Posted on by RJ Kraft

RELATED: Race results | Playoff field | Scenes from Richmond

RICHMOND, Va. – Erik Jones spent much of his night in the top five as he has in races run over the past month. Joey Logano spent a chunk of his race in the top five. Clint Bowyer had an up-and-down night at Richmond Raceway. All were trendy picks to upset the playoff picture in Saturday night’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series with a Federated Auto Parts 400 win.

But after Logano’s runner-up finish, Jones’ sixth-place effort and Bowyer’s 24th-place finish, all three will not be part of the 16-driver postseason that kicks off Sept. 17 at Chicagoland Speedway.

“It stings to come up one spot short and not be able to get into the playoffs,” Logano said after the race, his first top-five finish since Indianapolis. “This is the test of our character, not only as a driver but as a team and the way we handle these next 10 races. We don’t want to roll over. We want to help our teammates try to win a championship, and ultimately we want to win 10 races. That’s what the goal is at this point. It may be the end of our championship run this year, but it’s not the end of our season.”

Logano capitalized on a late restart to get to second, but couldn’t overtake race winner Kyle Larson. The Team Penske driver carried a steady confidence all weekend long knowing his team was in a must-win spot and had won here in the spring, although the win was later ruled encumbered. The driver was proud of his No. 22 team for how it handled everything in a pressure-packed position.

MORE: Playoff field is set | Hamlin on Richmond: ‘Tonight, I was a clown’

“I’m proud of our race team, proud of the way we handled the pressure this week,” Logano said. “I said before the race started that this is kind of like Homestead last year for us. It just came a little bit early, so we knew how to handle these situations, and we executed as good as we knew how to. Just wasn’t fast enough to make it happen when we needed to.”

Bowyer was coming off a disappointing last-place finish at Darlington due to mechanical issues and had two career wins at Richmond. The driver of the No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford peaked with a third-place result in Stage 1, but a pit road penalty for a crew member going over the wall too soon on Lap 104 sent him to the rear of the field in 33rd place.

He battled back into the top 10 after pit stops following Stage 2, but was involved in a pit road incident with Matt Kenseth on Lap 260 that led to some damage. Another pit road penalty on Lap 364 for an uncontrolled tire essentially took him out of playoff contention.

Jones came into Richmond on the heels of three top-five finishes and five top-10 finishes. The Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender has been surging and by the end of Stage 2, he was in the top three.

The driver of the No. 77 Furniture Row Racing started fifth on the final restart of the night on Lap 403, but missed third gear and that caused him to stable back to eighth before finishing in sixth — for his 11th top 10 of the season. 

More: Jones breaks down Richmond run | By the numbers: Analyzing the field

“I was hoping we could make it three-wide and try to make something happen,” Jones said. “We were going to have to bully our way to the front and unfortunately we just didn’t get the chance. I missed third gear and messed up. I don’t know that I’ve ever missed a shift before. It’s just really disappointing. I really hate it for my guys. I just hate that we didn’t at least get a shot at it. 

“We couldn’t quite find that last little bit of speed that we needed. Had the restart we wanted, had the shot we wanted. It just didn’t work out.”

Now, the 21-year-old turns his attention to finishing out 2017 strong before heading into the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota in 2018.

“There’s nothing other to race for than a win at this point,” Jones said. “Hopefully, we can go out, grab a win and just finish out the season strong.”

Posted on by Reid Spencer

RELATED: Race results | Playoffs standings | Detailed breakdown
SHOP: Larson gear

RICHMOND, Va. – A caution on Lap 397 of a scheduled 400 in Saturday night’s Federated Auto Parts 400 turned what looked like a coronation for Martin Truex Jr. into an unexpected overtime victory for Kyle Larson, as the field of 16 drivers was set for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.

Truex, the regular-season champ, had a comfortable lead over Larson when Derrike Cope brushed the outside wall with three laps left in regulation. Larson won the race off pit road after the lead-lap cars pitted for tires, and the driver of the No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet pulled away from a restart on Lap 403.

One lap later, contact between the Toyotas of Truex and Denny Hamlin sent Truex’s No. 78 Camry rocketing into the Turn 1 wall, and the race ended under caution with Larson in the lead and Joey Logano, who needed a win to qualify for the postseason, rolling home in second place after making the most of a restart from the ninth position.

