Xfinity Series: Full Entry List For the United Rentals 250 at Talladega Superspeedway

The heart of Alabama’s racing cathedral beats strong as 38 Xfinity Series drivers prepare to tackle the most demanding test in NASCAR’s playoff system. Talladega Superspeedway has always been a place where dreams collide with reality at 200 miles per hour, and Saturday’s United Rentals 250 promises to deliver the kind of raw emotion that makes grown men weep and champions emerge from the chaos.

The entry list set for Saturday is expected to bring chaos in the best way possible. Talladega or “Dega,” as it is affectionately known, is a tri-oval track notorious for its steep 33-degree banked turns with 16.5-degree banks in the tri-oval section and 2-degree straights. Drivers find the track difficult to handle because these factors require constant adjustments to speed and track position to avoid wrecks.

Therefore, the track’s unpredictable nature and the fight for the championship title, with only Martinsville and Phoenix left on the schedule, are sure to account for some twisted metal and serious drama. So, which driver in the playoff fight will tame the 2.66-mile beast that awaits them in the lower foothills of the lower Appalachian Mountains?

The Playoff Picture Gets Real at Talladega

Walking through the garage area at Talladega, you can feel the tension crackling like electricity before a thunderstorm. Four playoff spots remain up for grabs after Aric Almirola’s emotional victory at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and the entry list tells a story of desperation, hope, and pure determination.

Connor Zilisch, the 19-year-old rookie sensation from Mooresville, North Carolina, sits pretty with an 82-point cushion above the cutline. Behind the wheel of the No. 88 First Bank of Alabama Chevrolet for JR Motorsports, Zilisch has shown maturity beyond his years. His runner-up finish in Vegas wasn’t just a result – it was a statement that youth doesn’t always equal inexperience.

Justin Allgaier brings 39 years of racing wisdom to his No. 7 BRANDT Chevrolet. The Riverton, Illinois, native holds a 44-point advantage, but Talladega doesn’t care about point cushions. One wrong move, one piece of debris, one moment of bad luck can erase seasons of hard work. Allgaier knows this track demands respect and rewards preparation.

The Bubble Battle Intensifies

Jesse Love and Sam Mayer occupy the final two transfer positions, separated by just 14 points. Love, piloting the No. 2 Whelen Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing, carries the hopes of Menlo Park, California, on his shoulders. The 20-year-old has shown flashes of brilliance throughout the season, but Talladega will test every ounce of his racing DNA.

Mayer, wheeling the No. 41 Audibel Ford for Haas Factory Team, holds the final playoff spot by a mere six points. The Franklin, Wisconsin driver has experienced the highest highs and lowest lows this season. Saturday’s race represents everything – advance to the Championship 4 or watch the season slip away in the Alabama afternoon.

Desperation Mode for Elimination Zone Drivers

The entry list reveals four drivers staring elimination in the face. Brandon Jones, despite years of experience in the No. 20 Menards/Little Hugs Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, finds himself eight points below the cutline. The Atlanta, Georgia native has won at Talladega before – he knows what it takes to survive the superspeedway lottery. Sheldon Creed sits 21 points behind in his No. 00 Road Ranger Ford for Haas Factory Team.

The 28-year-old from Alpine, California, has championship DNA from his Truck Series title, but championships don’t mean anything if you can’t make it past the Round of 8. Carson Kvapil’s situation in the No. 1 Bass Pro Shops/Clarience Tech Chevrolet tells a story of what might have been. The 22-year-old Mooresville resident trails by 22 points, but Talladega has a way of creating miracles for drivers who need them most.

Fresh Faces and Familiar Names

The entry list showcases NASCAR’s blend of established veterans and hungry newcomers. 2025 ARCA Menards Series Champion Brenden “Butterbean” Queen returns to Kaulig Racing’s No. 11 Action Industries Chevrolet for his third start this year. The 27-year-old from Chesapeake, Virginia, brings championship confidence to a team that knows how to win.

Connor Mosack makes his Viking Motorsports debut in the No. 99 Apave Chevrolet after the team moved on from Matt DiBenedetto for the final three races. The 26-year-old Charlotte native gets a golden opportunity to prove himself on NASCAR’s biggest stage.

Veteran Leadership in the Field

The entry list reads like a who’s who of NASCAR experience. Jeremy Clements, at 40 years old, continues his independent journey in the No. 51 All South Electrical Chevrolet. The Spartanburg, South Carolina native has survived more Talladega races than most drivers have attempted.

Harrison Burton brings Cup Series experience to AM Racing’s No. 25 DEX Imaging Ford. The 25-year-old from Huntersville, North Carolina, understands the unique pressures of superspeedway racing and the importance of positioning when the checkered flag waves.

United Rentals 250 at Talladega Superspeedway

Xfinity Series: Entry List

(i) indicates drivers on this entry list that are deemed 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. Caesar Bacarella, No. 5 (Alpha Prime Racing, Chevrolet)
• 6. Justin Allgaier, No. 7 (JR Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 7. Nick Leitz, No. 07 (SS GreenLight Racing, Chevrolet)
• 8. Sammy Smith, No. 8 (JR Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 9, Daniel Dye, No. 10 (Kaulig Racing, Chevrolet)
• 10. Brenden Queen, No. 11 (Kaulig Racing, Chevrolet)
• 11. Garrett Smithley, No. 14 (SS GreenLight Racing, Chevrolet)
• 12. Christian Eckes, No. 16 (Kaulig Racing, 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. Harrison Burton, No. 25 (AM Racing, Ford)
• 18. Dean Thompson, No. 26 (Sam Hunt Racing, Toyota)
• 19. Jeb Burton, No. 27 (Jordan Anderson Racing, Toyota)
• 20. Kyle Sieg, No. 28 (RSS Racing, Ford)
• 21. Blaine Perkins, No. 31 (Jordan Anderson Racing, Chevrolet)
• 22. Jordan Anderson, No. 32 (Jordan Anderson Racing, Chevrolet)
• 23. David Starr, 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. Josh Williams, 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. Joey Gase, No. 53 (Joey Gase Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 32. Taylor Gray, No. 54 (Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota)
• 33. Leland Honeyman, No. 70 (Cope Family Racing, Chevrolet)
• 34. Ryan Ellis, No. 71 (DGM Racing X JIM, Chevrolet)
• 35. Carson Ware, No. 74 (Mike Harmon Racing, Chevrolet)
• 36. Connor Zilisch, No. 88 (JR  Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 37. Mason Maggio, No. 91 (DGM Racing X JIM, Chevrolet)
• 38. Connor Mosack (i), No. 99 (Viking Motorsports, Chevrolet)

The Superspeedway Wild Card Factor

Talladega’s entry list represents more than just names and numbers. It embodies the unpredictable nature of superspeedway racing. Drivers like Joey Gase in the No. 53 Donate Life Alabama Chevrolet and David Starr in the No. 35 To Rescue The American Spirit Ford bring underdog spirits that can upset the established order.

Ryan Ellis makes his return in the No. 71 Tablo TV entry for DGM Racing, while Mason Maggio continues his development in the No. 91 Denssi Energy Pouches Chevrolet. These drivers might not grab headlines, but Talladega has a way of creating unexpected heroes, so get ready for an unforgettable and altogether unpredictable race for the checkered flag at the United Rentals 250 at Talladega Superspeedway.

Ahead of The Green Flag

Saturday’s Xfinity Series playoff race at Talladega Superspeedway begins at 4 p.m. ET on The CW, with MRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio providing coverage. The entry list tells the story before the green flag waves, but Alabama’s racing cathedral will write the final chapter.