NASCAR Xfinity Series returns to action after three-week break

After an extra off week, the NASCAR Xfinity Series returns to competition this weekend at Michigan International Speedway in Saturday‘s Cabo Wabo 250 (3:30 p.m. ET, USA, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, NBC Sports App).

It‘s been a good stretch for the Stewart-Haas Racing duo of championship points leader Cole Custer, who won at Pocono Raceway, and his teammate Riley Herbst, who won at Indianapolis — the last two races before the break.

MORE: Full Michigan schedule | Xfinity Series standings

Custer‘s victory and a season of solid finishes have separated him among the top four in regular season championship contention. He holds a 56-point edge over JR Motorsports‘ Justin Allgaier, an 87-point advantage over Richard Childress Racing‘s Austin Hill and a 100-point gap over Joe Gibbs Racing‘s Chandler Smith — the top of the standings offering a diverse representation of teams.

Kaulig Racing‘s AJ Allmendinger is the only current Xfinity Series championship contender with a win at the 2-mile Michigan track — claiming the 2021 trophy by a slight .163-second over Brandon Jones, then with JGR, now with JR Motorsports. Allmendinger has that victory and a seventh-place finish in his two Xfinity Series starts at the track. He‘s yet to win a race in 2024 but is the highest-ranked driver (ninth) without a victory.

Eight drivers have earned race victories to clinch a position in the 12-driver playoffs, with six races still remaining in the regular season. New Zealander Shane van Gisbergen leads the playoff standings, with the Kaulig Racing driver boasting a series-best three wins. Hill, Chandler Smith and JRM’s Sam Mayer have a pair of wins. Custer, Allgaier, Herbst and rookie Jesse Love round out the list of winners.

Allmendinger, Sheldon Creed, Parker Kligerman and Ryan Sieg currently hold the final playoff positions based on points. Sieg is only three points up on Sammy Smith, however, for that final transfer position with Jones next, 69 points below the elimination line.

Defending race winner John Hunter Nemechek is entered this week, driving the No. 20 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing. Daniel Dye, who just qualified for the Craftsman Truck Series Playoffs last weekend, will drive the No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet. Young standout Carson Kvapil will be in the JR Motorsports No. 88 Chevrolet.

Practice is at 3:30 p.m. ET Friday, followed by qualifying at 4:10 p.m. ET. Both sessions will air live on NBC Sports App.