9 drivers, who have hefty leads above 13th-place Ross Chastain on the cutoff line: Ty Dillon (+164), Brendan Gaughan (+123), Justin Allgaier (+118), Brandon Jones (+105), Brennan Poole (+100) and Darrell Wallace Jr. (+76).

In right now on the bubble are the 10 through 12 drivers: Ryan Reed (+24), Ryan Sieg (+17) and Blake Koch (+14).

On the outside looking in are Ross Chastain (-14), Jeremy Clements (-37) and Dakoda Armstrong (-44).

The NASCAR XFINITY Series takes the track next in Saturday’s AutoLotto 200 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (4 p.m. ET on NBCSN).

Smooth Sailing For Suárez

Daniel Suárez kept his standout sophomore season in the NASCAR XFINITY Series going with a third-place finish at Kentucky Speedway – the top showing among circuit regulars. He has upped his performance recently with three top-five finishes in the last four races.

Currently, Suárez leads the series points standings where he sits nine markers ahead of second-place Elliott Sadler. Once the Chase starts though, regular season points will be eschewed except for the three bonus points for each win.

The next closest driver to Suárez is third-place Ty Dillon (-19 points).

On the season, Suárez has one win, seven top fives and 13 top 10s (tied with Sadler for the series lead) in 16 starts.

Suárez finished fifth at his lone career start at New Hampshire last season.

Jones Tries To Tally Another Win Following Kentucky Disappointment

Erik Jones finished a “disappointing” fourth at Kentucky after losing the lead late in the race because he failed to maintain speed on a caution.

The 18-year-old Joe Gibbs Racing driver will try to turn his luck around at New Hampshire where he’s never made a NASCAR XFINITY Series start. Jones finished seventh in both of his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts at The Magic Mile.

A threat to win every race, Jones leads NASCAR XFINITY Series regulars with two victories, nine top 10s, 207 laps led and a 107.5 driver rating.

Wallace On The Move

Darrell Wallace Jr. started the season off slow, but he is gaining momentum after registering a fifth-place finish at Kentucky for his third top 10 in the last four races.

He now sits ninth on the NASCAR XFINITY Series Chase Grid – a hefty 76 points ahead of 13th-place Ross Chastain on the cutoff line.

In his only series start at New Hampshire last season, Wallace finished eighth. He placed runner-up in his lone NASCAR Camping World Truck Series appearance at the 1.058-mile track in 2014.

Cool Poole: No. 48 Chip Ganassi Racing Driver Continues Consistent Season

Brennan Poole is quietly putting together a strong first full-time season in the NASCAR XFINITY Series.

The No. 48 Chip Ganassi Racing driver ranks eighth on the NASCAR XFINITY Series Chase Grid – a comfortable 100 points ahead of 13th-place Ross Chastain on the cutoff line.

In 16 starts, Poole claims one top five, seven top 10s and an average finish of 12.8.

He placed 10th at New Hampshire in his lone series start there last year.