O’Reilly Auto Parts Series At Las Vegas Motor Speedway: The LiUNA! Full Finishing Order

The NASCAR O’Reilly Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway delivered the kind of afternoon that proves why this 1.5‑mile oval remains one of the most unpredictable stops on the schedule. The desert surface demanded precision, punished over‑aggression, and rewarded the few who could balance raw speed with tire management.

With long green‑flag stretches, sudden cautions, and late‑race chaos, the 200‑lap battle became a test of execution as much as horsepower. It wasn’t a wreck‑fest, but it was relentless. More than 20 drivers spent time inside the top 15, and only 18 finished on the lead lap, showing how quickly the race could shift. Veterans, rising stars, and championship hopefuls all had moments where they looked capable of taking control.

In the end, the race became a showcase of adaptability, and the driver who adapted best was Kyle Larson. Larson didn’t dominate the early stages. He survived them. And when the race turned into a knife fight in the final 50 laps, he rose above the chaos and delivered a late‑race masterclass that secured his first O’Reilly Series win of 2026.

O’Reilly Auto Parts Series At Las Vegas Motor Speedway

The LiUNA! : Full Finishing Order

1. Kyle Larson — No. 88 — JR Motorsports
2. Chase Briscoe — No. 19 — Joe Gibbs Racing
3. Sheldon Creed — No. 00 — Haas Factory Team
4. Justin Allgaier — No. 7 — JR Motorsports
5. Sammy Smith — No. 8 — JR Motorsports
6. Jesse Love — No. 2 — Richard Childress Racing
7. Connor Zilisch — No. 1 — JR Motorsports
8. Corey Day — No. 17 — Hendrick Motorsports
9. William Sawalich — No. 18 — Joe Gibbs Racing
10. Austin Hill — No. 51 — Jeremy Clements Racing
11. Carson Kvapil — No. 9 — JR Motorsports
12. Parker Retzlaff — No. 99 — Viking Motorsports
13. Brandon Jones — No. 20 — Joe Gibbs Racing
14. Kyle Sieg — No. 28 — RSS Racing
15. Daniel Dye — No. 52 — AM Racing
16. Josh Williams — No. 92 — DGM Racing X JIM
17. Harrison Burton — No. 24 — Sam Hunt Racing
18. Cole Custer — No. 0 — Sam Hunt Racing
19. Rajah Caruth — No. 32 — Jordan Anderson Racing
20. Brennan Poole — No. 44 — Alpha Prime Racing
21. Patrick Staropoli — No. 48 — Big Machine Racing
22. Blaine Perkins — No. 31 — Jordan Anderson Racing
23. Josh Bilicki — No. 07 — SS GreenLight Racing
24. Jeremy Clements — No. 51 — Jeremy Clements Racing
25. Austin Green — No. 87 — Peterson Racing Group
26. Lavar Scott — No. 45 — Alpha Prime Racing
27. Jeb Burton — No. 27 — Jordan Anderson Racing
28. Mason Maggio — No. 91 — DGM Racing X JIM
29. Joey Gase — No.55 — Joey Gase Motorsports
30. Ryan Ellis — No. 02 — Young’s Motorsports
31. Dean Thompson — No. 26 — Sam Hunt Racing
32. Nathan Byrd — No. 42 — Young’s Motorsports
33. Anthony Alfredo — No. 96 — Viking Motorsports
34. Ryan Sieg — No. 39 — RSS Racing
35. Sam Mayer — No. 41 — Haas Factory Team
36. Chandler Smith — No. 5 — Hettinger Racing
37. Taylor Gray — No. 54 — Joe Gibbs Racing
38. Nick Sanchez — No. 25 — AM Racing

The LiUNA! featured a full 38‑car field, and the results showed how demanding the afternoon became. Kyle Larson scored the win, followed by Chase Briscoe’s huge comeback and Sheldon Creed’s strong run to third. Justin Allgaier and Sammy Smith completed the top five, while Jesse Love, Connor Zilisch, Corey Day, William Sawalich, and Austin Hill rounded out the top ten.

