XFINITY Series Phoenix Raceway

NASCAR XFINITY Series

Entry List

The official 2021 NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship NASCAR XFINITY Series entry list features top NASCAR drivers set to compete at Phoenix Raceway, highlighting the full lineup of race participants and teams.

NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship

Saturday, November 6th, 2021

Phoenix Raceway, Phoenix, AZ

  • 26 Chevrolet
  • 6 Toyota
  • 4 Ford

  • Phoenix Raceway
  • 23rd Annual NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship Race
  • Pole Winner: Austin Cindric
  • Age: 23
  • Team : No. 22 - CarShop Ford
  • Owner: Team Penske
  • Crew Chief: Brian Wilson
  • Austin Cindric won the Pole Award for the 23rd Annual NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship Race with a lap of 27.293 seconds, 131.902 mph.
  • This is his eighth pole in 133 NASCAR Xfinity Series races.
  • This is his first pole and 29th top-10 start in 2021.
  • This is his first pole in eight races at Phoenix Raceway.
  • John Hunter Nemechek (second) posted his second top-10 start of 2021 and his second in four races at Phoenix Raceway.
  • Justin Allgaier (third) posted his 15th top-10 start at Phoenix Raceway. It is his 25th in 33 races this season.
  • Sam Mayer (11th) was the fastest qualifying rookie.

  • Saturday, November 6th, 2021
  • NASCAR Wire Service - Reid Spencer
Daniel Hemric bags Xfinity championship with first NASCAR national series win

Daniel Hemric picked the perfect time to win his first NASCAR national series race—and a title came with it.

Executing an aggressive bump-and-run in Saturday night's NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship Race, Hemric passed Austin Cindric in the final two corners at Phoenix Raceway.

Approaching the finish line, the cars collided side-to-side, with Hemric crossing the stripe .030 seconds ahead of Cindric—roughly five feet—denying the driver of the No. 22 Team Penske Ford a second straight championship.

The victory came in Hemric's 208th NASCAR national series start, silencing critics who kept asking, "Will Hemric ever win a race?"

The answer came from crew chief Dave Rogers moments after the winning driver crossed the stripe and clinched the title.

"How about that, champion?" Rogers said. "You'll never have to hear that stupid question again."

"Never again!" Hemric shouted in reply.

Hemric, who is leaving the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota in favor of a ride with Kaulig Racing next year, was unapologetic about moving Cindric's Ford up the track to win the race at the end of a two-lap overtime that extended the event from 200 to 204 laps.

"I'm blacked out, blacked out," Hemric said at the start/finish line after turning a back flip off the roof of his car. "Just knew I had to be the first one to the line. I thought I let him get too much of a run off of (Turn) 4 (on the first lap of overtime).

"Drove into (Turn) 1, knew I was close, not to completely use them up, but we work our asses off for an opportunity like this—excuse my language. This is what it's all about, winning at the second highest level in all of motorsports. What an honor...

"How about those race fans? That back flip good enough for you? I've been waiting a long damn time to do that."

Cindric took the loss with consummate grace.

"Until you spin somebody out, it's not dirty racing," said Cindric, who entered the championship event with five wins to his credit this season. "If everyone in the stands enjoyed it, it's good racing.

"I'm appreciative of the opportunity to race on such a big stage, race for Roger Penske, represent Ford Performance, all of our sponsors that helped us this season. It would have been awesome to finish this out. I felt like we had a dominant race car, felt like we did everything right. Come up a little short."

As a consolation prize, Cindric secured the Xfinity Series Owners Championship for Roger Penske with his runner-up result.

The other two Championship 4 drivers - Noah Gragson and AJ Allmendinger - were in contention at the end. Gragson slammed the wall shortly after a restart on Lap 193 and fell to 12th at the finish.

Allmendinger suffered a loose wheel late in the race and spun in Turn 2 on Lap 181, causing the eighth of 10 cautions. Cindric, who led a race-high 113 laps, had a commanding lead at the time, but the yellow bunched the field and set up the late-race shootout.

Harrison Burton ran third on Saturday, followed by Riley Herbst and Justin Haley. John Hunter Nemechek, Brandon Jones, Brett Moffitt, Justin Allgaier and Sheldon Creed completed the top 10.

  • Drivers Entered: 36
  • Laps Scheduled: 200
  • Laps Actual: 204 - NASCAR OVERTIME!
  • Margin of Victory: 0.030 Seconds
  • Time of Race: 2 Hours 22 Minutes 35 Seconds
  • Average Speed: 85.845
  • Cautions: 10 for 61 laps
  • Lead Changes: 16
  • Green Flag Passes: 1,833 (12.8 passes per green flag lap)

