NASCAR Xfinity Series teams compete for the ninth time at Pocono Raceway on Saturday, July 13 (3 p.m. ET on USA). This race provides two drivers with the opportunity to break a unique streak.
Each of the eight Xfinity races at Pocono has featured a different winner. Six of these drivers currently compete full-time in the Cup Series.
Kyle Larson won the inaugural Xfinity race at the 2.5-mile track after leading 27 laps. Brad Keselowski won in 2017 and then Kyle Busch won in 2018.
The list of Xfinity Pocono winners also includes Cole Custer (2019), Chase Briscoe (2020), Austin Cindric (2021), Noah Gragson (2022), and Austin Hill (2023).
According to the entry list, the only returning winners in the lineup will be Custer and Hill. Both drivers compete full-time in Xfinity. The only full-time Cup drivers making an Xfinity start this weekend are William Byron and Josh Berry.
Custer, who leads the Xfinity standings after 18 races, continues to seek his first win of the season. The reigning champ has a 38-point lead over Justin Allgaier after accumulating seven top-five finishes, 14 top-10s, and two stage wins.
Hill is fourth in the Xfinity standings and is 60 points behind Custer. He lost 25 points as part of a penalty received for intentionally spinning Custer under caution at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Hill has two wins this season, putting him in a tie with Chandler Smith and Sam Mayer for the second-most. Shane van Gisbergen leads all Xfinity drivers with three wins.
Custer and Hill are evenly matched in terms of Pocono success. Custer has five starts with one win, two top-five finishes, and four top-10s. His average finish is 11.2. Hill has three starts at Pocono with one win, one top-five finish, and one top-10. His average finish at the track is 11.3.
"The track itself is a challenge," Custer said. "The corners are so flat, it's hard to get your car to work just right there. It's hard as a driver to really be aggressive and really get your lines right, but also not put yourself in a bad spot.
"There's a lot that goes into it when you're trying to be fast at Pocono. A lot of shifting is involved, and as a driver, you have to be on your game at all times. With all of those challenges, it makes it mean that much more to win at Pocono in any series."