The NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series championship is heading toward a season finale unlike anything the series has ever seen.
For the first time in series history, five drivers will enter the season finale within 42 points of the championship lead. After 32 races, the title fight is still wide open heading into Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Here is how the championship standings look heading into the final race:
- Justin Allgaier — 2,436 points
- Jesse Love — 2,414 points (-22)
- Corey Day — 2,413 points (-23)
- Carson Kvapil — 2,405 points (-31)
- Sheldon Creed — 2,394 points (-42)
Allgaier enters the finale with the advantage after taking over the championship lead at Martinsville. However, reigning champion Jesse Love is just 22 points behind, with Corey Day only one point further back.
Carson Kvapil also enters with momentum after picking up the Martinsville victory, while Sheldon Creed remains mathematically alive despite facing the biggest deficit of the five contenders.
With so little separating these drivers, every position, stage point and mistake could make the difference. One bad pit stop, one late-race incident or one missed opportunity could completely change the championship picture.
That is what makes this year’s finale so intriguing. Instead of a championship battle that comes down to just two or three drivers, five contenders will be fighting for the same trophy.