Sammy Smith Snatches Las Vegas Pole With Blazing Speed as JR Motorsports Dominates

Key Highlights

• Sammy Smith achieved pole position at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with a lap time of 29.435 seconds and speed of 183.455 mph.
• Smith’s pole position marks his third in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, highlighting his veteran skills and tactical insight.
• JR Motorsports dominated qualifying, securing the top three positions with Smith, Carson Kvapil, and Connor Zilisch.
• Taylor Gray was the best qualifier for Joe Gibbs Racing, placing fourth behind the JR Motorsports trio.
• The LiUNA! race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway is scheduled for March 15 at 4:30 PM ET, promising a competitive event.

Sammy Smith Wins Pole for The LiUNA! at Las Vegas

Sammy Smith highlighted his skill on the track by securing the pole position for The LiUNA! at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, marking a strong start to his 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series campaign.

Piloting the No. 8 Pilot Chevrolet, Smith impressed with a lap time of 29.435 seconds, achieving a speed of 183.455 mph. This performance placed him ahead of his rookie teammates, Carson Kvapil and Connor Zilisch, both representing JR Motorsports.

Smith’s pole win at this initial mile-and-a-half event of the season emphasized his skill and tactical insight. His ability to outperform competitors on such a notable track speaks volumes about his preparedness and focus for the season.

As the team’s veteran driver, Smith’s leadership is evident, setting a high standard for his fellow racers. This early success positions him well in the championship hunt, demonstrating the strength and potential of his JR Motorsports team.

Sammy Smith Reacts to His Pole Win

Following his impressive performance securing pole position at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Sammy Smith expressed satisfaction with his team’s efforts and highlighted their focus on qualifying.

Smith acknowledged the dedication of his Pilot crew, praising them for their hard work, particularly under the guidance of Phillip Bell. He noted their recent emphasis on improving qualifying performances, a tactic that paid off with his pole position.

This achievement marks Smith’s third pole in the second-tier series and his initial since the 2023 season finale.

“Yeah, it was a very high commitment, just hats off to all these Pilot guys, Phillip [Bell] and all these guys did a really good job.”

“We have been focusing on qualifying these last couple races to really help improve our starting position. The goal is to keep it out front tomorrow.” – Sammy Smith

Reflecting on his performance, Smith conveyed confidence in maintaining his lead, elaborating on the importance of adapting to track conditions, including rubber accumulation and temperature changes due to preceding Cup car races.

He remained optimistic about his prospects, emphasizing the need to improve long-run pace.

“I think so. We were solid in practice, I felt like we needed to work on our long-run pace a bit, I think it will be keeping up with the racetrack with rubber and being a little bit hotter and the Cup cars before, and hopefully, you know, we can keep it upfront.” – Sammy Smith

Smith’s focus is clear: maintain the front position as he prepares for the challenge ahead, demonstrating a tactical approach to the upcoming race.

JR Motorsports Locks Out Top-Three in Qualifying

Despite stiff competition, JR Motorsports excelled in qualifying at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, securing the top three positions.

Carson Kvapil delivered an impressive performance, posting the next-fastest time in the session. His timing was just a fraction shy of his teammate, marking his career-best start. This achievement in Las Vegas follows another top-five start he earned recently at Circuit of The Americas, indicating a promising upward path for the Mooresville, North Carolina native.

Connor Zilisch rounded out the top three for JR Motorsports, placing his No. 88 WeatherTech Chevrolet in third. This consistent performance highlights the team’s strong showing in the qualifying rounds.

Significantly, Taylor Gray, a rookie, secured fourth place, emphasizing his potential and positioning him as the best qualifier for Joe Gibbs Racing.

Meanwhile, Sam Mayer completed the top five in Friday’s session, further solidifying the competitive field as the drivers prepare for the upcoming race.

Other Notable Qualifiers and Race Details

How did the field shape up beyond the top positions in the LiUNA! at Las Vegas Motor Speedway?

While Justin Allgaier secured the sixth spot, it was remarkable that he was the slowest among the four JR Motorsports entries. Trailing him in the top-10 are Jesse Love, Nick Sanchez, and Jeb Burton, each poised to make a considerable impact on race day.

Further back, Austin Hill claimed the 14th position, closely followed by Brando Jones in 15th and Daniel Dye in 16th.

Christian Eckes secured the 17th slot, while Ryan Sieg and Sheldon Creed rounded out the prominent qualifiers, positioned 20th and 23rd, respectively.

The race, LiUNA! at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, promises to be a thrilling event, with the green flag set to wave on Saturday, March 15 at 4:30 PM ET.

Coverage will be available on The CW, PRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

News in Brief: Sammy Smith Snatches Las Vegas Pole With Blazing Speed

Sammy Smith secured the pole position for The LiUNA! event at Las Vegas with an impressive performance, highlighting the dominance of JR Motorsports. The team achieved a remarkable feat by locking out the top-three positions in qualifying, showcasing their superior speed and strategy.

Other notable qualifiers also made their mark, setting the stage for a competitive race. With these results, the upcoming race promises to be an exciting showdown as drivers compete for victory on the track.

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