Kelley Earnhardt, the vice president of JR Motorsports, couldn’t hide her excitement after her team’s outstanding showing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series qualifying at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. JR Motorsports, the powerhouse racing team, dominated the qualifying session, sweeping the top three spots, which is no small feat. It marks the third time in the team’s history that they’ve achieved this remarkable accomplishment.
Leading the charge for JR Motorsports was 20-year-old Sammy Smith, who secured his third career pole position with an impressive lap speed of 183.455 mph on the 1.5-mile oval track. Smith’s achievement was not only a testament to his individual skill but also to the engineering and support provided by the entire JR Motorsports team.
Joining Smith at the top of the grid were his teammates, with Carson Kvapil qualifying second with a lap time of 183.038 mph. This is a significant milestone for the 21-year-old, as this marks his best-ever starting position in the Xfinity Series. Kvapil, making his 14th career series start, will look to build on this strong qualifying performance during Saturday’s race.
Completing the sweep for JR Motorsports was 18-year-old Zane Zilisch, who rounded out the top three with a lap of 182.655 mph. The 2025 season has been a breakthrough year for Zilisch, and his performance in Las Vegas further highlights the team’s strength across all drivers.
The success didn’t stop with the top three. All four of JR Motorsports’ entries found themselves in the top six, with Taylor Gray (182.482 mph) and Sam Mayer (182.223 mph) taking the fourth and fifth positions, respectively. Justin
For Kelley Earnhardt, the team’s consistent success in qualifying and their overall growth throughout the season are a source of immense pride. “I’m extremely happy with our team’s performance in Las Vegas,” Earnhardt remarked. “To see our drivers excel, especially Sammy, Carson, and Zane, is a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone at JR Motorsports. We’ve built a team with strong drivers, and it’s paying off. I’m excited to see what we can do in the race on Saturday.”
Saturday’s race will be crucial as it serves as the qualifying event for the prestigious Dash 4 Cash. The top four eligible finishers in the race will advance to compete for a $100,000 prize at the next race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. With JR Motorsports securing such a strong starting position, their drivers are in prime position to compete for that coveted prize.
The Xfinity Series race is scheduled to start at 4:40 p.m. ET on The CW Network, and fans can expect an action-packed race as JR Motorsports looks to capitalize on its qualifying dominance and make another strong statement on the track.
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