TALLADEGA, Ala. — October 18, 2025 – The NASCAR Xfinity Series rolls into Talladega Superspeedway this weekend for the 38th time, continuing a streak that began with the track’s inaugural race in 1992. This year’s event marks the second race in the Round of 8, with Las Vegas and Martinsville rounding out the trio of tracks that will determine the Championship 4.

No driver clinched a spot in the title round at Las Vegas, meaning Talladega could be a turning point — or a trap. Any Playoff driver who wins this weekend will automatically advance, while at least two drivers will make it on points. With the cutoff looming after Martinsville, the pressure is mounting.

Zilisch’s Comeback Story Headlines Talladega Weekend

Connor Zilisch returns to the site of one of the most dramatic moments of his season — a last-lap crash in April that left him with a broken back. Now fully recovered, Zilisch enters Talladega with a commanding 74-point cushion over the cutoff line after a runner-up finish at Las Vegas. A strong performance could clinch his spot in the Championship 4 on points alone.

Zilisch’s 2025 campaign has been nothing short of historic. With 10 wins, he’s the first rookie to reach double-digit victories and the first driver since Kyle Busch in 2016 to hit that mark. He’s led in 19 consecutive starts, finished top-5 in 18 straight races, and holds a staggering 2.1 average finish over that span — the best in series history.

Playoff Picture: Tight Battles and High Stakes

Justin Allgaier, fresh off his 300th career Top 10 at Las Vegas, sits 36 points above the cutoff. He and Sam Mayer are the only remaining Playoff drivers with prior Championship 4 experience. Mayer holds the final transfer spot, just eight points ahead of Brandon Jones, with the rest of the field either comfortably ahead or significantly behind.

Two rookies — Zilisch and Carson Kvapil — remain in contention, while eight drivers could clinch with a win, including Allgaier, Mayer, Jones, Sheldon Creed, Jesse Love, Sammy Smith, and Kvapil.

Talladega’s Unpredictable Legacy

Talladega has hosted four Playoff races previously, all in the Round of 12. This year marks its debut in the Round of 8, and history suggests chaos is likely. The last seven races here were won by seven different drivers, and 15 Talladega races have ended with last-lap passes — second only to Daytona.

Drafting track specialists like Austin Hill, who won here in April and holds the record for most drafting track wins (9), will be ones to watch. Hill is also the only driver to win at all three drafting tracks: Atlanta, Daytona, and Talladega.

Sheldon Creed and Jeb Burton have each finished top-10 in the last four Talladega races, one shy of the all-time record. Richard Childress Racing, which won three of five drafting track races this season, remains a powerhouse in pack racing.

Team and Manufacturer Momentum

JR Motorsports leads the field with four drivers in the Round of 8 and a record-setting season that includes 17 wins with six different drivers. Chevrolet has dominated, winning 24 of 30 races and leading 77% of all laps run.

Joe Gibbs Racing’s #19 car, piloted by Aric Almirola, has already clinched a spot in the owner’s Championship 4 after winning at Las Vegas. Almirola has now won four of the last 11 Playoff races as a non-Playoff driver, and JGR has surged with three wins in the postseason after a quiet regular season.

Clinch Scenarios at Talladega

Already Clinched: No drivers have secured a Championship 4 berth.Can Clinch via Points:Connor Zilisch: Would clinch with 39 points (if repeat winner or non-advancing driver wins).Justin Allgaier & Jesse Love: Could only clinch with help.Can Clinch via Win: Zilisch, Allgaier, Love, Mayer, Jones, Creed, Kvapil, and Smith.