Sammy Smith secured the pole position for Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, delivering a standout performance during Friday’s qualifying session. Piloting the No. 8 JR Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro, Smith clocked a lap time of 29.435 seconds, translating to an average speed of 183.455 mph, edging out teammate Carson Kvapil by a mere 0.067 seconds.
This achievement marks Smith’s first pole of the 2025 season and the third of his Xfinity Series career, with his previous pole secured at Martinsville Speedway in November 2023. The 20-year-old driver from Johnston, Iowa, has been on a notable trajectory, having clinched his first series victory at Phoenix Raceway in March 2023 and his most recent win at Talladega Superspeedway in October 2024.
Smith expressed optimism following his qualifying run, acknowledging the need to enhance long-run performance but emphasizing the team’s goal to maintain the lead in the upcoming race.
JR Motorsports showcased dominance in the qualifying session, with the top three spots occupied by their drivers. Carson Kvapil, driving the No. 88 Chevrolet, secured the second position with a lap time of 29.502 seconds (183.038 mph), marking his first front-row start in the Xfinity Series. Rookie teammate Connor Zilisch, who had been the fastest in the practice session earlier that day, claimed the third spot with a time of 29.564 seconds (182.655 mph).
The top five qualifiers were rounded out by rookie Taylor Gray and Sam Mayer, both delivering impressive performances to secure their positions.
In a late development, Greg Van Alst reached an agreement to compete in Saturday’s race with Joey Gase Motorsports. He will drive the No. 35 Chevrolet, making his Las Vegas debut. Van Alst aims to improve upon his recent performance at Phoenix Raceway, where he finished 31st.
The starting lineup for Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway is as follows:
1. Sammy Smith (#8)
2. Carson Kvapil (#88)
3. Connor Zilisch (#9)
4. Taylor Gray (#17)
5. Sam Mayer (#1)
6. Justin Allgaier (#7)
7. Brandon Jones (#19)
8. John Hunter Nemechek (#20)
9. Austin Hill (#21)
10. Chandler Smith (#16)
As the drivers prepare for the race, all eyes will be on Sammy Smith and his JR Motorsports teammates, who have demonstrated formidable speed and coordination. Fans anticipate an exhilarating contest at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, with the green flag set to drop at 4:30 PM local time.
