NASCAR

NASCAR Xfinity Series The LiUNA!: Qualifying, Sammy Smith’s Pole Position, Lineup At Las Vegas Motor Speedway

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Jeff Hawkins
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Jeff Hawkins Sports Editor

Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry, in both print and digital media. He joined the Sportscasting team in 2021 following a decade of freelancing. He spent his early career as a reporter for various newspapers in Illinois, New York, Florida, North Carolina, and Michigan, with a particular emphasis as a beat reporter for the Chicago Blackhawks. Jeff earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from Oakland University. Over the course of his career he earned several sports writing awards, including two national awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors for column writing and news reporting. One of the five prized columns included a commentary on NASCAR's increasing corporate influences, particularly in northern racetracks — commentary which you might find Jeff building on as part of the Motorsports writing team at Sportscasting now.  

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Published14 Mar 2025

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Xfinity Sammy Smith wins LV pole (1)

With JR Motorsports sweeping Friday’s top three NASCAR Xfinity Series’ qualifying runs for Saturday’s The LiUNA! at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Sammy Smith took his turn in the garage’s spotlight. 

Through the circuit’s opening four events, Carson Kvapil and rookie Connor Zilisch created headlines, along with reigning points champion Justin Allgaier. 

Smith seized his moment in Sin City, turning a hot lap of 183.455 mph, topping Kvapil by 0.067 seconds and Zilisch by 0.129 seconds. 

Smith, who previously won at Talladega last October, earned his first pole since 2023 and third of his four-year career.  

Allgaier will start P6. 

“We have to work on our long-run pace a little bit,” Smith told CW. “Our goal is to keep it out front (Saturday). 

“We’ll see.” 

Greg Van Alst Added to The LiUNA! Lineup 

Driver Greg Van Alst reached an 11th-hour deal to compete Saturday with Joey Gase Motorsports. 

Van Alst, who will make his Las Vegas debut, will pilot the No. 35 Chevrolet and seek to improve on last week’s P31 at Phoenix Raceway. With nine career circuit starts, Van Alst recorded a P26 during the season-opening event at Daytona. 

“We are all incredibly focused on raising the bar and producing solid finishes,” Van Alst said in a press release.

Van Alst qualified last, 2.677 seconds behind Smith.

Starting Lineup for NASCAR Xfinity Series’ The LiUNA!    

Here is a look at the lineup for Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series’ The LiUNA! at Las Vegas Motor Speedway: 

Starting Position, Driver, Car No. 

  • 1, Sammy Smith, No. 8 Chevrolet 
  • 2, Carson Kvapil, No. 1 Chevrolet 
  • 3, Connor Zilisch, No. 88 Chevrolet 
  • 4, Taylor Gray, No. 54 Toyota 
  • 5, Sam Mayer, No. 41 Ford 
  • 6, Justin Allgaier, No. 7 Chevrolet 
  • 7, Jesse Love, No. 2 Chevrolet 
  • 8, William Sawalich, No. 18 Toyota 
  • 9, Nicholas Sanchez, No. 48 Chevrolet 
  • 10, Jeb Burton, No. 27 Chevrolet 
  • 11, Aric Almriola, No. 19 Toyota 
  • 12, Parker Retzlaff, No. 4 Chevrolet   
  • 13, Jeremy Clements, No. 51 Chevrolet 
  • 14, Austin Hill, No. 21 Chevrolet 
  • 15, Brandon Jones, No. 20 Toyota 
  • 16, Daniel Dye, No. 10 Chevrolet 
  • 17, Christian Eckes, No. 16 Chevrolet 
  • 18, Harrison Burton, No. 25 Ford  
  • 19, Matt DiBenedetto, No. 99 Chevrolet 
  • 20, Ryan Sieg, No. 39 Ford 
  • 21, Kyle Sieg, No. 28 Ford  
  • 22, Anthony Alfredo, No. 42 Chevrolet 
  • 23, Sheldon Creed, No. 00 Ford 
  • 24,  Josh Williams, No. 11 Chevrolet 
  • 25, Patrick Emerling, No. 07 Chevrolet 
  • 26, Kris Wright, No. 5 Chevrolet  
  • 27, Blaine Perkins, No. 31 Chevrolet 
  • 28, Dean Thompson, No. 26 Toyota   
  • 29, Leland Honeyman, No. 70 Chevrolet 
  • 30, Brennan Poole, No. 44 Chevrolet  
  • 31, Mason Massey, No. 45 Chevrolet  
  • 32, Dawson Cram, No. 74 Chevrolet  
  • 33, Garrett Smithley, No. 14 Chevrolet 
  • 34, Josh Bilicki, No. 91 Chevrolet 
  • 35, Ryan Ellis, No. 71 Chevrolet 
  • 36, Austin Green, No. 32 Chevrolet 
  • 37, Joey Gase, No. 53 Chevrolet 
  • 38, Greg Van Alst, No. 35 Chevrolet