NASCAR on the CW INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Six races remain, and one championship is on the line. For CW NASCAR analyst Parker Kligerman, this weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway could be an important opportunity for Justin Allgaier to regain his momentum. The NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Chase for the Championship heads to Las Vegas on Saturday. Allgaier, who dominated the regular season with six wins and a 229-point lead, now finds himself chasing the competition after the playoff reset erased his advantage. “You go from a pretty relaxed period of the season to suddenly being back at square one in the span of four days,” Kligerman said during an appearance on WISH-TV’s Life.Style.Live!. “That’s going to have an effect. You’re going to have to adjust.” Creed making early playoff push Sheldon Creed quickly capitalized on the playoff reset. He won the opening race of the playoffs, finished second in the second race and won the third, averaging a 1.3 finish through the first three Chase races. Allgaier remains second in the standings, but the competition has tightened considerably. Kligerman said the mental adjustment can be difficult for even the series’ top drivers. He pointed to Denny Hamlin in the Cup Series and Lane Riggs in the Truck Series as examples of dominant regular-season performers who also faced challenges at the start of their respective playoff runs. “I don’t care who you are,” Kligerman said. “In four days, you’re basically back to zero. That’s going to have an effect.” Allgaier’s No. 7 team, led by crew chief Andrew Overstreet, has focused on maintaining the same approach that produced its regular-season success while recognizing the stakes have changed. “We don’t need to do anything different than what we’ve done,” Kligerman said, relaying Overstreet’s message. “But be mindful of the fact that we don’t have the buffer.” Las Vegas could be a key race for Allgaier Kligerman believes Las Vegas could provide Allgaier with an opportunity to turn things around. “This is probably one of Justin Allgaier’s best tracks,” he said. “If there’s anywhere he’s going to rise up, it’s most likely this week.” Las Vegas Motor Speedway is among the fastest tracks on the NASCAR schedule, creating a high-speed challenge that could put Allgaier in position to make up ground in the championship battle. Kligerman praises series’ growth The championship isn’t the only storyline Kligerman is watching. He also credited The CW and the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series for helping the series reach a wider audience this season. “Being on The CW has been massive,” he said. “Knowing this series is on week in and week out for all 33 races makes it really easy for fans to find.” Kligerman also said the series’ race cars have become a major attraction for drivers and fans. The cars are challenging to drive and have attracted Cup Series drivers looking for another opportunity to compete. He compared the atmosphere surrounding the series to college football. “If Cup Series is the NFL, this is a bit more fun, a little bit more of a show, just a younger sort of audience,” Kligerman said. “That’s why we have so much fun on the broadcast.” The combination of rising stars and veteran drivers such as Allgaier and Austin Hill has helped give the series its own identity. Watch the race The NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Chase from Las Vegas airs Saturday at 7 p.m. on WISH-TV, the home of The CW. Play-by-play: Adam Alexander Analysts: Jamie McMurray and Parker Kligerman Pit reporters: Kim Coon and Dillon Welch All 33 races this season are available free over the air. ...read more read less