  • Phoenix Raceway
  • 23rd Annual NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship Race
  • Race Winner: Daniel Hemric
  • Age: 30
  • Team : No. 18 - Poppy Bank Toyota
  • Owner: Joe Gibbs Racing
  • Crew Chief: Dave Rogers
  • Daniel Hemric won the 23rd Annual NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship Race, his first victory in 120 Xfinity Series races.
  • This is his first victory and 21st top-10 finish in 2021.
  • This is his first victory and fifth top-10 finish in eight races at Phoenix Raceway.
  • Austin Cindric (second) posted his seventh top-10 finish in eight races at Phoenix Raceway. It is his 26th top-10 finish in 2021.
  • Harrison Burton (third) posted his third top-10 finish in four races at Phoenix Raceway.
  • Sam Mayer (13th) was the highest finishing rookie.
  • Daniel Hemric wins the 2021 NASCAR Xfinity Series Driver Championship.
  • Team Penske's No. 22 team with driver Austin Cindric has won the 2021 NASCAR Xfinity Series Owners Championship.
  • Ty Gibbs wins the 2021 NASCAR Xfinity Series Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors.
  • Chevrolet has clinched the 2021 NASCAR Xfinity Series Manufacturers Championship - their series leading 22nd title.
  • Driver Champion: Daniel Hemric
  • Team: No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Supra
  • Daniel Hemric has won his first NASCAR Xfinity Series championship (2021).
  • Hemric is the 31st different drivers to win the NASCAR Xfinity Series driver championship.
  • Hemric won the season finale at Phoenix Raceway to claim the 2021 NASCAR Xfinity Series title – his first career victory.
  • Hemric made 33 starts this season posting one win, 15 top fives and 21 top 10s.
  • In the Playoffs this season, Hemric has posted one win, six top fives and six top 10s.
  • Hemric (Kannapolis) has become the seventh NASCAR Xfinity Series champion from the state of North Carolina; joining William Byron (2017 champion, Charlotte, N.C.), Austin Dillon (2013, Welcome, N.C.), Brian Vickers (2003, Thomasville, N.C.), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (1998, 1999, Kannapolis, N.C.), Jack Ingram (1985, 1982, Asheville, N.C.) and Sam Ard (1983, 1984, Asheboro, N.C.).
  • Driver Owner Champion: Joe Gibbs, Joe Gibbs Racing
  • This is Joe Gibbs Racing's third NASCAR Xfinity Series driver championships (Kyle Busch, 2009, Daniel Suarez, 2019 and Daniel Hemric, 2021). Joe Gibbs Racing also has five NASCAR Xfinity Series owner championship (2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2016).
  • Joe Gibbs Racing is one of 20 different organizations to win the NASCAR Xfinity Series driver championship, and one of 19 different organizations to win the owner championship.
  • Joe Gibbs Racing has posted 185 NASCAR Xfinity Series wins among 20 different drivers – Aric Almirola, Bobby Labonte, Brandon Jones, Christopher Bell, Daniel Suarez, Denny Hamlin, Elliott Sadler, Erik Jones Harrison Burton, Joey Logano, John Hunter Nemechek, Kyle Busch, Matt Kenseth, Mike Bliss, Mike McLaughlin, Ryan Preece, Sam Hornish Jr., Tony Stewart, Ty Gibbs and Daniel Hemric.
  • Joe Gibbs Racing began its NASCAR Xfinity Series program in 1997 at Rockingham Speedway with NASCAR Hall of Famer driver Bobby Labonte.
  • Crew Chief Champion: Dave Rogers
  • This is Dave Rogers first career NASCAR Xfinity Series championship (2021). Rogers previous best finish in the Xfinity Series championship standings was fourth with Denny Hamlin in 2006.
  • Rogers is the 29th different crew chief to win the NASCAR Xfinity Series title.
  • Rogers has won 21 NASCAR Xfinity Series races with six different drivers: Denny Hamlin, Tony Stewart, Aric Almirola, Kyle Busch, Joey Logano and Daniel Hemric.
  • Owner Champion: Team Penske (No. 22)
  • This is Team Penske's series leading sixth NASCAR Xfinity Series owner championship (2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2020, 2021). Clinched this season's title with driver Austin Cindric and the No. 22 team.
  • Owner Roger Penske fielded the team's first car in the series with NASCAR Hall of Famer Rusty Wallace behind the wheel at Auto Club Speedway on October 19, 1997.
AJ Allmendinger speaks to the media