“I’ve got the greatest team out here and definitely the best pit crew,” Larson said. “That showed tonight. I can’t thank those guys enough. They were money all night long to gain spots. This win is a huge congrats to them. The Target Chevy was pretty good all night. The No. 78 (Truex) was definitely the best, but I thought I was second best for most of the runs.

“It came down to the last restart there, and I got a good start. I spun my tires pretty bad, and I was a little nervous, but we cleared him (Truex) into (Turn) 1, and I was pretty excited about that. I’m really pumped for the playoffs. We’ve got a great shot at the championship, I feel like, this year. So I’m looking forward to it.”

Larson’s victory ensured playoff spots for three drivers fighting for berths on points – Chase Elliott, Jamie McMurray and Matt Kenseth. The night was particularly tense for Kenseth, who damaged the nose and radiator of his car beyond repair coming to pit road on Lap 255.

RELATED: Playoff field of 16 set

An ambulance stopped on the apron near the pit road entrance forced drivers to take evasive action, and Kenseth’s car plowed into the rear of Clint Bowyer’s Ford, doing irreparable damage. Kenseth fell out of the race after 257 laps and had to wait until Larson’s victory eliminated the possibility of another unique winner – a circumstance that would’ve eliminated Kenseth from the playoff.

Logano ran one spot short of the victory he needed to make the playoff, after his April win was encumbered because of a penalty for a rear suspension infraction.

“Yeah, you said it, came up a little bit short overall,” Logano said. “Yeah, it stings a little bit. Last time we were sitting here after a race, it was after a win, and this time it’s after a second, which overall if you look at our Richmond (record) for a season with the two races, you’d say, that’s pretty good, a first and a second.

“But just overall, obviously it stings to come up one spot short and not be able to get into the playoffs. It is what it is. It’s reality, and we will move on.”

Dale Earnhardt Jr. ran consistently in the top 10 throughout his final run at Richmond in the No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet but fell to 13th in the melee of the final restart.

Ryan Newman came home third, followed by Kurt Busch, Hamlin and Erik Jones, who was trying to force his way into the playoff with a victory. Jones ran as high as third but lost positions on pit road on his last two stops and didn’t have the speed to make up the difference.

Elliott finished 10th and McMurray 14th. Based on those runs, both drivers would’ve secured playoff berths after Kenseth fell out, even if the race had produced a new winner.

Notes: Truex won the second stage of the race and increased his playoff point total to a series-leading 53… Larson passed ninth-place finisher Kyle Busch for second place in the final regular-season standings and earned a 10-point bonus to bring his playoff point total to 33. Busch gets an eight-playoff-point bonus for finishing third in the regular season and enters the postseason with 29 playoff points. … The No. 41 (Kurt Busch) and No. 77 (Erik Jones) were both found to have one unsecured lug nut in post-race inspection.

Posted on by Staff Report

RELATED: Full playoffs standings | Race results

The field is set.

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs begin next weekend at Chicagoland Speedway, and we know which 16 drivers will compete for the championship, along with the brand-new Monster Energy NASCAR Cup.

Three spots were up for grabs at Richmond Raceway on Saturday in the regular-season finale, with 13 drivers having locked in their spots already via wins.

MORE: Photos from Richmond weekend

Those outside the playoff picture entering Richmond were in a win-or-bust mode, and the upset victory didn’t materialize with Kyle Larson winning his fourth race of the year.

Below is the 16-driver field, with the seeding and points.

1. Martin Truex Jr.: 2,053 points
2. Kyle Larson: 2,033 points
3. Kyle Busch: 2,029 points
4. Brad Keselowski: 2,019 points
5. Jimmie Johnson: 2,017 points
6. Kevin Harvick: 2,015 points
7. Denny Hamlin: 2,013 points
8. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.: 2,010 points
9. Ryan Blaney: 2,008 points
10. Chase Elliott: 2,006 points
11. Ryan Newman: 2,005 points
12. Kurt Busch: 2,005 points
13. Kasey Kahne: 2,005 points
14. Austin Dillon: 2,005 points
15. Matt Kenseth: 2,005 points
16. Jamie McMurray: 2,003 points

Top seed: Martin Truex Jr. In the first season under this race format, Truex Jr. enters the playoffs as the top seed. He leads all drivers with four wins — worth five playoffs points apiece — and he’s won a series-best 18 stages (worth one playoff point each) through Richmond. Additionally, Truex is the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series 2017 Regular Season Champion. Winning the regular-season title adds an additional 15 playoff points.

