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NASCAR Xfinity Series: 2019 Season in Review
By Terrin Waack | Published: December 17, 2019 13
Jonathan Ferrey | Getty Images
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Jonathan Ferrey | Getty Images
Eleven different drivers visited Victory Lane throughout 33 races. Eight of those winners ended up in the 12-driver playoff field. But only one title contender was crowned the NASCAR Xfinity Series champion at the end of the 2019 season.
Scroll through to see how the top 12 drivers’ years played out.
Scroll through to see how the top 12 drivers’ years played out.
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Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images
12. Justin Haley
No. 11 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
2019 wins: 0
2019 highlight: Haley ended his first full-time season in the Xfinity Series with four top-five and 20 top-10 showings, averaging a 12.3 finish. His best result was second in the summer race at Daytona International Speedway, where he actually later won in the Cup Series.
2020 outlook: Haley will be back in the Xfinity Series with the No. 11 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
11. Ryan Sieg
No. 39 RSS Racing Chevrolet
2019 wins: 0
2019 highlight: Sieg improved all of his marks in his sixth full-time Xfinity Series season, notching two top-five and 12 top-10 performances and averaging a 14.6 finish.
2020 outlook: Sieg will continue in the No. 39 RSS Racing Chevrolet next season in the Xfinity Series.
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Jonathan Ferrey | Getty Images
10. Brandon Jones
No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
2019 wins: 1 (Kansas Speedway)
2019 highlight: Jones secured his first career win in his fourth Xfinity Series season. Overall, he had six top fives and 16 top 10s.
2020 outlook: Jones is set to be in the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota again next season in the Xfinity Series.
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Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images
9. Michael Annett
No. 1 JR Motorsports Chevrolet
2019 wins: 1 (Daytona)
2019 highlight: Annett won the season opener at Daytona, his first career win in seven full-time Xfinity Series seasons. He had six top-five and 19 top-10 runs overall, with a 10.0 average finish.
2020 outlook: Annett signed a multi-year deal back in 2018, so he should be in the No. 1 JR Motorsports Chevrolet once again for the Xfinity Series next season.
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Jonathan Ferrey | Getty Images
8. Noah Gragson
No. 9 JR Motorsports Chevrolet
2019 wins: 0
2019 highlight: Gragson closed out his first full-time season in the Xfinity Series with nine top-five and 22 top-10 showings, in addition to a 9.3 average finish. His strongest performance resulted in a runner-up placement at Michigan International Speedway.
2020 outlook: Gragson is expected to be back behind the wheel of the No. 9 JR Motorsports Chevrolet in the Xfinity Series next season, though nothing has been announced.
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Jeff Zelevansky | Getty Images
7. John Hunter Nemechek
No. 23 GMS Racing Chevrolet
2019 wins: 0
2019 highlight: Nemechek wrapped up his first full-time season in the Xfinity Series with six top-five and 19 top-10 finishes, bringing him to a 12.5 average finish. His best run was second place at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
2020 outlook: Nemechek will make the move up to the Cup ranks with Front Row Motorsports -- driving the No. 38 Ford in 2020.
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Meg Oliphant | Getty Images
6. Austin Cindric
No. 22 Team Penske Ford
2019 wins: 2 (Watkins Glen International, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course)
2019 highlight: Cindric finished his sophomore season in the Xfinity Series with his first career wins. They were back-to-back trips to Victory Lane, too. He also improved all his marks to 14 top fives, 24 top 10s, four poles and average 8.9 finish.
2020 outlook: Cindric’s plans for next season are unknown at the time of this review, but it is likely he returns to the Xfinity Series.
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Jeff Curry | Getty Images
5. Chase Briscoe
No. 98 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
2019 wins: 1 (Iowa Speedway)
2019 highlight: Briscoe completed his first full-time season in the Xfinity Series with a win, 13 top-five and 26 top-10 finishes and two poles. He averaged an 8.2 finish overall.
2020 outlook: Briscoe’s plans for next season are unknown at the time of this review, but it is likely he returns to the Xfinity Series.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
4. Justin Allgaier
No. 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet
2019 wins: 1 (ISM Raceway at Phoenix in playoffs)
2019 highlight: Allgaier finished out the season with his best career average finish (9.0) and average start (7.3). He had 16 top-five and 24 top-10 runs overall. Allgaier was also voted the Xfinity Series’ Most Popular Driver by fans.
2020 outlook: Allgaier will be back in the No. 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet for the Xfinity Series next year. This will be his fifth full-time season with the team, 10th overall.
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Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images
3. Christopher Bell
No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
2019 wins: 8 (Atlanta Motor Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway-spring, Dover International Speedway-spring, Iowa Speedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Road America, Richmond Raceway in playoffs, Texas Motor Speedway in playoffs)
2019 highlight: Bell scored the most wins out of all his competitors with a career-high eight victories. He also had the best average start (4.2) and most laps led (2,005) among full-time drivers. He tied for most poles at six.
2020 outlook: Bell will move up to the Cup Series full time next season, taking over the No. 95 Leavine Family Racing Toyota. He doesn’t have any prior experience in NASCAR’s premier league.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
2. Cole Custer
No. 00 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
2019 wins: 7 (Auto Club Speedway, Richmond-spring, Pocono Raceway, Chicagoland Speedway, Kentucky Speedway, Darlington Raceway, Dover in playoffs)
2019 highlight: Custer, though he finished runner-up for the second year in a row, really improved his overall production. His seven victories were a career high and much better than the single win last season. He had 17 top-five and 25 top-10 runs total – good for a 9.0 average finish. He tied for most poles at six.
2020 outlook: Custer will be back with Stewart-Haas Racing next season but in the Cup Series steering the No. 41 Ford. He joins NASCAR’s premier league full time with three starts already.
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Sean Gardner | Getty Images
1. Tyler Reddick
No. 2 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
2019 wins: 6 (Talladega Superspeedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Michigan, Bristol-fall, Las Vegas-fall, Homestead-Miami Speedway in playoffs)
2019 highlight: Reddick not only became the seventh driver to win back-to-back Xfinity Series championships, he’s the first driver to earn titles in consecutive seasons for different teams. He was with JR Motorsports in 2018 and Richard Childress Racing in 2019. The six wins this season was also a career high, and Reddick had the best average finish (6.3) and most top fives (24) and 10s (27) among full-timers.
2020 outlook: Reddick will stay with Richard Childress Racing but transition to the Cup Series to drive the No. 8 Chevrolet full time. He enters NASCAR’s premier league next season with two starts, highlighted by one top 10.