TC Daily Pit Stop: Justin Allgaier Holds Off Aric Almirola to Win at Las Vegas; McDowell Earns First Pole for Spire Motorsports

TC Daily Pit Stop: Sunday, March 16th, 2025

Mar 16, 2025

Justin Allgaier Holds Off Aric Almirola to Score First Las Vegas Win

Defending NASCAR Xfinity Series champion Justin Allgaier is set to return to the NASCAR Playoffs this Fall, after a dominant performance in Saturday’s The LiUNA! at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

The native of Riverton, Illinois had the dominant racecar throughout much of the afternoon but had to put up a masterful defense against a hard-charging Aric Almirola in the closing laps of the event to secure his 26th NASCAR Xfinity Series win.

Aric Almirola, Jesse Love, Austin Hill, and Sam Mayer completed the top-five. Brandon Jones, Ryan Sieg, Harrison Burton, Connor Zilisch, and Sheldon Creed rounded out the top-10.

Michael McDowell Earns Surprise Pole at Las Vegas; First Pole for Spire Motorsports

How’s that for a surprise?

Michael McDowell and Travis Peterson have collected the first-ever NASCAR Cup Series pole position for Spire Motorsports, laying down an incredible lap in Sunday’s single-car qualifying session from Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

After placing ninth in the series’ sole practice session from the 1.5-mile facility in Las Vegas, Nevada, McDowell surged to the top of the speed charts in the time trials session, posting a lap time of 28.883 seconds (186.961mph) to edge out defending NASCAR Cup Series champion Joey Logano.

Austin Cindric, Kyle Busch, and Erik Jones rounded out the top-five.