No win, but in: Three drivers advanced to the postseason without winning a race this year, and they had to sweat it out Saturday night to do so: Chase Elliott, Matt Kenseth and Jamie McMurray. Remember, a win is the only surefire way to qualify for the playoffs.

Posted on by Staff Report

What channel is NASCAR programming on this week? We answer that and provide all the weekly NASCAR television listings here in the NASCAR TV schedule.

All Monster Energy Series and XFINITY Series events are also live streamed online on the NBC Sports App, which can be accessed here. Events that are only available on NBC Sports App are noted below.

RELATED: Watch on the NBC Sports App |  How to find CNBC on your TV

Monday, Sept. 11
12 p.m., NASCAR 120: Richmond, NBCSN
6 p.m., NASCAR America, NBCSN
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FS1

Tuesday, Sept. 12
5 p.m., NASCAR America, NBCSN
6 p.m., NASCAR Scan All Special: Indianapolis, Pocono, Watkins Glen, NBCSN
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FS1

Wednesday, Sept. 13
5 p.m., NASCAR America, NBCSN
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FS1

Thursday, Sept. 14
5 p.m., NASCAR America, NBCSN
6 p.m., NASCAR Scan All Special: Charlotte, Pocono, Michigan, NBCSN
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FS1

Friday, Sept. 15
12 p.m., NASCAR Scan All Special: Indianapolis, Pocono, Watkins Glen, NBCSN
12:30 p.m., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice at Chicagoland, NBCSN (Canada: TSN 2)
2 p.m., NASCAR XFINITY Series practice at Chicagoland, NBCSN (Canada: TSN GO)
4 p.m., NASCAR XFINITY Series final practice at Chicagoland, NBC Sports App (Canada: TSN GO)
5 p.m., NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Keystone Light Pole Qualifying at Chicagoland, FS1
6:30 p.m., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying at Chicagoland, NBCSN (Canada: TSN GO)
8 p.m., NCWTS Setup: Chicagoland, FS1
8:30 p.m., NASCAR Camping World Truck Series House.com 225, FS1

Saturday, Sept. 16
5:30 a.m., NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Keystone Light Pole Qualifying at Chicagoland (re-air), FS1
6:30 a.m., NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Chicagoland 225 (re-air), FS1
11:30 a.m., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice at Chicagoland, CNBC (Canada: TSN GO)
12:30 p.m, NASCAR XFINITY Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying at Chicagoland, NBCSN (Canada: TSN GO)
1:30 p.m., NASCAR America, NBCSN
2 p.m., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series final practice at Chicagoland, NBCSN (Canada: TSN 5)
3 p.m., NASCAR XFINITY Series Countdown to Green: Chicagoland, NBCSN
3:30 p.m., NASCAR XFINITY Series House.com 300, NBCSN (Canada: TSN 5)
6 p.m., NASCAR XFINITY Series Post Race, NBCSN
9:30 p.m., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying at Chicagoland (re-air), NBCSN

Sunday, Sept. 17
11:30 a.m., NASCAR RaceDay: Chicagoland, FS1
1 p.m., NASCAR America Sunday, NBCSN
2:30 p.m., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Countdown to Green: Chicagoland, NBCSN
3 p.m., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Tales of the Turtles 400, NBCSN (Canada: TSN 4)
6 p.m., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Post Race, NBCSN
10:30 p.m.: NASCAR Victory Lane: Chicagoland, FS1

 


Posted on by Staff Report

BUY TICKETS: See the races at Chicagoland

Chicagoland Speedway hosts a tripleheader of NASCAR action as all three national series descend upon the 1.5-mile oval. Both the XFINITY Series and the Camping World Truck Series will set their playoff fields in Chicago while the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series kicks off its Round of 16.

Monster Energy Series and XFINITY Series events are also live streamed online on the NBC Sports App, which can be accessed here. Check out the full on-track weekend schedule below.

