NASCAR Xfinity Series at Daytona 2015: Full Schedule, Standings and Preview

The NASCAR Xfinity Series returns to Daytona Saturday for the Subway Firecracker 250, a spectacle littered with intrigue and storylines befit of a holiday race.  

Last year, Kasey Kahne rode to the checkered flag. This time around, Series regulars and Sprint Cup contenders will clash once again as Xfinity leader Chris Buescher looks to fend off the pack behind him on the leaderboard.

It's 100 laps and 250 miles under the bright lights of Daytona Speedway Saturday, July 4. For fans, it's not a race to miss given the circumstances around it and the occasion, so here's everything to know.

Schedule for Xfinity Series at Daytona

Date	Time (ET)	Event	Watch
Friday, July 3	2-2:55 p.m	Practice	NBCSN
Friday, July 3	4-4:55 p.m	Final Practice	NBCSN
Saturday, July 4	2:35 p.m	Qualifying	NBCSN
Saturday, July 4	4:35 p.m.	Subway Firecracker 250	NBCSN

Xfinity Series Standings

RK	DRIVER	POINTS
1	Chris Buescher	528
2	Ty Dillon	499
3	Chase Elliott	485
4	Regan Smith	466
5	Darrell Wallace Jr.	462
6	Elliott Sadler	447
7	Brian Scott	430
8	Brendan Gaughan	419
9	Ryan Reed	410
10	Daniel Suarez	407

Full standings available at ESPN.com.

Drivers to Watch 

Regan Smith

Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

One year ago at the same event, Regan Smith fell just short of a win behind teammate Kahne despite a great run.

There, Smith led 47 laps, the most of any driver, but struggled for position down the stretch and finished second.

This year, Smith enters the event in fourth place on the leaderboard, looking up at names such as Chase Elliott and Ty Dillon. He's familiar at the track, so it's prime time for him to make another push in the standings, all the while recovering from a 13th-place finish his last time out in Chicago.

As JR Motorsports points out, the contender will ride in style Saturday:

After a string of two top-four finishes, Smith has finished 11th or worse in his last two. If he's going to turn it around and hold his position, if not make a jump, it figures to come at the familiar confines of Daytona.

Brendan Gaughan

Matthew O'Haren-USA TODAY Sports

When it comes to recent momentum at Daytona, Brendan Gaughan doesn't seem to feature a whole lot.

Last year he finished 28th, and back in February he found himself in a couple of mix-ups before a 29th-place finish. Still, it sounds like he's ready to put the bad luck behind him and get back to contention at the historic track, as captured by PaddockTalk.com:

"

Daytona International Speedway is such a historical track for us to visit. It always feels good to return with RCR and ECR Engines. Just like in February, it is great to know that we are coming to the track with packages that can be fast and successful. We found out in February that anything can happen. We are hoping to stay out of trouble this time around and finish in the front. We just have to remember to stay on our toes and be ready for anything.

"

There's good reason to show faith in the veteran, too. Two weeks ago in Chicago, he was one of the only folks to experience a positive move up the leaderboard thanks to a fourth-place finish.

The strong showing suggests Gaughan is back in form thanks to two top-10 finishes over the course of his last three, the exception being a solid 12th-place finish in Michigan. If he can continue to ride the momentum, he might make yet another climb up the top-10 leaderboard.

Chris Buescher

Charlie Neibergall/Associated Press

A return to Daytona happens just in time for Buescher, who can start to feel the pressure of those behind him.

The Series leader won in Dover three races ago but finished fourth in Michigan and fifth in Chicago—the beginnings of a slight downward trend that could perhaps allow Dillon and others to inch closer provided they turn in strong performances. 

Then again, Buescher seems comfortable at Daytona, where back in February he finished second despite starting 10th. Saturday marks just his third Xfinity start at the track, and the budding upward trend might prove a strong sign for his chances.

As Series leader, Buescher is always one to watch. Given his need to keep the rest of the field at a distance, a return trip to Daytona seems like it couldn't have come at a better time.

Stats and info courtesy of ESPN.com unless otherwise specified.