Xfinity Sparks Energy Into Talladega

The Sparks Energy 300 at Talladega Superspeedway marks the ninth race of the season for the NASCAR Xfinity Series. The race on the 2.66-mile Alabama tri-oval will consist of 113 laps, which is equal to 300.58 miles. There are currently 43 drivers on the entry list. After tomorrow morning’s single-car qualifying session, three will be eliminated. 

The six NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers scheduled for double duty include Austin and Ty Dillon, Joey Logano, Chase Elliott, Josh Wise and Aric Amirola. John Wes Townley, Matt Tifft and Travis Kvapil round out the list of competitors not running for points. Dillon will not only be taking care of business in the Xfinity event, he will also be a relief driver for Tony Stewart during Sunday’s Cup event, the Geico 500.
 
Let’s not forget about the six rookies in the field. A strong list of first year starters consists of Garrett Smithley, Ryan Preece, Ray Black Jr., Erik Jones, Brandon Jones, Brennan Poole and BJ McLeod. 
 
Logano is last year’s Xfinity race winner and he will have a chance to defend that title in the No. 22 Discount Tire Ford. The Connecticut native led 40 laps enroute to the victory. This weekend, the Team Penske driver is making only his third Xfinity start on the year.
 
Going into Talladega, Daniel Suarez, the No. 19 Toyota driver for Joe Gibbs Racing, is currently leading the Xfinity series standings. Elliott Sadler is just nine points behind in second while Ty Dillon rounds out the top three, just 19 points away from the top spot. 
 
After a 15th-place finish last week in Richmond, Brandon Jones is the top-ranked Sunoco Rookie contender. The No. 33 Richard Childress Racing driver sits fourth with 249 points while the No. 20 JGR Toyota of Erik Jones is currently fifth with 244 points.
 
Here are just a few Xfinity regulars to keep an eye on:
 
  • Alabama, the host state for this weekend’s NASCAR event, has two drivers in the field at their home-state speedway. Mike Harmon of Birmingport will be in the No. 74 Multiple Sclerosis Society Dodge while Darrel Wallace Jr. will pilot the No. 6 Kleen Performance Ford. Wallace Jr. is a native of Mobile.
  • Do not count Ryan Reed out on the restrictor-plate tracks. The No. 16 Ford driver, who drives for diabetes earned a win at Daytona in February of 2015. At Talladega, Reed will make his third start in the Lily Diabetes/American Diabetes Association Ford. He qualified ninth in this race a year ago but after running in the top 10 for most of the day, he was caught in a wreck. Reed is currently ninth in the standings and just wants to stay out of trouble. “I really just want to stay out of trouble this weekend after getting caught up in the ‘big one’ the two times I have raced at Talladega,” he said in a team press release. “I’m pretty comfortable with pack racing, but feel like there’s a lot more moving around at this track than at our other superspeedway, Daytona. Roush Fenway has always done well at these tracks and I know we can bring home a top 10 if we can get out with a clean racecar.”
  •  After three ARCA Series starts at Talladega, including a win in 2012, Brandon McReynolds has landed a ride with JGL Racing. The son of NASCAR on FOX broadcaster Larry McReynolds will pilot the No. 24 Monster Truck/Redneck Riviera Toyota under the direction of crew chief Wayne Setterington. This is McReynolds’ second Xfinity start since 2010 and he is grateful for the opportunity. “I cannot thank James Whitener and the entire JGL Racing team enough for this opportunity,” McReynolds said in a team release. “It was a dream come true when the phone rang a few weeks back. It is really cool to race at my dad’s home track again.  I feel lucky to be able to go back to a track I have won at in the ARCA Series.  But at the same time the XFINITY Series is so competitive and I need to keep my goals in check.”
  •  JJ Yeley will replace David Starr in the No. 44 Zachry Toyota Camry. Yeley boasts five previous NXS starts at Talladega. “I always look forward to the restrictor plate racetracks,” Yeley said. “I always look forward to the restrictor plate racetracks. Restrictor plate racing is always been the great equalizer. I feel with my experience, along with my Crew Chief Frankie Kerr and the rest of the team, we have our greatest opportunity to win a race and lock ourselves into the Chase for 2016.”

 TV/Radio Coverage – Times CDT (Track Time)

9:30 AM Qualifying – FS1

2:00 PM Race – FOX (local), MRN, SiriusXM Ch. 90
Katie Williams
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