The NASCAR Xfinity Series Heads West to Portland International Raceway This Weekend: Here’s What to Expect

The NASCAR Xfinity Series is packing up and heading to the Pacific Northwest this weekend, and honestly, fans are getting that familiar pit-of-the-stomach excitement that comes with road course racing. Portland International Raceway is going to test every single one of these drivers in ways that Daytona’s high banks simply can’t match.

After watching these guys tear around the 2.5-mile superspeedway last weekend, seeing them navigate the technical 1.97-mile road course in Oregon feels like watching a completely different sport. The Pacific Office Automation 147 kicks off at 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, and if you’re not already planning to tune into The CW, you’re missing out on what could be one of the most competitive races we’ve seen all season.

Shane van Gisbergen Won’t Defend His 2024 Victory

Last year’s winner, Shane van Gisbergen, won’t be making the trip back to Portland to defend his Xfinity Series victory, which honestly breaks my heart a little. That guy put on an absolute clinic in 2024, showing these NASCAR regulars exactly how road course racing should be done. His absence opens the door wide for someone new to claim victory, and that uncertainty has everyone optimistic.

But don’t worry about the international flavor disappearing completely. Australia’s Will Brown is stepping into the No. 11 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet at Portland this weekend, bringing that same Oceanic road racing expertise that made Van Gisbergen so dangerous. Brown’s got the skills to make some noise, and none of us would be surprised if he finds himself battling for the win come Sunday evening.

Road Course Specialists Ready to Make Their Mark

The Xfinity Series entry list for Portland reads like a who’s who of road course specialists, and that’s exactly what you want to see. Jack Perkins is back in the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, and that man knows his way around a road course better than anyone.

Joey Hand is climbing into the No. 28 RSS Racing Ford at Portland, bringing decades of sports car racing experience to the table. When I see Hand’s name on an entry list for a road course race, I automatically start paying attention. This guy has forgotten more about road racing than most drivers will ever learn.

Austin Green rounds out the road course ringers in the No. 32 Jordan Anderson Racing Chevrolet, and while he might not have the same resume as Perkins or Hand, don’t sleep on what he can do when the track starts turning both directions.

The Regular Season Championship Battle Heats Up

What’s really exciting about this Portland race is how it affects the regular-season championship battle. These Xfinity Series drivers have been going at each other hammer and tongs all season, and a road course throws a completely different wrench into everyone’s championship calculations.

Jesse Love in the No. 2 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet has been having the kind of season that dreams are made of. At just 20 years old, this California kid has been running up front consistently, and Portland’s technical layout might just play right into his wheelhouse. Love’s been showing maturity beyond his years, and watching him navigate traffic on a road course gives definite goosebumps.

Then you’ve got Justin Allgaier in the No. 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet, and that guy is hungrier than ever. At 39, Allgaier knows his championship opportunities might be getting fewer and farther between. He’s been wheeling that BRANDT-sponsored machine like his career depends on it, because honestly, it probably does.

Young Talent Meets Veteran Experience

The beauty of this Portland entry list is how it showcases both emerging talent and seasoned veterans. Connor Zilisch, at just 19 years old, is wheeling the No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet with the kind of fearless abandon that makes veteran crew chiefs nervous and fans like me absolutely electric with anticipation.

On the flip side, you’ve got Jeremy Clements still grinding it out in the No. 51, proving that determination and heart can compete with million-dollar budgets. At 40, Clements represents everything I love about NASCAR – pure racing spirit that refuses to quit.

What Makes Portland Special for NASCAR Xfinity Series Competition

Portland International Raceway isn’t just another road course on the Xfinity Series schedule. This track demands respect, precision, and the kind of racecraft that separates the pretenders from the contenders. The 1.97-mile circuit features 12 turns that flow together in a way that rewards smooth driving and punishes the overly aggressive.

Watching these stock cars navigate Portland’s flowing layout creates racing that’s equal parts chess match and full-contact sport. The track surface provides enough grip for side-by-side racing, but not so much that drivers can throw caution to the wind. It’s that perfect balance that creates the kind of racing that keeps you glued to your seat for 147 laps.

The elevation changes throughout the circuit add another layer of complexity that you don’t get at traditional oval tracks. Drivers have to manage their cars through uphill and downhill sections while dealing with changing grip levels and sight lines that would challenge even the most experienced road racers.

Pacific Office Automation 147 at Portland International Raceway:
NASCAR Xfinity Series (Entry List)

(i) indicates drivers ineligible for championship and playoff points.

• 1. Sheldon Creed, No. 00 (Haas Factory Team, Ford)
• 2. Carson Kvapil, No. 1 (JR Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 3. Jesse Love, No. 2 (Richard Childress Racing, Chevrolet)
• 4. Parker Retzlaff, No. 4 (Alpha Prime Racing, Chevrolet)
• 5. Alex Labbe, No. 07 (SS GreenLight Racing, Chevrolet)
• 6. Justin Allgaier, No. 7 (JR Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 7. Sammy Smith, No. 8 (JR Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 8. Daniel Dye, No. 10 (Kaulig Racing, Chevrolet)
• 9. Will Brown, No. 11 (Kaulig Racing, Chevrolet)
• 10. Garrett Smithley, No. 14 (SS GreenLight Racing, Chevrolet)
• 11. Christian Eckes, No. 16 (Kaulig Racing, Chevrolet)
• 12. William Sawalich, No. 18 (Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota)
• 13.  Jack Perkins, No. 19 (Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota)
• 14. Brandon Jones, No. 20 (Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota)
• 15. Austin Hill, No. 21 (Richard Childress Racing, Chevrolet)
• 16. TBD (i), No. 24 (Sam Hunt Racing, Toyota)
• 17. Harrison Burton, No. 25, (AM Racing, Ford)
• 18. Dean Thompson, No. 26 (Sam Hunt Racing, Toyota)
• 19. Jeb Burton, No. 27 (Jordan Anderson Racing, Chevrolet)
• 20. Joey Hand, No. 28 (RSS Racing, Ford)
• 21. Blaine Perkins, No. 21 (Jordan Anderson Racing, Chevrolet)
• 22. Austin Green, No. 32 (Jordan Anderson Racing, Chevrolet)
• 23. TBD (i), No. 35 (Joey Gase Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 24. Ryan Sieg, No. 39 (RSS Racing, Ford)
• 25. Sam Mayer, No. 41 (Haas Factory Team, Ford)
• 26. Anthony Alfredo, No. 42 (Young’s Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 27. Brennan Poole, No. 44 (Alpha Prime Racing, Chevrolet)
• 28. Vicente Salas, No. 45 (Alpha Prime Racing, Chevrolet)
• 29. Nicholas Sanchez, No. 48 (Big Machine Racing, Chevrolet)
• 30. Jeremy Clements, No. 51 (Jeremy Clements Racing, Chevrolet)
• 31. TBD (i) (Joey Gase Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 32. Taylor Gray, No. 54 (Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota)
• 33. Thomas Annnziata, No. 70 (Cope Family Racing, Chevrolet)
• 34. Ryan Ellis, No. 71 (DGM Racing X JIM)
• 35. Connor Zilisch, No. 88 (JR Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 36. Josh Williams, No. 91 (DGM Racing X JIM, Chevrolet)
• 37. Matt DiBenedetto, NO. 99 (Viking Motorsports, Chevrolet)

Final Thoughts

This Portland race represents everything that makes the NASCAR Xfinity Series special. Young drivers trying to prove themselves, veterans fighting to stay relevant, and road course specialists showing up to steal victories from the regulars. It’s going to be 147 laps of pure racing theater, and I can’t wait to see how it all unfolds.