Noah Gragson, widely seen as a hometown hero, captured local attention during the recent NASCAR Cup Series event at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The race saw Gragson return to his native city, making a strong case for what it means to be a “Noah Gragson hometown hero,” with a determined performance that stood out among a field that included other Las Vegas natives like Kyle Busch and Riley Herbst.
Las Vegas continues to be a prominent birthplace for top NASCAR Cup Series talent, including the likes of Kyle Busch, Noah Gragson, and Riley Herbst. However, the city has historically provided tough odds for its own, as winning or even securing top finishes at the home track remains a rare accomplishment for these drivers. Despite Kyle Busch’s impressive 63 Cup wins, he has only managed one victory at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, underscoring the difficulties hometown heroes often face when racing at home.
While Busch is a seasoned and expected front-runner, Gragson and Herbst find themselves fighting to build their reputations. This time, Las Vegas offered these lesser-celebrated names a shot at making headlines on the track where it matters most to them personally.
Gragson Secures a Top Finish Amid South Point 400 Drama
The South Point 400, held on October 12, brought intense action and dramatic turns for underdog drivers. Noah Gragson made a significant leap in this race, starting from 28th and pushing up to a strong 13th-place finish after navigating several late-race incidents. Gragson’s determination was clear as he broke into the top 20 by the end of the first stage, then steadily gained ground, reaching the top 15 by the second stage conclusion.
The final leg of the race proved especially chaotic, as a major multi-car accident unfolded with just 23 laps remaining, marking one of the largest incidents in Las Vegas race history. Gragson, driving for Front Row Motorsports, managed to avoid becoming collateral, which enabled him to secure his first top-15 result since the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway.
This race was also notable for Gragson’s pit crew, who recorded an 8.19-second four-tire change, the fastest ever by a Front Row Motorsports team. Gragson’s improved pace and consistency have been a highlight of his third season; so far, he has accumulated six top-15 finishes this year as he aims to close out the 2025 campaign on a strong note.
For Gragson, racing at home appears to have a rejuvenating effect. In his six career starts at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, he has finished 18th or better four times, providing him with a foundation of confidence he hopes to carry forward to other tracks as he looks ahead to 2026.
Underdogs Edge Forward in Packed Field
Although none of the underdogs managed to break into the top 10—thanks in part to a significant crash late in the race—a number of dark horse drivers found themselves comfortably within the top 20. Among these, Gragson’s friendly rivalry with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was a season-long subplot, with the pair exchanging a symbolic dollar each week to whichever finished higher. In Las Vegas, Gragson leapfrogged his counterpart, relegating Stenhouse, who finished 14th, to compensate his rival.
“🏁 P14#SouthPoint400 #RealAmericanBeer #NASCAR #TeamChevy #HyakMotorsports pic.twitter.com/Yh2ThoE3cV”— Hyak Motorsports
Stenhouse’s run was marked by an early struggle, spending the first half of the event outside the top 20 before making dramatic improvements in stage two. Consistent adjustments brought his car to life, and he managed to charge into the top 20, ultimately holding on for a back-to-back top 20 finish streak that stretched back to Kansas Speedway and Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Erik Jones added another solid performance, closing in on 15th place—his first time back in the top 15 since racing at Darlington. Hovering at the edge of the top 20 for most of the race, Jones coped with persistent balance issues but escaped the late carnage to finish strong. Despite slipping from 10th to 15th on the final restart due to handling frustrations, Jones has nearly doubled his count of top-15 results this year compared to last season, showing significant growth for Legacy Motor Club.
Veteran Michael McDowell also continued his streak of consistency. Despite an early commitment line penalty that forced him a lap down, McDowell utilized a free pass and navigated the late chaos, climbing back to finish 16th. This marked his sixth consecutive top-20 result and his ninth such finish in the last ten events, extending an impressive run with Spire Motorsports.
Riley Herbst Finds Redemption in Hometown Outing
For Riley Herbst, who has endured a season often dominated by adversity, Las Vegas offered redemption. The 26-year-old rookie, part of the 23XI Racing lineup, capitalized on his homecoming to finish 17th—the second-best among his team’s trio. Herbst’s steady climb through the race was notable, starting from 33rd and rising to 30th by the end of the first stage and up to 23rd by stage two’s end.
The final segment almost saw his efforts go to waste after becoming partially involved in the big restart incident with 23 laps to go. Herbst managed to swerve and recover from minimal contact, eventually crossing the line in 17th place. Remarkably, this marks the fifth time he has achieved a 17th-place result in 2025, underscoring a season marked by perseverance and incremental progress. This finish adds to his total of eight top-20 results as a rookie.
