NASCAR Xfinity Series at Pocono Raceway Preview and Predictions

Race Preview:

The Pocono Mountains 250 is a 250-mile, 100-lap race around the 2.5-mile raceway. Stage cautions will be on laps 25 and 50, with the checkered flag on lap 100. A total of $1,651,939 in prize money is up for grabs at the end of the race. Like the Truck Series, teams will have 5 sets of tires, 4 for the race and 1 from qualifying.

The Track: Pocono Raceway

Pocono Raceway, also known as “The Tricky Triangle,” is a 2.5-mile superspeedway located in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. Unlike most ovals, Pocono features three unique turns.  After traveling down the 3,740-foot-long front straight, drivers will tackle the 14-degree turn one. Turn two is modelled after Indianapolis, with 8 degrees of banking. Finally, drivers will face turn three, modelled after the Milwaukee Mile, a turn with 6 degrees.

The Xfinity Series has only run nine races at Pocono. Kyle Larson won the first race in 2016. There is a tie for the most wins with the nine different winners. Christopher Bell holds the Xfinity lap record, with a 53.455-second lap in 2019.

Xfinity Series Point Standings:

Here are the point standings following the previous race in Mexico City:

1. Justin Allgaier: 587
2. Austin Hill: 533
3. Sam Mayer: 488
4. Jesse Love: 460
5. Connor Zilisch *: 430
6. Sheldon Creed: 416
7. Carson Kvapil *: 409
8. Brandon Jones: 404
9. Jeb Burton: 397
10. Sammy Smith: 378

*-Denotes Rookie

Notable Entries:

There are 38 drivers for 38 spots in the Pocono Mountains 250, so no drivers will DNQ. Some notable entries are Chase Elliott in the Hendrick Motorsports #17 Chevy and Justin Bonsignore in the #19 Supra for Joe Gibbs Racing.

A notable crew chief will be calling the shots this Saturday. Marty Lindley is serving a one-race suspension for two loose lug nuts found after the Nashville race. In his place will be the boss, Dale Earnhardt Jr., making his crew chief debut. He will crew chief the #88 for Connor Zilisch.

Who Will Win at Pocono?

Justin Allgaier was the runner-up in 2024. He won the first stage last year and has a 10.7 average finish at Pocono. While Mexico City was not the race the team needed, but they still lead in the points. Allgaier has three wins in 2025; look out for him to get number four in Pocono.

Taylor Gray was runner-up to Daniel Suarez in Mexico City and is having a breakout year in his first full season of Xfinity. He finished in the fifth position last year after qualifying fourth. If there is a Toyota to beat in the field, it is the #54 of Gray.

Sheldon Creed was the pole sitter for this race in 2024, and since he has recorded three runner-up finishes. The #00 car he’s driving won last year’s race with Cole Custer. With two top-fives in three Pocono Xfinity starts, look for Creed to be a contender.

You can’t count out the Cup talent in Chase Elliott. William Byron took this car to a third-place finish last year. Don’t be surprised if Chase and the #17 steal a win in Pocono.

How To Watch The Xfinity Series at Pocono:

Here is the schedule for Saturday’s Pocono Mountain 250:

• Practice
  • 10:00 AM Eastern
  • Coverage is on the CW app
• Qualifying:
  • 11:05 AM Eastern
  • Coverage continues on the CW App
• The Pocono Mountain 250:
  • 3:30 PM Eastern
  • Coverage switches to the CW, and radio coverage is on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio provided by the Motor Racing Network.