JR Motorsports approaches the NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship event at Phoenix Raceway this weekend with high hopes and an energetic mindset, as the team aims to capture the NXS title following a season marked by standout performances. Highlighting the JR Motorsports Phoenix Raceway Preview, three of its drivers—Carson Kvapil, Justin Allgaier, and Connor Zilisch—will compete in the elite Championship 4, making JR Motorsports a focal point at the 1-mile desert track.
Carson Kvapil Targets Redemption and Championship Glory
Carson Kvapil, piloting the No. 1 Bass Pro Shops / Clarience Technologies Chevrolet, has accumulated 32 starts in the 2025 NXS season, notching seven top-five and 14 top-10 finishes with 104 laps led and an average finish of 13.8. Currently second in the standings, Kvapil’s journey to Phoenix follows his clutch performance at Martinsville Speedway, which secured his spot in the Championship 4.
This weekend will be Kvapil’s second career NXS appearance at Phoenix. In his 16 races on intermediate tracks, Kvapil captured two top-fives and four top-10s, with season-best results of fifth at New Hampshire Motor Speedway and Darlington Raceway. His playoff highlight was finishing second at Talladega Superspeedway earlier in the month.
Kvapil recognizes the challenge ahead and enters Phoenix as an underdog but remains confident in his team’s preparation.
“We’re definitely coming into this weekend as the underdog, but I am so proud of this No. 1 team for working so hard to get us to this point. We didn’t have the best run at Phoenix in the spring so we are definitely looking for redemption this weekend. We plan to go out and do our best to minimize mistakes and execute all day and hopefully we will be in contention for the big prize at the end. We have one more chance this season to get a great finish for Johnny Morris and everyone at Bass Pro Shops and Clarience technologies and we plan to make the most of it.”
– Carson Kvapil, Driver
Justin Allgaier Seeks Back-to-Back Xfinity Titles at Phoenix
Defending series champion Justin Allgaier, piloting the No. 7 BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet, enters Phoenix with a season résumé featuring three wins, fourteen top-five, and nineteen top-10 finishes, alongside an impressive 973 laps led and a 12.5 average finish. Currently third in the standings, Allgaier has a strong track record at Phoenix, where he’s earned victories in both the 2017 spring and 2019 fall NXS events.
Earlier in the season, Allgaier led a race-high 130 laps at the Phoenix oval and eventually finished fifth. In 30 career NXS starts at the venue, he has earned 12 top-fives and 20 top-10s. NASCAR’s Loop Data further establishes his expertise at the track: Allgaier leads all NXS drivers in laps completed inside the top 15, total laps led, green-flag passes, and quality passes.
Looking ahead to the weekend, Allgaier shares the excitement and responsibility of representing JR Motorsports at this significant championship event.
“This is what we have all worked so hard for, to get to Phoenix with a chance to race for a championship. To have three JRM Chevrolets in this final four is amazing and just a testament to everyone back at JR Motorsports. I know that Jim (Pohlman, crew chief) and everyone on this BRANDT Professional Agriculture team is ready to go this weekend. We had a great car here in the spring and I feel like we have a really strong notebook for what we will need when we unload on Friday. If we can just go out and execute to the best of our abilities, I think we are going to have a strong chance to accomplish something great on Saturday night.”
– Justin Allgaier, Driver
Sammy Smith Strives for Strong Finish in Pilot Chevrolet
Sammy Smith, behind the wheel of the No. 8 Pilot Chevrolet, currently sits eighth in the standings with one win, eight top-five, and seventeen top-10 finishes this season. Despite falling out of championship contention, Smith is only 13 points away from seventh and within reach of a fifth-place finish in the year-end rankings.
Smith has six NXS starts at Phoenix, highlighted by a victory in the spring of 2023, where he started 11th and led for 92 laps en route to the checkered flag. With consistent results at the track, Smith is motivated to finish the season on a high note for both his team and sponsors Pilot and Shamrock Farms Rockin’ Protein.
