NASCAR Xfinity Series playoff bubble watch: Ryan Sieg falls behind at Atlanta

When the points are tallied up after the NASCAR Xfinity Series' regular-season finale at Bristol, Saturday's race at Atlanta could be considered the one that shaped the playoff picture. The bubble expanded drastically on Saturday. Here's where the standings sit with just two regular-season races remaining.

10. Sheldon Creed (+123)

Creed is all but locked into the postseason after Atlanta, as even two new winners would only knock him to 12th. A 25th-place finish on Saturday wasn't ideal, but barring a massive collapse, Creed will race for a championship in 2024.

11. Parker Kligerman (+74)

Unlike last year, Kligerman has plenty of breathing room as the regular season winds down. A runner-up finish on Saturday only got him closer to that long-awaited Xfinity Series win, but even if he can't find victory lane over the next two weeks, he's a safe bet to make the postseason.

12. Sammy Smith (+44)

While Smith was on the right side of the cut line going into Atlanta, a seventh-place finish and nine stage points helped him gain 34 points over his bubble rival in Ryan Sieg. With a better and more experienced team under him, all Smith has to do is take care of business over the next two races.

13. Ryan Sieg (-44)

Sieg may have seen his playoff hopes evaporate at his home track on Saturday. Anything can happen at Watkins Glen or Bristol, but his heartbreaking loss at Texas in April may end up being the difference in whether or not Sieg races for the championship. Despite a fast car underneath him, Sieg was in a big crash late that relegated him to a 32nd-place finish.

14. Brandon Jones (-139)

Jones brought home a ninth-place finish at his home track on Saturday, but it's little consolation for a team in desperate need of a win. With the news earlier in the week that Jones will return to Joe Gibbs Racing in 2025, sending the No. 9 team out with a win would be huge. And if Jones wants to make the playoffs, he needs to find victory lane over the next two races.

15. Anthony Alfredo (-165)

Like Daytona a couple of weeks ago, a 14th-place finish at Atlanta didn't show how fast the No. 5 car was. Alfredo has proven himself to be a capable driver this season, and if given a chance with a top team, he could be a weekly contender in the Xfinity Series. Right now, however, he needs a win at either Watkins Glen or Bristol to have a chance at the championship.