Phoenix, Arizona - November 4, 2021 : AJ Allmendinger, driver of the #16 Hyperice Chevrolet, speaks to the media during the 2021 NASCAR Championship 4 Media Day at the Phoenix Convention Center.
Sean GardnerNASCAR Media
NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway Entry List
ENTRY # DRIVER HOMETOWN DOB AGE MAKE SPONSOR TEAM CREW CHIEF
1 16 AJ Allmendinger Los Gatos, CA Dec 16, 1981 39 Chevrolet Hyperice Kaulig Racing Jason Trinchere
2 07 JJ Yeley Phoenix, AZ Oct 5, 1976 45 Chevrolet Firman Power Equipment SS Green Light Racing Jason Miller
3 66 David Starr Houston, TX Nov 11, 1967 53 Toyota Whataburger Motorsports Business Management Johnny Roten
4 7 Justin Allgaier Riverton, IL Jun 6, 1986 35 Chevrolet Brandt JR Motorsports Jason Burdett
5 1 Michael Annett Des Moines, IA Jun 23, 1986 35 Chevrolet PFJ Veterans Salute JR Motorsports Mike Bumgarner
6 02 Brett Moffitt Grimes, IA Aug 7, 1992 29 Chevrolet Destiny Homes Our Motorsports Pat Tryson
7 10 Jeb Burton Halifax, VA Aug 6, 1992 29 Chevrolet Nutrien Ag Solutions Kaulig Racing Bruce Schlicker
8 0 Jeffrey Earnhardt Mooresville, NC Jun 22, 1989 32 Chevrolet ForeverLawn JD Motorsports Paul Clapprood
9 26 Dylan Lupton Wilton, CA Dec 7, 1993 27 Toyota Marques General Engineering Sam Hunt Racing Andrew Abbott
10 38 Ryan Sieg Tucker, GA Jun 20, 1987 34 Ford CMRroofing.com / A-Game RSS Racing Kevin Starland
11 47 Kyle Weatherman Wentzville, MO Aug 28, 1997 24 Chevrolet DaaBin Mike Harmon Racing Mike Tyska
12 18 Daniel Hemric Kannapolis, NC Jan 27, 1991 30 Toyota Poppy Bank Joe Gibbs Racing Dave Rogers
13 15 Bayley Currey Driftwood, TX Oct 29, 1996 25 Chevrolet TeamJDMotorsports.com JD Motorsports Wayne Carroll Jr
14 11 Justin Haley Winamac, IN Apr 28, 1999 22 Chevrolet LeafFilter Gutter Protection Kaulig Racing Alex Yontz
15 54 John Hunter Nemechek Mooresville, NC Jun 11, 1997 24 Toyota Mobil 1 Joe Gibbs Racing Chris Gayle
16 36 Alex Labbe Saint-Albert, Canada Apr 29, 1993 28 Chevrolet Rousseau / Prolon Controls DGM Racing Mario Gosselin
17 22 Austin Cindric Columbus, OH Sep 2, 1998 23 Ford CarShop Team Penske Brian Wilson
18 68 Brandon Brown Woodbridge, VA Sep 14, 1993 28 Chevrolet TradeTheChain.com Brandonbilt Motorsports Doug Randolph
19 19 Brandon Jones Atlanta, GA Feb 18, 1997 24 Toyota Menards / Pelonis Joe Gibbs Racing Jeff Meendering
20 20 Harrison Burton Huntersville, NC Oct 9, 2000 21 Toyota DEX Imaging Joe Gibbs Racing Jason Ratcliff
21 51 Jeremy Clements Spartanburg, SC Jan 16, 1985 36 Chevrolet First Pacific Funding Jeremy Clements Racing Mark Setzer
22 17 Joe Graf Jr Mahwah, NJ Jul 12, 1998 23 Chevrolet Model Electronics SS Green Light Racing Joe Williams
23 92 Josh Williams Port Charlotte, FL Aug 3, 1993 28 Chevrolet Josh Williams Hospital Tour DGM Racing Nathan Kennedy
24 105 Matt Mills Lynchburg, VA Nov 14, 1996 24 Chevrolet JF Electric BJ McLeod Motorsports Keith Wolfe
25 2 Myatt Snider Charlotte, NC Dec 30, 1994 26 Chevrolet TaxSlayer Richard Childress Racing Andy Street
26 9 Noah Gragson Las Vegas, NV Jul 15, 1998 23 Chevrolet Bass Pro Shops / TrueTimber / BRCC JR Motorsports Dave Elenz
27 98 Riley Herbst Las Vegas, NV Feb 24, 1999 22 Ford Monster Energy Stewart-Haas Racing Richard Boswell
28 44 Tommy Joe Martins Como, MS Dec 7, 1986 34 Chevrolet AAN Adjusters Martins Motorsports Craig Martins
29 48 Jade Buford Brentwood, TN Feb 15, 1988 33 Chevrolet Big Machine Spiked Coolers Big Machine Racing Patrick Donahue
30 106 Ryan Vargas La Miranda, CA Sep 23, 2000 21 Chevrolet Swann Communications JD Motorsports Kase Kallenbach
31 199 Stefan Parsons Cornelius, NC Jun 15, 1998 23 Chevrolet Rich Mar Florist / Springrates BJ McLeod Motorsports Adam Brooks
32 178 Sheldon Creed Alpine, CA Sep 30, 1997 24 Chevrolet Global Industries BJ McLeod Motorsports David Ingram
33 23 Blaine Perkins Bakersfield, CA Feb 28, 2000 21 Chevrolet Raceline Our Motorsports Ronnie Osmer
34 39 Kyle Sieg Tucker, GA Apr 16, 2001 20 Ford CMR Construction and Roofing / A-Game RSS Racing Pat Cole
35 8 Sam Mayer Franklin, WI Jun 26, 2003 18 Chevrolet Tire Pros JR Motorsports Taylor Moyer
36 31 Sage Karam Nazareth, PA Mar 5, 1995 26 Chevrolet Montage Mountain Jordan Anderson Racing Arthur Haire