Kvapil Leads JRM in NXS Season Opener with Fourth-Place Run

Carson Kvapil, driving the No. 1 Bass Pro Shops/Clarience Technologies Chevrolet, rallied to a fourth-place finish in Saturday’s season-opening event for the NASCAR Xfinity Series, leading the way for JR Motorsports. A late-race flurry of cautions

Race 1 of 33: United Rentals 300 at Daytona International Speedway
Track Specs: 2.5-mile oval / 120 laps
Race Winner: Jesse Love
Kvapil’s finish: 4^thAllgaier’s finish: 18^th
Smith’s finish: 24^thZilisch’s finish: 27^th

Carson Kvapil

Carson Kvapil, driver of the No. 8 Bass Pro Shops/Clarience Technologies Chevrolet, made his first trip to Daytona International Speedway to kick off his rookie season in the NASCAR Xfinity Series on Saturday. After being unable to qualify due to weather, the Mooresville, N.C. native started from the 10^th position as determined by the NASCAR rule book. Kvapil held onto his position for the first several laps before he was collected in an on-track incident and sustained damage to his No. 1 Camaro. His crew was able to make the necessary repairs to continue and he worked his way back to through the field, avoiding several other cautions in the process. After going to NASCAR’s version of overtime, Kvapil continued to charge forward and ultimately took the checkered flag in fourth position, the highest finishing rookie in the race.

“It was a really good day overall despite the adversity we faced. This No. 1 Bass Pro Shops/Clarience Technologies team put in the work to keep us in the fight. It wasn’t easy, but by the end we were able to drive up toward the front and get a good finish. I can’t thank Johnny Morris and everyone at Bass Pro Shops and Clarience Technologies enough for their support and I am glad we are able to bring home a solid finish for them.”

Justin Allgaier

Justin Allgaier, driver of the No. 7 BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet, kicked off his title defense in strong fashion, taking the green flag for the 2025 season-opening NASCAR Xfinity Series event at Daytona International Speedway from the first position. Running up front throughout the night, Allgaier looked poised to battle for the win, as the veteran driver paced the field for 11 laps and raced three-wide inside the top five as the field came to the white flag. However, prior to starting the final lap, Allgaier was collected in a multi-car incident that severely damaged his JR Motorsports Chevrolet. Finishing the race under caution, Allgaier crossed under the checkered flag in the 18^th position.

“Our BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet was really strong tonight. Jim (Pohlman, crew chief) and all the guys in this JR Motorsports team gave me a great car that could really work through the pack. I hate that we got collected in that deal coming to the white flag and didn’t get a chance to fight for the win. But we’ll move on from it and be ready to go next week in Atlanta.”

Sammy Smith
Daytona International Speedway stayed true to itself as an unpredictable way to start off the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series season, especially when coupled with Florida’s weather. Sammy Smith, driver of the No. 8 TMC Transportation Chevrolet ended Friday afternoon’s practice session feeling confident in his car. Mother Nature cancelled qualifying for the United Rentals 300, placing Smith 13^th in the starting lineup as the field followed points metrics from the 2024 season. Six laps into the 120-lap event, a crash broke out in front of Smith’s No. 8 JR Motorsports Chevrolet, sending Smith down pit road to check for damages. Everything was clear and the crew sent him back out, where he ran with the pack for the majority of Stage One to get a feel for the car’s handling. Early in Stage Two, Smith took the lead with teammate Justin Allgaier on the outside. The teammates found each other again with 20 laps remaining in the event, as well as the other two JRM machines of Carson Kvapil and Connor Zilisch to power to the front. Unfortunately, Smith was caught up in a wreck and managed to finish out an eventful season opener in 24^th position.

Connor Zilisch

Connor Zilisch, driver of the No. 88 WeatherTech Chevrolet, overcame an early incident to contend for victory in the United Rentals 300 on Saturday evening at Daytona International Speedway. Throughout the first two stages, Zilisch utilized the draft to work through the field where he would battle for the lead. Unfortunately, with two laps to go in regulation the 18-year-old was caught up in an accident which ended his night in the 27^th position.

“We had high hopes coming into the weekend and while it was upsetting we didn’t get to qualify. I knew this No. 88 team built a fast WeatherTech Chevrolet that was capable of getting out front. I wish we could have gotten a better finish for WeatherTech, but that is how speedway racing turns out sometimes. We plan to learn from this and turn our focus to Atlanta.”