NXS Overton’s 200 Preview

The NASCAR XFINITY Series heads to the New Hampshire Motor Speedway this weekend for the Overton’s 200 where the XFINITY regulars will try to knock the Cup drivers out of victory lane.

It will be the 27th edition of the Overton’s 200 with Kyle Busch holding the most victories with five. Brad Keselowski is the only other driver to secure more than one victory in the series with two. The stage lengths for the race will be 45 laps, 45 laps and 110 laps.

Busch, the defending race winner, is likely the favorite in his No. 18 NOS Energy Drink Toyota Camry, but he isn’t the only Cup driver in the field. Joining him in the field are Keselowski seeking his third New Hampshire victory, Ty Dillon, Reed Sorenson and Kyle Larson.

When it comes to XFINITY Series regulars in the field, JR Motorsports has shown dominance by holding the top-three spots in the championship standings a majority of the year. William Byron is the only JRM driver to have a victory at New Hampshire in the top three series with one victory in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series last season. Over the last few weeks, he’s been the class of the field for XFINITY drivers. He’s won two of the last three races, and was the highest finishing XFINITY regular last weekend. Teammate Justin Allgaier is winless since he won at Phoenix earlier in the year, while Elliott Sadler has yet to see victory lane since this season.

Daniel Hemric has shown a lot of strength in his first 16 starts in the NASCAR XFINITY Series with a best finish of third at Richmond. Hemric sits fourth in XFINITY Series points standings just 182 points off of points leader Sadler. Two top-fives and six top-10s have highlighted Hemric’s debut season in the series along with his first career pole at Richmond. In his career, Hemric has two starts in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series at New Hampshire with a best finish of sixth coming in 2015 with the now defunct NTS Motorsports.

From starting on the pole at Daytona a few weeks ago to having a consistent run in the series, Brennan Poole has had a strong run in the XFINITY Series this season. Poole currently sits fifth in XFINITY Series points but he is still chasing his first top-five finish of the season. Poole has a best finish of seventh that he gained at Daytona a few weeks ago. Poole, who will make his 67th career start in the XFINITY Series, has two starts at New Hampshire in his career. His best finish came last season when he finished sixth after starting ninth. Poole sits 183 points behind Sadler and only two points behind fourth place Hemric.

Being a former winner at New Hampshire, Cole Custer should have a good shot at returning to victory lane today. His first career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series win came at New Hampshire back in 2014. The win made him the youngest winner in NASCAR national touring series history. Custer has had a strong season so far in his rookie season with Stewart-Haas Racing, amassing two top-five finishes along with six top-10’s. He currently finds himself sixth in XFINITY Series points and will look to a track he has had success on in the past to punch his ticket to the playoffs.