Note: All times are ET

SUNDAY, September 17

2:20 p.m.: Driver Introductions
2:50 p.m.: Intro Presentation of Colors: Associated Firefighters of Illinois Honor Guard
2:50:20 p.m.: Invocation by Glenn Spoolstra, Raceway Ministries
2:51 p.m.: National Anthem: Jim Cornelison, who regularly sings “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “O Canada” before Chicago Blackhawks home games.
2:57:30 p.m: “Drivers, Start Your Engines” by Greg Cipes, Voice of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Michelangelo
3:06 p.m.: Green flag for Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Tales of the Turtles 400 (267 laps, 400.5 miles), NBCSN (Results) (Canada: TSN 4)

PRESS PASS (Watch live)
approx. 6 p.m.: Post-Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race

***

THURSDAY, September 14

ON TRACK
3:30-4:25 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series practice (Results)
6:30-7:25 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series final practice (Results)

FRIDAY, September 15

ON TRACK
12:30-1:55 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice, NBCSN (Results) (Canada: TSN 2)
2-2:55 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series practice, NBCSN (Results) (Canada: TSN GO)
4-4:50 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series final practice, NBC Sports App (Results) (Canada: TSN GO)
5:05 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series Keystone Light Pole Qualifying, FS1 (Results)
6:45 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying, NBCSN (Results) (Canada: TSN GO)
8:30 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series TheHouse.com 225 (150 laps, 225 miles), FS1 (Results)

GARAGECAM (Watch live)
12 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
1:30 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series

PRESS PASS (Watch live)
11:30 a.m.: Jennifer Jo Cobb, Matt DiBenedetto, Jeffrey Earnhardt, John Hunter Nemechek, Matt Tifft and Darrell Wallace Jr.
12 p.m.: Michael Annett, Dakoda Armstrong and Brendan Gaughan
6 p.m.: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
7:30 p.m.: Post-Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series qualifying
11 p.m.: Post-NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race

SATURDAY, September 16

ON TRACK
11:30 a.m.-12:20 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice, CNBC (Results) (Canada: TSN GO)
12:35 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying, NBCSN (Results) (Canada: TSN GO)
2-2:50 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series final practice, NBCSN (Results) (Canada: TSN 5)
3:30 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series TheHouse.com 300 (200 laps, 300 miles), NBCSN (Results) (Canada: TSN 5)

PRESS PASS (Watch live)
6 p.m.: Post-NASCAR XFINITY Series race

Posted on by Staff Report

Stage 2 results

Martin Truex Jr. racked up his 18th stage win of the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season on Saturday night at Richmond Raceway. That added another playoff point for the driver of the No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Toyota, who now has 53 playoff points heading into next weekend’s postseason opener at Chicagoland.

Matt Kenseth, the pole-sitter for Saturday’s regular-season finale, finished second, followed by Truex’s teammate Erik Jones in the No. 77 Toyota. Kenseth entered Saturday night with a playoff cushion, but a new winner like Jones would be among the scenarios that could put Kenseth’s spot in jeopardy.

Other drivers searching for a last-minute win to make the playoffs moved up in Stage 2, including Joey Logano, who finished fourth, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. in seventh.

Truex led the final 46 laps in Stage 2 after overtaking Kyle Busch, the Stage 1 winner, on Lap 154.

Finish Driver Team Race points
1. Martin Truex Jr. Furniture Row Racing 10
2. Matt Kenseth Joe Gibbs Racing 9
3. Erik Jones Furniture Row Racing 8
4. Joey Logano Team Penske 7
5. Brad Keselowski Team Penske 6
6. Kyle Larson Chip Ganassi Racing 5
7. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Hendrick Motorsports 4
8. Kurt Busch Stewart-Haas Racing 3
9. Ryan Newman Richard Childress Racing 2
10. Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing 1

Stage 1 results

Kyle Busch held off Kyle Larson to win Stage 1 in the Federated Auto Parts 400 on Saturday night at Richmond Raceway.

For Busch, it was his 11th stage victory of the 2017 season and added one playoff point for a total of 21 playoff points entering the postseason opener next weekend at Chicagoland Speedway.

Busch scooted past Brad Keselowski on a restart just before the end of Stage 1. Keselowski was one of three cars that stayed off pit road when a caution came out for smoke on Lap 86.

The smoke came from Matt Kenseth’s No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota as the pole-sitter who led the first 89 laps couldn’t get the stage win.

