5 NASCAR Xfinity drivers who've underperformed in 2024 ft. Hailie Deegan

After nearly a month-long hiatus since the last NASCAR Xfinity Series race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 20, the teams will return to the Michigan International Speedway on August 17, for the 125-lap Cabo Wabo 250. Six races are left before the Round of 12 kicks off at the Kansas Speedway, and many drivers, including Hailie Deegan, are still suffering from underperformance this season.

As the Xfinity Playoffs inch closer, these five underperforming drivers need to buckle up their performance to secure their spot among the top 12.

#1. Ryan Sieg, NASCAR Xfinity Series rank P10

Ryan Sieg (Image: Getty)

The RSS Racing driver is in his 12th Xfinity Series season but is yet to bag a win to his name. Ryan Sieg came inches close to his maiden triumph at the Texas Motor Speedway this year but had to settle for the runner-up. Even though he has registered four top-10s, a solitary top-5, and is above the Playoff cutline in 12th place, his decade-long experience in the sport compared to those ranked above him speaks volumes of his relatively underwhelming portrayal on the asphalt.

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#2. Brandon Jones, NASCAR Xfinity Series rank P14

Brandon Jones (Image: Imagn)

The JR Motorsports driver has suffered a big blow in his tenth Xfinity Series season. From 20 races so far, Brandon Jones has succumbed to six DNFs. He came close to securing his maiden Xfinity win at the Charlotte Motor Speedway since his last victory in 2022 at the Martinsville Speedway, but ultimately, lost the battle to Chase Elliott. Placed 14th in the Playoff Picture, the #9 Chevy driver has five top-10s and one top-5 this season and six races are left for Jones to fight for his place in the Playoffs.

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#3. Hailie Deegan, NASCAR Xfinity Series rank P30

Hailie Deegan (Image: Getty)

The Temecula native stepped into her rookie Xfinity Series season on a multiyear deal with AM Racing. However, Hailie Deegan couldn't churn out either a top-10 or a top-5 from the first 17 races, following which she was replaced by Joey Logano at the Chicago Street race. A few days after the Chicago battle, the 23-year-old broke the news of parting ways with AM Racing.

While her current underwhelming Xfinity Series season shows no signs of a turnaround, newly formed Haas Factory Team President Joe Custer believes in Deegan's racing prowess. Thus, she could land a deal with HFT for the 2025 season.

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#4. Josh Williams, NASCAR Xfinity Series rank P18

Josh Williams (Image: Getty)

The Florida native is running his first Xfinity Series season for Kaulig Racing and ninth overall. After falling prey to two DNFs from the first three races on the 2024 calendar, Josh Williams fought back to claim three top-10s, with the best result of P7 at the Portland International Raceway. Presently, the lackluster-performing #11 Chevy driver is 201 points below the Playoff Cutline and is placed 18th.

With four DNFs in total, no top-5, and no win to his name, the odds of him making it to the playoffs are pretty slim, considering only four winless drivers are above the Playoff threshold- AJ Allmendinger, Sheldon Creed, Parker Kligerman, and Ryan Sieg.

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#5. Parker Retzlaff, NASCAR Xfinity Series rank P17

Parker Retzlaff (Image: Imagn)

The Jordan Anderson Racing driver is in his second full-time Xfinity Series season. After having a strong opening to the 2024 year with a third-place finish at the season-opener Daytona 300 and fifth at the next race in Atlanta, Parker Retzlaff's performance witnessed a drastic downfall. From 20 races, the #31 Chevy driver has collected four top-10s and two top-5s but has suffered from seven DNFs.

With a 193-point deficit, the sophomore NASCAR Xfinity Series driver is 17th in the Playoff Picture and only six races are left for him to resurrect his fateful season.