Smith remains focused and resilient, saying,
“I’m disappointed that we’re not going into Phoenix competing for a championship but this No. 8 Pilot team is still going to fight for a win. We’ve done well there in the past so we’ll focus on the end goal of gaining points to close out the season strong and get this Pilot Chevrolet to Victory Lane.”
– Sammy Smith, Driver
Connor Zilisch Sets Sights on Record-Breaking Season
Connor Zilisch’s rookie campaign in the No. 88 WeatherTech Chevrolet has been nothing short of extraordinary. Topping the points standings, Zilisch has earned 10 wins in 31 starts, including nine victories over the last 17 races, 19 top-five and 22 top-10 results, and 986 laps led, with an average finish of 8.2. He’s also racing for the NXS Owner’s Championship at Phoenix, representing JR Motorsports among a competitive owner lineup that includes Richard Childress Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing.
Phoenix marks Zilisch’s third Xfinity start at the desert oval, making it the most familiar track in his young career. Last November, he recorded a fourth-place finish at the venue. The 2025 campaign has seen Zilisch break records for rookie wins and tie historic marks for consecutive victories, joining legends like Sam Ard and Noah Gragson.
Reflecting on the season and what lies ahead at Phoenix, Zilisch commented,
“It’s really cool to be in the Championship 4 with my teammates Justin and Carson. It’s going to be a crazy busy weekend in Phoenix but I’m glad to be doing it alongside them. We just need to execute the day and make the most of it on Saturday. We’ve made sure that everything we do is calculated and are accounting for any and all situations to be prepared for anything. Before the season started my crew chief Mardy Lindley had me fill out a points and win prediction. I had us winning four races so to sit here today with 10 wins and winning the regular season championship plus locking into the Championship 4 early, this No. 88 team has certainly outdone my expectations. I’ve learned so much this season at JRM on a professional and personal level that I’ll carry with me into the Cup Series.”
– Connor Zilisch, Driver
Team Overview: JR Motorsports’ Phoenix Raceway Legacy
Since 2006, JR Motorsports has entered 113 NXS races at Phoenix Raceway, achieving four wins, twenty-nine top-five finishes, and fifty-eight top-10 results. The team’s historic average finish at the Arizona oval is 13.1, reflecting a consistent presence near the front of the field in the highly competitive Xfinity Series.
This strong organizational performance is underscored by the collaboration among drivers, engineers, and crew chiefs such as Jim Pohlman and Mardy Lindley, who play vital roles in race strategy and execution. The synergy within the JR Motorsports garage, evident in this year’s triple placement in the Championship 4, spotlights the talents of drivers like rookie Connor Zilisch, championship contenders Justin Allgaier and Carson Kvapil, and the supporting cast including seasoned sponsors like Bass Pro Shops, Pilot, and WeatherTech.
Fan Engagement and Final Weekend Activities
Fans attending the Phoenix event will have opportunities to meet Carson Kvapil, Justin Allgaier, Sammy Smith, and Connor Zilisch at an autograph session at the JR Motorsports / HMS-Byron/Bowman souvenir rig on Saturday, November 1, from 10:45 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. PT. This activity offers fans a unique chance to connect with JR Motorsports’ elite roster as the season reaches its dramatic conclusion.
The Road Ahead: Championship Determination and Continued Growth
JR Motorsports stands poised for an electrifying championship battle at Phoenix Raceway. With Carson Kvapil, Justin Allgaier, and Connor Zilisch joining Championship 4 rival Jesse Love of Richard Childress Racing, the event promises high drama and intense competition. Beyond individual statistics and records, the organization’s culture of preparation and mutual support has driven success all season, as seen in their statistical dominance at tracks like Darlington Raceway, Talladega Superspeedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, and, crucially, Phoenix.
For JR Motorsports, a championship at Phoenix would not only cap an already remarkable year but also enhance its legacy as one of the premier teams in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. As the checkered flag approaches, the energy surrounding the JR Motorsports Phoenix Raceway Preview is palpable, with fans, sponsors, and teams alike anticipating a thrilling end to the 2025 NXS season.
