Xfinity Series drivers set to take over Philadelphia

CONCORD, N.C. -- For the third straight year, NASCAR Xfinity Series drivers will travel to Philadelphia for the NASCAR Xfinity Philadelphia Takeover on Tuesday. This year will see a record 21 drivers across 12 teams head to the City of Brotherly Love to greet fans while promoting next month’s Pocono Green 250 (June 2 at 1 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). In addition to Pocono Raceway, Dover International Speedway  -- site of the most recent Xfinity Series race -- is involved in this event. Drivers will explore the city through various events that include going to the Franklin Institute for a STEM-focused Q&A, meet and greets at the Comcast Center Front Plaza and Xfinity Live, the steps made famous by Rocky Balboa, Pat & Geno's, serving up food at the Reading Terminal Market and taking in a Philadelphia Phillies Major League Baseball game. The highlight, though, is the parade at lunchtime through downtown Philadelphia that includes a smoke show on Market Street. Stewart-Haas Racing's Cole Custer, driver of the No. 00 Ford, is most excited for that. "It's really cool because we get to do burnouts on the street," Custer said. "There's people in their windows and the skyscrapers looking out. It's a really cool event." The 2018 season marks the fourth with Xfinity as the series’ entitlement sponsor. NASCAR and the Comcast company agreed to a 10-year deal that started with the 2015 season for the sport’s No. 2 series. "Just getting to spend a day with the Xfinity group will be enjoyable," Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell (driver of the No. 20 Toyota) said. "They've done a lot for this sport. It's an honor to be able to race with the Xfinity Series. It's been really cool to see just how involved they are with their drivers and the NASCAR peers. It's something that we can do to help promote their company and I’m glad we are able to give back to them because they sure do give a lot to us."  The 21 Xfinity Series drivers for Tuesday's event are scheduled to be: Bell, Spencer Boyd, Chase Briscoe, Ross Chastain, Austin Cindric, Custer, Jeffrey Earnhardt, Joey Gase, Kaz Grala, Daniel Hemric, Brandon Jones, Shane Lee, Dylan Lupton, Ty Majeski, Vinnie Miller, Matt Mills, John-Hunter Nemechek, Ryan Reed, Garrett Smithley, Ryan Truex and J.J. Yeley.