JR Motorsports Las Vegas Preview brings heightened excitement as the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs head into the pivotal Round of 8 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Saturday. Four JRM drivers—Connor Zilisch, Justin Allgaier, Sammy Smith, and Carson Kvapil—are set to compete on the 1.5-mile oval, each with distinct playoff ambitions and momentum from an electrifying season.
Carson Kvapil Readies for Redemption Run in Las Vegas
Carson Kvapil, driving the No. 1 Bass Pro Shops / Clarience Technologies Chevrolet, approaches the Las Vegas event sitting seventh in the playoff standings, 11 points beneath the cutline. Kvapil’s 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series campaign has included 29 starts, six top-five finishes, 13 top 10s, and a total of 64 laps led, with an average result of 14th. The 22-year-old rookie returns to Las Vegas for his second NXS start at this venue, determined to extend his postseason journey.
During his sole prior appearance in Sin City, Kvapil demonstrated impressive pace by qualifying second and running within the top 10 for much of the event, before a pit road incident relegated him to a finish just outside the top 15. On tracks between one and two miles in length across 19 NXS starts, he has recorded four top-fives and seven top-10s, highlighted by a runner-up finish both at Dover Motor Speedway last year and at EchoPark Speedway earlier this season.
“It feels great transferring into the Round of 8 but this No. 1 team still has a lot to do to keep us in contention. We ran well at Vegas in the Spring, so I know we will unload another fast car this weekend. Hopefully we can stay out of the mess and rack up some points to make up some ground on the cutline. I am looking forward to running out the rest of the season with Bass Pro Shops and Clarience Technologies on board and we’re going to keep working to get some great finishes for Johnny Morris and everyone else who has supported me this season.”
— Carson Kvapil, Driver
Justin Allgaier Returns as Recent Las Vegas Victor
Justin Allgaier enters Las Vegas representing the No. 7 BRANDT Professional Agriculture / Rev1 Energy Chevrolet, currently ranked second in the standings and holding a comfortable 24-point margin over the cutoff. Allgaier’s 2025 NXS performance features three wins, 12 top-five finishes, 17 top-10s, and a potent tally of 897 laps led over 29 starts, producing an average finish position of 12.7.
Allgaier approaches this weekend’s event as the most recent victor at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, where he dominated by leading a race-high 102 laps in his previous outing. His historical record at this track is impressive, amassing 12 top-fives and 19 top-10s from 22 starts, along with his springtime victory. Among all NXS ovals, Las Vegas stands out for Allgaier, boasting his best average finish at an oval (6.9), only surpassed at Portland (6.0) and Sonoma (6.3).
“We’ve had this race circled since we left here in the spring. We all know how important it is to start this round off on a strong note and I can’t think of a better place than Las Vegas to get that done. We had an incredible car here in the spring and I know that Jim (Pohlman, crew chief) and all the guys on this BRANDT Professional Agriculture / Rev1 Energy Chevrolet will give me another great one again on Saturday. We know what we need to do and if we can just execute like we have been, we should be in a great position to fight for the win and advance into the Championship 4.”
— Justin Allgaier, Driver
Sammy Smith Aims to Build on Playoff Momentum
Sammy Smith, piloting the No. 8 Pilot Chevrolet, finds himself sixth in the Playoff grid—seven points below the advancing line after a pressure-filled run at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval. Smith, with 29 starts in the current NXS season, has one win, seven top-fives, and 15 top-10s, maintaining an average finish of 14.7. As he approaches his sixth Las Vegas NXS start since 2023, he seeks to build on substantial experience at this circuit.
Across his five prior Las Vegas visits, Smith has started in the top 10 four times and captured pole honors earlier this year, underscoring his qualifying strength. Over 54 NXS starts on tracks up to 1.5 miles, the young driver has notched two victories, 12 top-fives, and 27 top-10s.
“It was such a relief knowing that we advanced to the Round of 8 after the Roval. I felt like I could take a breath of fresh air. This No. 8 Pilot Chevrolet team is a championship-caliber team, we just need to keep putting together complete races like that. Our goal is to have strong races in Las Vegas and Talladega so that we aren’t depending on a good run at Martinsville to advance. This group is ready to go.”
— Sammy Smith, Driver
Connor Zilisch Leads the Field with Standout Season
Connor Zilisch, at the wheel of the No. 88 WeatherTech Chevrolet, begins the Las Vegas stretch as the points leader, sitting 33 points ahead of Allgaier and 55 clear of the cutline. Zilisch’s 2025 campaign has been dominant, with 28 starts yielding 10 wins, 18 top-fives, 20 top-10s, and 951 laps led, complemented by an average result of 7.9. The No. 88 squad also holds an impressive 88-point lead in the owner standings coming into Nevada.
Saturday marks Zilisch’s second career Las Vegas NXS start; he previously secured a ninth-place finish in the March race after a strong performance until a late pit road speeding penalty. Zilisch arrives with momentum following his tenth win of the season at the Roval last weekend, where he led 61 of 68 laps and captured his eighth pole of the year—his sixth victory from pole in 2025.
“Las Vegas is one of the more important races that we will have this season and it’s a really good track for me. I loved racing there earlier this year. I’m excited that we get to go back there and I have an opportunity for redemption. We ran well back in March, but I sped on pit road in the final stage, and we finished ninth. I know if we do our job this weekend, we’ll have a really good shot to win the race. Winning there would be a big stress reliever because we would clinch a spot in the Championship 4.”
— Connor Zilisch, Driver
JR Motorsports Targets Fifth Las Vegas Win and Fan Engagement
Since debuting at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2006, JR Motorsports has established a strong record at the venue, participating in 88 NXS races at the 1.5-mile oval. Over that stretch, the organization has amassed four victories, 35 top-fives, and 57 top-10s, with an average finish of 11.1. Legendary racer Mark Martin delivered JRM’s first NXS win at this track on March 1, 2008, setting the tone for future successes in Sin City.
Beyond the on-track action, fans attending this weekend will have the opportunity to interact with the JRM quartet—Kvapil, Allgaier, Smith, and Zilisch—during an autograph session at the JR Motorsports / HMS-Byron/Bowman souvenir rig, scheduled for Saturday, October 11 from 1:15 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. PT. This event cements the team’s commitment to connecting with its passionate base as the championship battle intensifies.
What’s at Stake as Playoff Spots Tighten
The Las Vegas round of the NXS Playoffs represents a vital opportunity for JR Motorsports to build on its storied history and secure a berth in the Championship 4. With drivers at various stages of their postseason pursuit—Zilisch leading as the points frontrunner, Allgaier striving for consecutive wins at the oval, and both Smith and Kvapil looking to advance—each lap in Las Vegas will carry major playoff implications.
As the pressure mounts, the JR Motorsports Las Vegas Preview signals intense competition both for the trophy and for valuable championship points. Success at this event could set the tone for the remaining playoff races at Talladega and Martinsville, further solidifying JRM’s place as a dominant force in the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series season.
