“Every week I show up thinking, Man, this is going to be the weekend that we just run eighth.” Connor Zilisch added this apprehension in his recent post-victory interview. The No. 88 JR Motorsports driver clinched his 10th Xfinity Series career win at Gateway and thereby won the regular season championship. He enters the playoffs with a solid 59-point playoff advantage. However, veterans of the NASCAR garage, including his team owner, Dale Jr., are biting their nails.

NASCAR currently follows the playoff format that has been part of a hot debate. Last year, Kyle Larson won 6 Cup Series races and yet could not crack the Championship 4. Back in 2010, Denny Hamlin won 10 races only to admit defeat to Jimmie Johnson in the final race. These past instances are keeping Dale Jr. on the edge of

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