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Bristol Beckons: Full Entry List for the Xfinity Series Playoff Opener

Sarah Talker

Ladies and gentlemen, it’s that time of year again. The air gets a little crisper, the nights get a little longer, and the intensity on the race track gets dialed up to eleven. This is what it’s all about. This is playoff time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, and it all kicks off under the legendary lights of Bristol Motor Speedway. The Food City 300 isn’t just another race. It’s the crucible where championship dreams are either forged in steel or shattered into a million pieces. The tension is so thick you can cut it with a knife, and Friday night can’t get here soon enough.

The Complete Entry List for Bristol

When you look at this Bristol entry list, you’re not just seeing a list of names and car numbers. You’re seeing stories. You’re seeing heart, hustle, and the culmination of a full season’s worth of blood, sweat, and tears. Every single driver on this list has a mountain to climb, whether they’re fighting for a title or just fighting for respect at the “Last Great Colosseum.” Thirty-eight drivers will take the green flag, but only one will conquer the high banks and walk away with the gladiator’s sword.

Food City 300 at Bristol Motor Speedway

Xfinity Series: Entry List

(i) indicates drivers ineligible for playoff and or championship 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. Carson Wre, 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. Brenden Queen, No. 11 (Kaulig Racing, Chevrolet)
  • 10. Logan Bearden, No. 14 (SS GreenLight Racing, Chevrolet)
  • 11. Christian Eckes, No. 16 (Kaulig Racing, Chevrolet)
  • 12. Corey Day, No. 17 (Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet)
  • 13. William Sawalich, No. 18 (Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota)
  • 14. Aric Almirola, No. 19 (Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota)
  • 15. Brandon Jones, No. 20 (Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota)
  • 16. Austin Hill, No. 21 (Richard Childress Racing, Chevrolet)
  • 17. Jeffrey Earnhardt, No. 24 (Sam Hunt Racing, Toyota)
  • 18. Harrison Burton, No. 25 (AM Racing, Ford)
  • 19. Dean Thompson, No. 26 (Sam Hunt Racing, Toyota)
  • 20. Jeb Burton, No. 27 (Jordan Anderson Racing, Toyota)
  • 21. Kyle Sieg, No. 28 (RSS Racing, Ford)
  • 22. Blaine Perkins, No. 31 (Jordan Anderson Racing, Chevrolet)
  • 23. Austin Green, No. 32 (Jordan Anderson Racing, Chevrolet)
  • 24. Stefan Parsons (i), No. 35 (Joey Gase Motorsports, Toyota)
  • 25. Ryan Sieg, No. 39 (RSS Racing, Ford)
  • 26. Sam Mayer, No. 41 (Haas Factory Team, Ford)
  • 27. Anthony Alfredo, No. 42 (Young’s Motorsports, Chevrolet)
  • 28. Brennan Poole, No. 44 (Alpha Prime Racing, Chevrolet)
  • 29. Josh Williams, No. 45 (Alpha Prime Racing, Chevrolet)
  • 30. Nicholas Sanchez, No. 48 (Big Machine Racing, Chevrolet)
  • 31. Jeremy Clements, No. 51 (Jeremy Clements Racing, Chevrolet)
  • 32. Joey Gase, No. 53 (Joey Gase Motorsports, Chevrolet)
  • 33. Taylor Gray, No. 54 (Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota)
  • 34. Leland Honeyman, No. 70 (Cope Family Racing, Chevrolet)
  • 35. Ryan Ellis, No. 71 (DGM Racing X JIM, Chevrolet)
  • 36. Connor Zilisch, No. 88 (JR  Motorsports, Chevrolet)
  • 37. Josh Bilicki, No. 91 (DGM Racing X JIM, Chevrolet)
  • 38. Matt DiBenedetto, No. 99 (Viking Motorsports, Chevrolet)

Who’s Feeling the Playoff Pressure?

Let’s talk about the big picture at Bristol. Connor Zilisch, our Regular Season Champion, is sitting pretty. He’s coming into this thing with a 59-point cushion over the cutline. That’s a nice safety net, but at a track like Bristol, no lead is ever truly safe. One wrong move, one cut tire, and that buffer can evaporate in a cloud of smoke.

The real drama, the kind that keeps you on the edge of your seat, is happening right on the bubble. Taylor Gray, driving for the powerhouse Joe Gibbs Racing, is holding onto the final provisional spot. But he’s not alone. Tied with him, point for point, is Carson Kvapil from the JR Motorsports camp. Can you imagine the pressure on those two young men? Every single position on the track will feel like the last lap at Daytona.

And then you’ve got the drivers on the outside looking in, the ones with their backs against the wall from the moment they unload. Sheldon Creed is just two points out. Harrison Burton is only three points back. And Austin Hill, a guy who knows how to win, is facing a five-point deficit. For these three, it’s do-or-die time. They have three races to make something happen, and you can bet they’ll be driving with everything they’ve got. They have to be aggressive, but Bristol is a track that bites back hard if you step over that line.

Notable Names on the Entry List

Beyond the playoff battle, this Bristol entry list is packed with compelling stories. How about Brenden “Butterbean” Queen? The 2024 CARS Late Model Stock Tour champion is finally getting his shot at the big time, making his Xfinity debut in the No. 11 for Kaulig Racing. This is the kind of grassroots-to-glory story that makes NASCAR so special. The entire short-track world will be watching to see how he handles the bright lights.

And look who’s back. Jeffrey Earnhardt. The name itself carries so much weight in this sport. The grandson of the legendary seven-time champion, Dale Earnhardt, is strapping into the No. 24 Sam Hunt Racing Toyota. It’s his third start of the season, and there’s no better place for an Earnhardt to put on a show than the bullring at Bristol.

Ahead of Friday Night

We also see a familiar face in a new place at Bristol. Josh Williams, who started the year in that No. 11 Kaulig car, is now piloting the No. 45 for Alpha Prime Racing. Williams is a grinder, a racer’s racer, and he’ll be looking to prove a point this Friday night. The engines will fire, the lights will blaze, and 38 drivers will chase immortality. It’s more than just a race, but the start of a war. Welcome to the playoffs. Welcome to Bristol.

 

Sarah is a writer with a passion for delivering interesting yet informative news stories about motorsports including NASCAR, IMSA, F1, and IndyCar. She has covered the Daytona 500 and the Wurth 400 live and is highly passionate about sharing her knowledge and expertise across the motorsports industry.

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