JR Motorsports stable of drivers eyes title for boss Dale Jr.

RELATED: Complete playoff picture | See the entire 12-driver field One. Two. Three. Four. One-third of the field. That’s how many JR Motorsports drivers are in the 2017 NASCAR XFINITY Series Playoffs -- more than any other team. William Byron, Justin Allgaier, Elliott Sadler and Michael Annett are the four horsemen who are galloping their way toward Miami to help bring a shiny trophy to the Earnhardt family once more -- especially for Dale Jr., who is finishing out his own Appreci88ion Tour over the next couple of months. [caption id="attachment_36439" align="alignright" width="450"] Graphic by NASCAR Creative Design[/caption] Byron, the lone rookie at JRM, is the clubhouse leader in the XFINITY Playoffs standings with teammates Allgaier and Sadler, the regular-season champion, peeking over his shoulder. A mere five points separate the three as they head to Kentucky Speedway on Saturday for the first playoffs race (8 p.m. ET, NBCSN, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). Although the JRM drivers want to see their name on the trophy for selfish reasons, the weight of winning a title for Junior isn’t something they take lightly -- and it’s something that adds even more motivation to succeed as they get behind the wheel. "We definitely want to try and win a championship for him in his last year in the (Monster Energy NASCAR) Cup Series," Byron told NASCAR.com “Hopefully give him that excitement and thrill of that last weekend at the race track. I think we have a great shot to do that. We have four of us in the playoffs, and that would be really special to him I think.” RELATED: Former champs offer advice Sadler, the veteran at JRM, has a long history with Earnhardt that goes back to when the men were just teenagers getting their first true taste of driving race cars. He understands his career is coming to the end of a chapter -- just like Earnhardt. The two have a deep understanding of each other which helps as Sadler saddles up for an opportunity like the playoffs, where all eyes will be on him to celebrate in Victory Lane. "The biggest thing Dale has told me is be yourself and do your thing," Sadler told NASCAR.com. "You know how to do this, we've been leading the points all year. We've been getting maximum points at almost every track that we go to. ... Just continue doing those things to make it to Homestead to put yourself in position to become a champion. He has really (been) giving me a lot of comfort and support that they are going to do everything they can from their side of the race team to give us every possible tool that we need to become a champion." Earnhardt Jr. is a two-time XFINITY Series champion as a driver, and he also is a championship owner (2014). He knows what it takes to win. Now, it’s up to his horsemen to make it to Miami -- and it all begins now.