Finish Driver Team Race points
1. Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing 10
2. Kyle Larson Chip Ganassi Racing 9
3. Clint Bowyer Stewart-Haas Racing 8
4. Matt Kenseth Joe Gibbs Racing 7
5. Martin Truex Jr. Furniture Row Racing 6
6. Joey Logano Team Penske 5
7. Erik Jones Furniture Row Racing 4
8. Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing 3
9. Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports 2
10. Kurt Busch Stewart-Haas Racing 1
Posted on by RJ Kraft

PLAY NOW: Set your Fantasy Live lineup
RELATED: Full starting lineup | See every car | DraftKings advice

RICHMOND, Va. — The Joe Gibbs Racing duo of Matt Kenseth and Denny Hamlin will line up on the front row and both have strong numbers at the 0.75-mile track that make them solid NASCAR Fantasy Live plays for Saturday night’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Federated Auto Parts 400 (7:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). Here’s a quick look at three other drivers to watch for your Fantasy Live consideration.

Brad Keselowski ($26.00): Keselowski will line up 15th on the starting grid. However, the Team Penske driver had the second- and third-best 10-lap averages in the two Friday practices. So the long run speed looks to be there. He has one win at Richmond — in this race in 2014 — and has five top-eight finishes in his last seven starts here.

Erik Jones ($23.50): Jones has been one of the best drivers over the past month — regardless of track type — with an average finish of 5.6 over the past five races. The rookie and his team have had speed for much of the year and need a win to make the playoffs. Despite a last-place finish in the spring Richmond race, Jones offers lots of upside starting 10th.

Kurt Busch ($20.00): Busch has two career wins at Richmond and five top-10 finishes here in his last six starts. Just as important, the No. 41 Ford is rounding into form in time for the playoffs with three top-six finishes in his last four races. He’s starting third, which makes it a bit risky, but the payoff could be pretty big.

Posted on by RJ Kraft

RELATED: Detailing Jones’ season to date | Playoff bubble watch 

RICHMOND, Va. — As the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series regular season wraps with Saturday night’s Federated Auto Parts 400 (7:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) at Richmond Raceway, Erik Jones is among the hottest drivers in the series. The only thing he is missing is a win.

Oh, he came close at a different type of short-track race at Bristol Motor Speedway last month, but the runner-up effort with 260 laps led did simply made Jones hungrier to get to Victory Lane. A victory at Richmond would launch the Sunoco Rookie of the Year candidate into the sport’s playoff as one of 16 drivers battling for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup.

He will line up 10th in the race. The driver of the No. 77 Furniture Row Racing Toyota is in a win-or-no-playoffs situation, and that has not brought him added stress coming into the race weekend.

“I’ve honestly felt just really locked in all week,” Jones said during a media availability at Richmond on Friday. “I’ve felt like I’ve just been really excited to get here and get on track and get qualifying done and get the race going. … I’m sure once the race rolls around here tomorrow night the nerves will be high and we’ll be itching to go and get things out of the way.

“I think as a team we’re trying not to put too much more pressure on ourselves and just do what we’ve done here for the last month, and that’s just run well and be fast and run up front. We just need to keep running the way we’ve been running, and that win is going to come.”

The weekend didn’t get off to the greatest start for Jones, who had a 60-minute hold for the 85-minute practice session due to failing pre-qualifying tech and pre-race tech at Darlington three times in each instance. While Jones said “it is always a bummer not to get out there and get track time, I don’t think it’s going to make a huge difference.”

RELATED: Truex wins regular season title

As we’ve gotten deeper into the 2017 season, Jones has made an impression on Furniture Row Racing teammate Martin Truex Jr., who offered praise for the Michigan native earlier in the day.

“They’ve been fast all year and now they are starting to put together the results,” said Truex, the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series 2017 Regular Season Champion. “It’s fun to see. Erik’s doing an awesome job and he’s a great kid, so it’s been fun to see it.”

The way that Jones has been running of late sees the 21-year-old come into this race with five straight top 10s and three straight top-five finishes. In the past five races, only Kyle Busch has a better average finish (4.2), while Denny Hamlin has equaled Jones’ mark of 5.6.

That is one heck of a counter to the three finishes of 33rd-or-worse he had in the season’s first 10 races – one of which was the spring race at Richmond where he exited after four laps due to a crash and finished last in the 38-car field.

