Great competition in the NASCAR Nationwide Series this season has amassed 12 standings lead changes, among six different standings leaders and 13 different race winners. As the season comes to a close – three races remain – NASCAR Nationwide Series position jockeying will become the name of the game.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. has held the points lead for the last 11 races, since Lucas Oil Raceway (July 30), the longest duration any standings leader has held the top position all year – but just 15 points separate Stenhouse from second-place Elliott Sadler.
Aric Almirola is trying to hang on to his third-place position, but Justin Allgaier and Reed Sorenson are making that lead precarious at best. Allgaier, in fourth, is four points behind Almirola. Sorenson is fifth, three points behind Allgaier and just seven points behind Almirola. Sorenson also has the added difficulty of securing a ride to stay in contention. He was released from Turner Motorsports prior to the Kansas race but has been running with MacDonald Motorsports since. A ride for Sorenson for Texas has yet to be announced.
Almirola has made two starts at Texas posting an average finish of 14.0. His pre-race Driver Rating is 86.8. While Allgaier has made six starts at Texas posting an average finish of 14.3.
Those drivers in slots 8-10 – Brian Scott, Steve Wallace and Michael Annett, respectively – also are maneuvering for better positions. Scott sits in eighth place, but Wallace is lurking seven points behind in ninth. Annett is a manageable 11 points behind his Rusty Wallace Racing teammate Wallace, and Scott also has the opportunity to aim a bit higher as he’s 17 points behind Steve’s uncle, Kenny Wallace, who’s seventh.
Of the four making up 7-10, Michael Annett has the best average finish at Texas with a 17.0, but Brian Scott has the best pre-race Driver Rating with 79.8
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