Kvapil Falls Just Short of Victory at Rainy EchoPark Speedway

June 30, 2025

Race 17 of 33: Focused Health 250 at Atlanta Motor Speedway
Track Specs: 1.54-mile quad-oval / 163 laps
Race Winner: Nick Sanchez
Kvapil’s finish: 2nd
Zilisch’s finish: 4th
Allgaier’s finish: 31st
Smith’s finish: 33rd

Carson Kvapil

Carson Kvapil, driver of the No. 1 Registix Chevrolet, rallied back after qualifying in the 24th position to score a second-place finish. After having to make adjustments post-qualifying, the JR Motorsports driver was forced to drop to the rear of the field for the start of the 163-lap event at EchoPark Speedway on Friday evening. Making quick work of the field, Kvapil charged into the top 15 within the first stage before a lightning delay put the race on hold with 11 laps remaining to the initial green-and-white checkered flag. After the conclusion of the delay, the 22-year-old Mooresville, N.C. native restarted in 16th position and worked his way into the top 10 to capture valuable stage points. Starting Stage Two on the front row, Kvapil battled for position in the opening laps, eventually settling into second place, where he would ultimately finish the stage. After taking one last trip down pit road, the rookie lined up for the final segment in ninth. Avoiding several on-track incidents through the remaining laps, Kvapil worked his way back into the top two where he would take the checkered flag in second.

“We had a rough start to the day in qualifying and then having to go to the rear, but Andrew (Overstreet, crew chief) and this whole No. 1 Registix team worked so hard to give me a car capable of getting through the field. It feels great to get a top-five, but we are going to build off this momentum and keep working toward being one spot better.”

Connor Zilisch

Connor Zilisch scored a fourth-place finish Friday night at EchoPark Speedway, his fifth consecutive top-five result. Zilisch qualified sixth and was running second when the race was halted for lightning on lap 35. The race resumed after a delay of more than an hour, and Zilisch pitted for fuel and tires under caution before clawing his way through traffic to finish in sixth when the stage ended at lap 45. The young driver stayed out during the stage caution and cycled to the lead on lap 51. He remained up front for the next 32 laps until pitting under caution on lap 83 for four tires and fuel. He was credited with 13th place when Stage Two ended on lap 90. In the final stage, Zilisch successfully managed his fuel economy to challenge for the victory. He pitted for the final time on lap 128 for fuel and a chassis adjustment and worked his way back to the front. Zilisch climbed back into the top five with 12 laps remaining and challenged for the lead, dropping to the bottom lane in an effort to improve his position. Sufficient help did not materialize and the driver of the Blues Hog Chevrolet crossed the finish line in fourth position.

“We had another top-five and a solid race tonight in Atlanta. Thanks to the entire Blues Hog Chevrolet team and everyone at JR Motorsports. We have had really fast cars for what seems like the last two or three months and we’ve been one of the cars to beat. We got the job done last week and I feel like we are close to winning again. At the end of the race, I just needed more help from behind. If we could have gotten three cars to commit to it, I think it would have worked. We kept losing people on the bottom and it would just kill our momentum and anything we had. I wish we could have had a better chance there to win the race.”

Justin Allgaier

Justin Allgaier, driver of the No. 7 BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet, battled hard in the opening laps of Friday night’s NASCAR Xfinity Series event at EchoPark Speedway. After taking the green flag in 16th, Allgaier made his way toward the top 10, using a strategic three-wide move that would catapult him to ninth. The veteran driver maintained his position in the top 10 until lap 34, when lightning forced the race to be put on hold. After a lengthy delay, Allgaier lined up to restart eighth for the remaining laps. Unfortunately, the JR Motorsports driver was involved in an on-track incident in the opening laps and was unable to continue, ultimately being scored in the 31st position. Despite the result, Allgaier held on to his lead in the NXS standings, topping the standings by 63 points heading to his home state of Illinois this week for the event at the Chicago Street Course.

“Today didn’t end up the way we had hoped after waiting out that long delay. We had a fast BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet, so I hate that we couldn’t keep fighting. This No. 7 team will rebound from today and get ready to head to Chicago next week.”

Sammy Smith

Sammy Smith, driver of the No. 8 Pilot Chevrolet, qualified 14th for the NASCAR Xfinity Series’ Focused Health 250 on Friday night at EchoPark Speedway. Smith and his JR Motorsports team battled high temperatures and an extended lightning delay 34 laps into the event, but were unfortunately caught up in an on-track incident on the ensuing restart that ended their night.

Smith took the green flag for the night race from 14th and, five laps into the 163-lap event, caution waved over the speedway. Smith jumped to 12th as a result, and the 21-year-old driver noted that his Pilot Camaro handled well but was slightly tight in traffic. Crew chief Phillip Bell told his driver that the handle would change once he got into cleaner air. For the next 10 laps, Smith ran just outside the top 10 until the caution waved at lap 34 due to lightning in the area and the field came to pit road under the red flag. After more than an hour’s wait, drivers returned to their cars for the restart. Prior to the green flag, Smith came down pit road for tires, fuel and an adjustment to help Smith with the front turn on his Chevrolet. Unfortunately, Smith was caught up in a multi-car crash on the restart and was unable to continue, ending his night in 33rd position.

“It’s a bummer that this happened after having speed in our No. 8 Pilot Chevrolet. I hate it for my guys and for Pilot, TMC and Allstate Peterbilt Group after the great support they show me. We’ll regroup and look to Chicago next week.”