The NASCAR Xfinity Series’ regular season comes to a close at Bristol Motor Speedway. The final three spots in the 12-driver playoff field will be decided in the 2022 Food City 300 Friday night (Sept. 16). Nine drivers have already secured their spot in the postseason.
Forty-one cars are entered for 38 spots, as qualifying will determine which three drivers will go home.
Sage Karam will attempt to start in the No. 02 Quality Roof Seamers Chevrolet for Our Motorsports. Karam has competed in seven races this season, all coming with Alpha Prime Racing.
Brandon Brown returns to BJ McLeod Motorsports in the No. 5 Chevrolet. Brown has competed in two races with the team in 2022. He drove the No. 02 for Our Motorsports at Kansas Speedway, rides secured after leaving his full-time role driving the family-owned No. 68.
Short tracker Bobby McCarty will try to make his series debut in the No. 6 Chevrolet for JD Motorsports. McCarty attempted to start at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in July, but failed to qualify.
Jeffrey Earnhardt will attempt his first race since Atlanta Motor Speedway in July. Earnhardt will drive the No. 26 ForeverLawn Toyota for Sam Hunt Racing.
Patrick Emerling returns to the No. 35 Toyota for Emerling-Gase Motorsports. Emerling last competed at Michigan International Speedway last month.
Ryan Ellis will attempt to make his 11th start of the season with Alpha Prime Racing. Ellis will pilot the No. 44 KeenParts.com Chevrolet. Stefan Parsons will be in team’s No. 45 Pursuit Church/Sokal Chevrolet. Parsons drove for BJ McLeod Motorsports at Kansas.
Nick Sanchez looks to make his third career start with Big Machine Racing in the No. 48 Chevrolet. Sanchez has competed in two races with BJ McLeod Motorsports in 2022.
Ronnie Bassett Jr. seeks to make his second start of the season in the No. 77 Chevrolet for Bassett Racing. Bassett competed at Pocono Raceway but has failed to qualify in three other events.
Matt Mills returns with BJ McLeod Motorsports in the No. 78 J.F. Electric Chevrolet. Mills missed the race at Kansas with the flu.
Josh Williams will attempt to make the race in the No. 92 Chevrolet for DGM Racing. Williams competed in the team’s No. 36 entry at Kansas.
Food City 300 Entry List
Drivers will roll into Thunder Valley for the Food City 300 race that begins on Friday, Sept. 16 at 7:30 p.m. ET on the USA Network.
Entering his fifth year with Frontstretch, Luken Glover is the author of The Underdog House, shedding light on the motivation and performance of NASCAR's dark horse teams as they strive to fight to the top. Additionally, Glover reports for the site at various events, and he contributes in the video editing department.
A 2023 graduate of the University of the Cumberlands, Glover is a middle school math and PE teacher, as well as a basketball coach. He is passionate about serving in his church, playing/coaching a wide variety of sports, and researching motorsports history.