NASCAR Xfinity Series Race Today: Start Time, TV Channel & Live-Stream Guide

The NASCAR Xfinity Series rolls into Dover Motor Speedway this weekend with championship implications, a highly anticipated rookie debut, and the surprising shutdown of a veteran team combining to make the BetRivers 200 one of the most-talked-about races of 2025. Dover preview and race details • Date/Time: Saturday, 19 July, green flag 4:50 p.m. ET • TV/Streaming: The CW nationwide broadcast, PRN and SiriusXM Radio • Race length: 200 laps (200 mi) around the high-banked one-mile “Monster Mile” Playoff picture tightens With only seven regular-season events left, Dover’s concrete oval looms large for title hopefuls such as Justin Allgaier, Riley Herbst, and 2024 series champion Sam Mayer. Allgaier, the current regular-season points leader, seeks his third win of the year to extend a slim advantage over Herbst and Mayer after finishing sixth last week at Sonoma. Dover traditionally rewards veterans who manage tire fall-off, but stage points will be critical for fringe playoff contenders like Taylor Gray and Nick Sanchez. Lavar Scott’s long-awaited debut ARCA Menards Series standout Lavar Scott will make his first NASCAR Xfinity Series start in Alpha Prime Racing’s No. 44 Chevrolet, fulfilling a childhood dream on what he calls his “home track”. The 21-year-old from New Jersey logged extensive simulator time to prepare for Dover’s bump-laden entry in Turns 3 and 4. Team owner Tommy Joe Martins said Scott’s immediate goal is “a clean race and a top-20,” but a top-15 would exceed expectations and boost interest in the team’s search for full-season funding in 2026. Shock closure of longtime team Long-time independent operation JD Motorsports announced it will cease Xfinity Series activity after Dover, citing escalating costs and sponsor shortfalls. The move ends a streak of 1,200+ consecutive starts dating back to 2002. Drivers Garrett Smithley and Ryan Vargas are now free agents, immediately intensifying Silly Season rumors as mid-tier organizations look for experienced talent for the final playoff push. Qualifying and practice schedule • Friday, 18 July – 2:00 p.m. ET: Single 20-minute practice • Friday, 18 July – 2:40 p.m. ET: Single-car qualifying; fastest 38 transfer on speed, two provisionals round out the 40-car grid Drivers to watch at the Monster Mile • Justin Allgaier – three career Dover wins, elite long-run pace • Sam Mayer – swept Dover stages in 2024, strong intermediate form • Cole Custer – led 117 laps here in 2023, seeking first 2025 victory • Chandler Smith – Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota has averaged a 6.8 finish on concrete tracks • Lavar Scott – hometown rookie debut storyline could spike broadcast ratings Odds and betting insight Sportsbooks list Allgaier as the +325 favorite, followed by Custer (+400) and Mayer (+475). Bettors eye Riley Herbst (+750) for value after two consecutive top-five runs on similar abrasive surfaces. Long-shot pick: Austin Hill at +1800, boasting the series’ best average restart speed. Key story lines heading into Saturday 1. Can Allgaier pad his regular-season lead and claim the 15-point bonus? 2. Will Lavar Scott become the first driver since Ty Gibbs (2021) to finish top-10 in his debut? 3. How will JD Motorsports’ closure affect car counts and owner points battles down the stretch? 4. Could Dover deliver the sixth different winner in the last six Xfinity races? 5. Will The CW’s free-to-air coverage boost viewership beyond the 1.5 million average posted at Nashville? Fans attending Dover should arrive early for Friday’s infield autograph session and Saturday morning’s Garage Walk, where teams will be handing out limited-edition 2025 playoff posters. Gates open at 9 a.m. ET both days; clear-bag policy in effect. As the NASCAR Xfinity Series tackles its lone visit to the Monster Mile, expect high stakes, fresh faces, and a farewell to one of the garage’s most enduring teams—all under the summer-heat spotlight of Delaware’s concrete coliseum.