Underdog NASCAR Xfinity Series team in line for a playoff spot through seven races

With the playoff standings shaking out through seven NASCAR Xfinity Series races, one underdog team remains amongst the heavyweights of the series. 

Anthony Alfredo and the No. 5 Our Motorsports team currently sit 12th in the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series standings, two points above Shane van Gisbergen for the final playoff spot. The No. 5 team also sits above two JR Motorsports drivers in Brandon Jones and Sam Mayer, proving that they've been solid enough to stay in front of two weekly contenders. 

Alfredo's finishes don't exactly stand out, but they haven't needed to. The 25 year-old driver has been 12th in the points since the third race of the season at Las Vegas, and has remained in the spot ever since. 

Alfredo has scored at least 20 points in every race but one in 2024, and has two top-10 finishes on the season at Atlanta and Phoenix. While Alfredo could drop off in performance and give in to the heavyweights as the season goes along, he's stayed put in 12th for this long, who's to say he'll suddenly drop off a cliff? 

Hanging on to an Xfinity Series playoff spot with the likes of van Gisbergen, Jones and Mayer breathing down his neck certainly won't be easy, but the tenacity of the No. 5 team could propel them to the postseason. 

Alfredo also has a couple more good chances to win before the playoffs start, with superspeedway races at Talladega and Daytona taking place before the regular season finale at Bristol on Sept. 20. Even if Alfredo's consistency wanes, a win would automatically qualify him for the playoffs. 

Alfredo and the No. 5 team will hit the track along with the rest of the Xfinity Series field on Saturday at the Texas Motor Speedway. The green flag will wave at 1:30 p.m. ET.