How the Xfinity Playoff field stacks up heading into Dover elimination

Two races down, one race remaining in the first round of the Xfinity Series playoffs that hasn’t lacked for drama nor intrigue. Here is a look back at what’s transpired thus far and where things stand entering the Round 1 elimination race Saturday at Dover International Speedway (3 p.m. ET, NBCSN/NBC Sports App, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). Is championship co-favorite Justin Allgaier, 11 points above the cut line, sweating heading into the Bar Harbor 200? When the playoffs began regular season champion Justin Allgaier was presumably a lock to advance to the second round based on all the bonus points he had accumulated during the regular season. Now, after consecutive subpar finishes (15th at Charlotte, 32nd at Richmond) to open the postseason he finds himself in a precarious position where another poor result Saturday could lead to his elimination. It is understandable why the JR Motorsports driver may be feeling a bit uneasy, as his championship run could be over far sooner than expected. The good news for Allgaier is that Dover is one of his better tracks. He has finished fourth or better in four of the past five races, a stretch that includes a dominating win in the spring where he led 104 of a possible 200 laps. MORE: Clinching scenarios | Xfinity Series Playoff standings | Full Dover schedule How is Christopher Bell, the other championship co-favorite, feeling this weekend? Relieved, thanks to his win two weeks ago at Richmond that automatically transferred Bell into the next bracket regardless of what happens Saturday. His focus is now on winning and amassing additional playoff points that he can use to his advantage in subsequent rounds. Who else is feeling good about their chances to advance? Barring a disastrous finish Saturday, Daniel Hemric (+30 points) and Tyler Reddick (+21) are in good shape and should be confident about maintaining their championship eligibility. Also feeling secure, though with a bit more trepidation, is Cole Custer (+14), who would need a lot to go wrong for him to be eliminated. Can Ross Chastain’s magical run continue? Ross Chastain maximized his opportunity to drive Chip Ganassi Racing’s No. 42 Chevrolet, winning the regular season finale at Las Vegas then finishing runner-up in the playoff opener at Richmond. He jumped back to JD Motorsports for the Charlotte roval and finished 12th, which has him nine points clear of Austin Cindric for the final transfer spot. MORE: Chastain nabs first Xfinity win at Las Vegas Whether Chastain can advance depends on two factors: 1) He needs to run and finish well for the entirety of the race Saturday, with Cindric capable of overcoming that nine-point deficit via stage points, and 2) Chastain becomes vulnerable if a playoff driver below him in the standings wins as that would move up the cut line. Only one of the above factors Chastain has any control over, making for a stressful weekend with the real possibility the clock may strike midnight for NASCAR’s Cinderella. Is Austin Cindric up to the task of racing his way into the second round? Although Cindric’s best tracks are road courses -- he’s coming off a third-place finish at Charlotte -- Dover does offer the rookie a good opportunity to earn himself a spot in the second round. He qualified seventh and finished ninth there in the spring (in the No. 22 Team Penske Ford), his first start on the high-banked, one-mile oval. That result was seven positions higher and 18 points better than Chastain. If a similar outcome occurs Saturday, Cindric is likely moving forward in the playoffs. What must Ryan Truex, Ryan Reed and Brandon Jones each do to avoid elimination? Win! It is anything but easy, however that is the most straightforward path for the three drivers lowest in the playoff standings if they are to continue onto the second round. Yes, Truex (-24 points), Reed (-25) and Jones (-28) could transfer without a victory, except a lot things would need to occur in their favor and that is simply not realistic. By going out and winning, Truex, Reed and Jones would take their respective playoff fates into their own hands without the need to concern themselves about how their competition is performing. Of course, this is easier said than done and each faces an incredibly tall task Saturday. Among the three, Jones appears to be the best candidate to accomplish the feat with the Joe Gibbs Racing driver turning in a fine performance at Dover in the spring that saw him win the pole, lead 33 laps and finish 10th.