Brandon Jones secured the pole position for the NASCAR Xfinity Series Kansas Lottery 300 at Kansas Speedway on Saturday, marking his third pole at this track in the past four seasons. The event is a pivotal Round of 12 contest, where postseason drivers are vying for points to advance in the series playoffs.
The NASCAR Xfinity Series resumed action after a short break, as competitors gathered in Kansas to contest the second of three crucial playoff races. The stakes are high, as drivers seek to build enough of a points cushion—specifically surpassing a 57-point threshold—to secure their place in the upcoming Round of 8. Connor Zilisch, who clinched the regular season championship, already leads the standings by 82 points.
Jones Claims Top Spot with Impressive Qualifying Run
Brandon Jones demonstrated his mastery of the 1.5-mile oval by posting a strong qualifying lap at 173.41 mph. This performance edged out Taylor Gray by just 0.096 seconds, as Jones continues to strengthen his postseason campaign, entering the race eight points above the playoff cutoff. Gray followed closely in the second spot, while other notable drivers including Sam Mayer and Brenden Queen filled out the first two rows.
Aric Almirola, who triumphed in the prior event at Bristol Motor Speedway on September 12, added further intensity to the playoff picture with his win, reminding drivers of the unpredictable nature of the championship battle.
Postseason Points and Records on the Line
Playoff drivers are keenly aware that a strong finish at Kansas could solidify their spot in the next round. Regular-season champion Connor Zilisch, in a remarkable rookie campaign, has notched nine wins and stretched his top-five finish streak to 15 races. Zilisch qualified seventh with a speed of 171.32 mph. Should he land another top-five this weekend, he will break Sam Ard’s longstanding 1983 record for consecutive top-five finishes in the circuit.
Veteran Justin Allgaier also remains a factor, starting fifth after a 171.81 mph lap. Allgaier leads all active drivers with six victories on 1.5-mile tracks, making him someone to watch as the race unfolds. Practice sessions saw Ryan Sieg clock the fastest overall lap at 172.419 mph, signaling that multiple drivers bring strong form into race day.
Fastest out of the #NASCARPlayoffs drivers?
That would be @sammysmithSS! pic.twitter.com/w0KJY0Iqqo
— NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) September 27, 2025
Sammy Smith was noted as the fastest playoff driver during preparations, adding another layer of anticipation for Saturday’s race.
The Starting Grid: Kansas Lottery 300 Lineup Announced
Below is the official starting lineup for the NASCAR Xfinity Series Kansas Lottery 300 at Kansas Speedway:
1. Brandon Jones, No. 20 Toyota
2. Taylor Gray, No. 54 Toyota
3. Sam Mayer, No. 41 Ford
4. Brenden Queen, No. 11 Chevrolet
5. Justin Allgaier, No. 7 Chevrolet
6. William Sawalich, No. 18 Toyota
7. Connor Zilisch, No. 88 Chevrolet
8. Rajah Caruth, No. 17 Chevrolet
9. Dean Thompson, No. 26 Toyota
10. Sheldon Creed, No. 00 Ford
11. Patrick Staropoli, No. 24 Toyota
12. Jesse Love, No. 2 Chevrolet
13. Nicholas Sanchez, No. 48 Chevrolet
14. Sammy Smith, No. 8 Chevrolet
15. Ryan Sieg, No. 39 Ford
16. Justin Bonsignore, No. 19 Toyota
17. Austin Hill, No. 21 Chevrolet
18. Harrison Burton, No. 25 Ford
19. Carson Kvapil, No. 1 Chevrolet
20. Christian Eckes, No. 16 Chevrolet
21. Matt DiBenedetto, No. 99 Chevrolet
22. Anthony Alfredo, No. 42 Chevrolet
23. Parker Retzlaff, No. 4 Chevrolet
24. Kyle Sieg, No. 28 Ford
25. Jeremy Clements, No. 51 Chevrolet
26. Jeb Burton, No. 27 Chevrolet
27. Leland Honeyman, No. 70 Chevrolet
28. Blaine Perkins, No. 31 Chevrolet
29. Brennan Poole, No. 44 Chevrolet
30. Mason Massey, No. 45 Chevrolet
31. Austin Green, No. 32 Chevrolet
32. Kole Raz, No. 76 Ford
33. Joey Gase, No. 53 Chevrolet
34. Ryan Ellis, No. 71 Chevrolet
35. Nick Leitz, No. 07 Chevrolet
36. Josh Williams, No. 91 Chevrolet
37. Garrett Smithley, No. 14 Chevrolet
38. Daniel Dye, No. 10 Chevrolet
39. Glen Renn, No. 35 Ford
200 Laps Ahead with High Stakes for Drivers
The stage is set for 200 intense laps at Kansas Speedway, where a mix of experienced racers and rising stars will look to secure crucial points in their pursuit of the championship. Every lap provides an opportunity—and a risk—with leading names like Brandon Jones, Taylor Gray, Sam Mayer, and others all eager to capitalize on their starting positions. Drivers including Justin Bonsignore, Jesse Love, Matt DiBenedetto, Brennan Poole, Christian Eckes, Joey Gase, Nick Leitz, Daniel Dye, Ryan Ellis, Anthony Alfredo, and more, are each searching for the edge that might propel them further in the postseason drama.
200 laps where anything can happen.
The Xfinity Series takes on @kansasspeedway today, live on @TheCW_Sports. pic.twitter.com/wVMuxmOfnv
— NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) September 27, 2025
The unpredictable nature of the NASCAR Xfinity Series Kansas Lottery 300 ensures that each turn could shift the playoff picture, keeping fans and drivers alike on edge for what comes next at Kansas Speedway.
Fastest out of the #NASCARPlayoffs drivers?
That would be @sammysmithSS! pic.twitter.com/w0KJY0Iqqo
— NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) September 27, 2025
200 laps where anything can happen.
The Xfinity Series takes on @kansasspeedway today, live on @TheCW_Sports. pic.twitter.com/wVMuxmOfnv
— NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) September 27, 2025
