TC Daily Pit Stop: Almirola Outduels Zilisch in Intense Vegas Xfinity Showdown; Hamlin Leads JGR 1-2-3 in Cup Qualifying; Sunday's TV Schedule

TC Daily Pit Stop: Sunday, October 12, 2025

Oct 12, 2025

Aric Almirola took the win in the Focused Health 302 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway after an intense late-race battle with Connor Zilisch — Luis Torres | TobyChristie.com

Aric Almirola turned back the clock in a thrilling Saturday night showdown at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, outdueling 19-year-old phenom Connor Zilisch to capture his third NASCAR Xfinity Series win of the season. The 41-year-old veteran led a race-high 107 laps and swept the opening two stages. Almirola fended off a late challenge despite battling a tight race car in the closing laps.

While Almirola isn’t racing for the driver’s title, the win locks Joe Gibbs Racing’s No. 19 team into the Championship 4 for the Xfinity Series owner’s championship.

Zilisch, who has been dominant all season long, fell just short of an 11th win in 2025 and an automatic Championship 4 berth. Despite finishing runner-up, the JR Motorsports rookie remains a Playoff favorite with an 82-point cushion above the cutline.

His teammate, defending champion Justin Allgaier, brought home third and now sits 44 points above the elimination zone. Hendrick development driver Corey Day impressed with a P4 finish, while drama brewed deeper in the pack with late-race contact involving Nick Sanchez and Jesse Love.

Denny Hamlin Leads JGR Top-Three Sweep in Qualifying for ‘Round of 8’ Opener

Denny Hamlin came out swinging as the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs rolled into the Round of 8. Hamlin scored the pole for Sunday’s South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Hamlin, still chasing his elusive first Cup Series title after two decades, laid down a blistering 29.213-second lap (184.849 mph) to secure his 47th career pole and his first ever at Las Vegas. With a clean lap and confidence in his short-run speed, the Joe Gibbs Racing veteran sends a message as the field enters the championship-defining stretch.

Joe Gibbs Racing dominated qualifying, sweeping the top three spots with Hamlin, Chase Briscoe, and Christopher Bell. Briscoe, narrowly missing his ninth pole of the season by just 0.036 seconds, will start second and share the front row with Hamlin for the fourth time this year. Meanwhile, Bell’s third-place effort capped a statement-making session for JGR, while Hendrick Motorsports drivers Chase Elliott, William Byron, and Kyle Larson filled out spots four through six in a tightly contested qualifying session.