(photo credit Leon Hammack)

JR Motorsports teammates Connor Zilisch and Justin Allgaier have clear paths to the Round of 8 in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs.

For the other 10 drivers in the postseason field, it’s a free-for-all entering Saturday’s Kansas Lottery 300 at Kansas Speedway (4 p.m. ET on CW, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

On the strength of his rookie-record nine victories this season, Zilisch can clinch a Round of 8 berth by scoring 27 points on Saturday, no matter who wins the race. Allgaier, the reigning series champion, needs 56 points under the same circumstances to clinch a spot in the next round.

At 35 points above the current elimination line entering the second race in the Round of 12, Haas Factory Team’s Sam Mayer has a workable cushion, but only 16 points separate the next eight drivers in the standings, starting with fourth-place Carson Kvapil.

“This No. 1 team has brought fast cars to the mile-and-a-half tracks this year,” said Kvapil, who is making his Xfinity Series debut at the 1.5-mile speedway. “We just don’t have the finishes to show for it.

“We took the ‘off’ weekend to recharge, prepare and plan to continue on with our momentum from Bristol to get one step closer to moving on into the Round of 8. We need to stay consistent and will keep chasing that win.”

The race is even tighter on either side of the bubble. Eighth-place Taylor Gray is three points above the current cut line, with Nick Sanchez and Jesse Love both three points below.

Love started seventh and finished ninth at Kansas last season. He also has an ARCA victory from the pole at the track.

“We’re looking forward to Kansas,” said the driver of the No.2 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet. “I feel like it’s a track I’ve had some good success at in the past. I’ve won a race or two there before. It wasn’t great for us last year, but I think we have made some good changes going into this year.

“So, I’m looking forward to it. Hopefully, the track is similar to last year, and we can get up and move up on the top side, we can run the fence. We’re on the outside looking in (for the Round of 8), and I’m not too worried about it, but we still need to have a good run.”

TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!