“STRANGE BUT TRUE: Riley Herbst’s 17th place finish at Las Vegas marks the fifth time he’s finished 17th in 2025He had three such finishes in a row to open the year and also ran 17th at Chicago in July. This is also his eighth Top 20 of his rookie season. pic.twitter.com/MQTZXBpHSp”— Steven Taranto
Cruel Fate for Shane van Gisbergen and Carson Hocevar
Among the season’s most improved drivers on oval circuits, Shane van Gisbergen approached the Las Vegas race on a wave of momentum following a recent win at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL. Consistently running inside the top 15, van Gisbergen even broke into the top 10 during the second stage, but misfortune struck during a late restart. Christopher Bell made contact with Ty Gibbs and van Gisbergen, sending both spinning and relegating the New Zealander to a disappointing 33rd place finish despite clear speed and potential.
“There’s contact on the restart, and multiple cars go spinning. pic.twitter.com/L8hV6gV8SN”— NASCAR
Carson Hocevar, another driver on the verge of a breakthrough, was swept up in the same incident after executing a strong showing and finishing stage two in 10th. Despite strong speed and the potential for a top 10 result, Hocevar’s day ended prematurely in 32nd, adding to a series of ill-timed setbacks that have defined his season.
Reviewing the Top Performing Underdogs
The latest underdog power rankings provide a snapshot of those who made significant strides at Las Vegas and those who might shape the competition in upcoming races on the NASCAR calendar:
1. Shane van Gisbergen: Vegas did not deliver the result van Gisbergen hoped for, but his speed was undeniable, positioning him as a growing threat looking ahead to Talladega Superspeedway, where he seeks his first top 10 on the iconic track.
2. Michael McDowell: His remarkable string of top-20 finishes puts him on the cusp of taking over the top underdog spot, and Talladega’s history gives him reason for optimism, given his three top-five results there since 2019.
3. Carson Hocevar: Despite being caught in the crash, Hocevar showed he could be a contender for a top-10 finish and is primed for a strong showing at Talladega, where he notched sixth place earlier this season.
4. Erik Jones: Another strong intermediate-track performance brings Jones back into the top five. He has a notable record at Talladega, with six finishes of sixth or better in the last 11 races at the superspeedway.
5. AJ Allmendinger: Although an incident on the restart compromised his run, Allmendinger delivered another top-20 finish. With only one top-five result in 21 prior Talladega races, he aims for a milestone finish in his next attempt.
Several other drivers received honorable mentions, including Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Noah Gragson, and Todd Gilliland, who have all shown flashes of strength and resilience this year.
Team Spirit and Special Schemes Bring Energy to Las Vegas
The race at Las Vegas also featured creative car designs, with Herbst’s No. 35 Toyota celebrating the partnership with Hungry Jack and featuring pancake-inspired livery, creating buzz inside the garage and evoking the cozy appeal of a fall morning at home. The unique look reflected the team’s energy as they entered race week in Sin City.
“All hail the griddlemaster 🥞The No. 35 is getting a fresh, new look this weekend in Vegas with the Hungry Jack Toyota Camry. pic.twitter.com/09Bup0PD8r”— 23XI Racing
This burst of creativity on the track extended to many small teams, each striving to stand out among NASCAR’s competitive landscape, which is increasingly focused on both performance and innovative branding.
Looking Forward: The Impact of Las Vegas’ Results and What’s Next
Noah Gragson’s impressive Las Vegas performance, combined with consistent progress from rising underdogs such as Riley Herbst, Michael McDowell, and others, has reignited enthusiasm among hometown fans and NASCAR watchers alike. The strong finishes in challenging circumstances showcased the talent and determination of drivers striving to shake up the hierarchy in a sport often dominated by established names.
As the NASCAR Cup Series now shifts focus to the high-speed chaos of Talladega Superspeedway, all eyes will be on whether Gragson and the other standout performers from Las Vegas can translate their momentum into success at one of the most unpredictable venues of the year. For Noah Gragson, the hometown hero narrative continues to build, and his Las Vegas drive may provide the foundation for future breakthroughs both at home and beyond. The next chapter for these drivers promises to carry both high emotion and intense competition as the 2025 season approaches its final laps.
🏁 P14#SouthPoint400 #RealAmericanBeer #NASCAR #TeamChevy #HyakMotorsports pic.twitter.com/Yh2ThoE3cV
— Hyak Motorsports (@HYAKMotorsports) October 13, 2025
STRANGE BUT TRUE: Riley Herbst's 17th place finish at Las Vegas marks the fifth time he's finished 17th in 2025
He had three such finishes in a row to open the year and also ran 17th at Chicago in July. This is also his eighth Top 20 of his rookie season. pic.twitter.com/MQTZXBpHSp
— Steven Taranto (@STaranto92) October 13, 2025
There's contact on the restart, and multiple cars go spinning. pic.twitter.com/L8hV6gV8SN
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) October 13, 2025
All hail the griddlemaster 🥞
The No. 35 is getting a fresh, new look this weekend in Vegas with the Hungry Jack Toyota Camry. pic.twitter.com/09Bup0PD8r
— 23XI Racing (@23XIRacing) October 7, 2025