“To have it really all come around and come full circle at this point in the year and be getting finishes where I feel like we are capable of, yeah, it’s hugely rewarding,” Jones said. “It’s huge for the team. It’s huge for everybody’s confidence, and it just gives us a lot of momentum week in and week out. We feel like we can run right up front with the best of them. There’s a lot of times where I feel like at the beginning of the year we were getting runs taken away from us, but now, like I said, it’s coming around.

“It’s been really rewarding to just stick with it all year and keep after it and keep plugging away to try to get these runs.”

Posted on by Track Release

CONCORD, N.C. — Before drivers battle in the afternoon sun during the Oct. 8 Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, stars will shine the night before at zMAX Dragway when award-winning country music singer, songwriter, guitarist and entertainer Brad Paisley lights up zMAX Dragway with a spectacular pre-race concert.

Paisley revs up his involvement in America’s most high-octane sport with a rocking salute to race fans with hometown hero Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s JR Nation Appreci88ion Tour.

While Paisley and Earnhardt are prominent models of success in their chosen fields, fans who attend this year’s Bank of America 500 will win big as well.

Paisley’s concert is open exclusively to Bank of America 500 ticketholders. As an added incentive, fans who buy two adult tickets to this year’s Bank of America 500 — Earnhardt’s final Charlotte Motor Speedway start as a full-time driver — will receive concert admission and a commemorative Earnhardt bobblehead while supplies last. Tickets are available as a two-pack for $88.

TICKETS:
Kids 13 and under can get into the Bank of America 500 for just $10. As a salute to Earnhardt’s final race, adult tickets are available as a two-pack for $88. For tickets, camping and upgrades, fans can call the ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS (3267) or shop online at www.charlottemotorspeedway.com.

Posted on by RJ Kraft

RELATED: Full race results | Playoff picture | Series standings

RICHMOND, Va. — Elliott Sadler clinched the NASCAR XFINITY Series Regular Season Championship with his fifth-place finish in the Virginia529 College Savings 250 at Richmond Raceway.

Sadler entered the night with a 91-point edge over JR Motorsports teammate William Byron and needed to come out of the race ahead by at least 61 points in the standings. Sadler’s lead in the standings sits at 95 points after the Richmond race.

The regular-season crown gives Sadler 15 playoff points to add to the five he has already banked during the season. Those 20 points will be added to Sadler’s total at the start of the Round of 12 and the Round of 8 (should Sadler advance) in the XFINITY Series playoffs.

“Thank you for the 15 (playoff) points,” Sadler said. “… Something we had on our mind and wanted to work hard for this season. My team’s been very consistent and very fast. We’ve done very well with stage racing and to get 15 points that takes us not only to the first round and through multiple rounds (if advancing) getting to Homestead means a lot for our team.

“That means we can go to Chicago (site of the regular-season finale) and be aggressive and take some chances. We are going to use it as a preseason game to use the NFL analogy to kind of warm us up for Kentucky (where the playoff opener will take place). Feels very good to do it at Richmond of all places with my family and friends here,” the Emporia, Virginia native said.

The carry-over of playoff points from round to round provides a nice added cushion for Sadler. That was not lost on JR Motorsports co-owner Dale Earnhardt Jr., who himself finished ninth in Friday’s race.

“The playoff points are really important,” Earnhardt said. “Anything can happen in these rounds. Those may come in real handy if he gets into trouble somewhere. That’s good for Elliott. They worked hard all year and been strong all year.”

Sadler has three runner-up finishes in the XFINITY Series standings in the last six seasons, and the series championship has remained elusive for the 42-year-old — something Sadler would very much like to change in 2017.

“Last year, I let my emotions get too high probably sometimes and too low sometimes during the season and during the playoffs,” Sadler said of a postseason run in 2016 that saw him reach the Championship 4 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. “I learned the hard way that it’s all about one race for me. It’s all about Homestead. It’s all about winning the championship. I want to get back to that position again.”

Three drivers locked up their playoff spots after the Richmond race: Jeremy Clements, Cole Custer and Matt Tifft. That trio will join Sadler, Byron, Justin Allgaier, Ryan Reed, Brennan Poole and Daniel Hemric in the postseason field. Three more spots are still to be decided in the regular-season finale at Chicagoland Speedway (3:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) next Saturday.