For the first time since the 2022 season, the Xfinity Series teams will return to Talladega Superspeedway for a playoff race.
This event is the second race in the opening round of the playoffs. It is one of two remaining events before the field cuts down to eight drivers. The cutoff race is at the Charlotte Roval next weekend.
If a playoff driver wins this race at Talladega, they will lock up an automatic spot in the Round of 8 and move one step closer to the Championship 4.
Talladega Superspeedway Xfinity playoff race info
Weather: The WeatherUnderground forecast calls for partly cloudy skies, a high of 85 degrees, and no chance of rain at the start of the Xfinity Series race.
Green flag time: The command to fire engines will be at 3:58 p.m. ET. The green flag will wave at 4:10 p.m. ET.
Starting lineup: Talladega Xfinity starting lineup
Pre-race: The Xfinity Series garage opens at 9:30 a.m. ET. Driver introductions will take place at 3:25 p.m. ET. Pre-race coverage begins with "NASCAR Countdown Live" on CW at 3:30 p.m. ET. Race coverage continues on CW at 4 p.m. ET.
Stages: The race will consist of three stages. The first stage ends at Lap 25. The second stage ends at Lap 50. The scheduled end of the race is Lap 94.
Playoff picture: Aric Almirola won last weekend's playoff opener at Kansas Speedway. He is not eligible for the driver's championship, only the owner's championship, so all 12 playoff drivers still have work to do at Talladega.
Cole Custer leads the standings after finishing second last weekend at Kansas. He is 41 points above the Round of 8 cutline. Chandler Smith is just behind him at +36.
The other drivers above the cutline are Austin Hill (+26), Sam Mayer (+13), Sheldon Creed (+10), Shane van Gisbergen (+8), Jesse Love (+3), and Riley Herbst (+1).
The four drivers currently below the cutline are Justin Allgaier (-1), AJ Allmendinger (-13), Parker Kligerman (-15), and Sammy Smith (-23).
Past winners: Four drivers in the lineup have celebrated Xfinity Series wins at Talladega. Love won this season's spring race at the 2.66-mile superspeedway. Allmendinger won the 2022 playoff race. Almirola won the 2017 Xfinity race at Talladega.
Jeb Burton has two Talladega wins with two different teams. He won the 2021 spring race while driving for Kaulig Racing and then he won last season's race while driving for Jordan Anderson Racing.