Brandon Jones, Sam Mayer, and Taylor Gray all showed speed before late‑race issues shuffled them back. Jeremy Clements, Rajah Caruth, Jeb Burton, and Anthony Alfredo fought through traffic for mid‑pack finishes, while rookies like Mason Maggio, Nathan Byrd, and Lavar Scott gained valuable experience on a tough intermediate track.

Further back, drivers such as Joey Gase, Dawson Cram, and Ryan Ellis battled handling problems, and several contenders, including Taylor Gray after his heavy crash, saw their races end early. Only 18 drivers finished on the lead lap, highlighting how punishing the LiUNA 300 can be over 200 laps.

Kyle Larson: A Late‑Race Masterclass In The Desert

Kyle Larson’s win wasn’t built on early dominance. In fact, he slipped to fifth on the opening start after spinning his tires. But as the race evolved, Larson and Hendrick Crew Chief Cliff Daniels made steady adjustments that brought the No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet to life. By the final stage, Larson had one of the best cars in the top groove and the most dangerous lane at Las Vegas.

And also the fastest when executed perfectly. Larson committed to that razor‑thin line, running inches from the wall while generating massive corner exit speed. His final 20 laps were the fastest of any driver in the field, and once he cleared Corey Day and Brandon Jones, the race was effectively his.

The win marked Larson’s third career NASCAR victory at Las Vegas across national series and vaulted him into the top five in the championship standings. What separated Larson from the field was his ability to maintain pace on worn tires. While others faded, Larson’s lap times held steady, giving him the edge he needed when the race came down to execution rather than track position.

Early Control Belonged To Justin Allgaier

For the first half of the race, Justin Allgaier looked unstoppable. After Sam Mayer and Sheldon Creed controlled the opening laps, Allgaier found his rhythm and took command. He swept both Stage 1 and Stage 2, leading a race‑high 92 laps, more than double any other driver.

His long‑run pace was exceptional, often two‑tenths faster than the field during the middle of each stage. Even when Jesse Love beat him off pit road, Allgaier simply recalculated, tracked him down, and retook the lead. His ability to navigate traffic with precision made the No. 7 Chevrolet look like the class of the field.

But Las Vegas rarely lets a perfect day stay perfect. A late caution erased Allgaier’s advantage and shuffled him deeper into the pack. Once buried in dirty air, he couldn’t regain the control he’d enjoyed earlier, leaving him to settle for fourth despite having the best car for much of the afternoon.

A Race That Turned On Heartbreak And Chaos

The final stage at Las Vegas flipped the race upside down. Jesse Love had been brilliant all afternoon, consistently winning the race off pit road and positioning himself as Allgaier’s primary challenger. But a costly pit‑road penalty, a crew member jumping too early, sent him to the rear of the field. Love had led 18 laps and posted the fastest pit cycle of the race before the penalty derailed his afternoon.

Then came the moment that defined the race: with 53 laps remaining, Taylor Gray threw a massive block on Sheldon Creed entering turn three. Creed refused to lift. The contact sent Gray hard into the outside wall, ending his race and triggering a caution that reset the entire strategy board. The impact measured over 30 Gs, though Gray climbed out under his own power.

The caution erased Allgaier’s 1.7‑second lead and split the field on pit strategy. Some drivers pitted for fresh tires. Others gambled on track position. The restart produced four lead changes in six laps, the most in any restart sequence this season, and set the stage for Larson’s late‑race charge.

Chase Briscoe: A Comeback For The Ages

Chase Briscoe delivered one of the most impressive performances of the day at Las Vegas. After slamming the wall around lap 100 and being forced into an unscheduled green‑flag pit stop, his race looked doomed.

Instead, Briscoe regrouped and began carving through the field with relentless pace.He ripped the top lane with confidence, making 28 on‑track passes in the final 80 laps, which is the most of any driver.

His runner‑up finish was his best O’Reilly Series result since 2023 and a major statement for a driver looking to reestablish himself as a weekly contender. Briscoe also posted the fastest single lap of the race on lap 187, proving his car was at its best when the pressure was highest.

Storylines Worth Watching After Las Vegas

JR Motorsports: The Fastest Fleet In The Desert

JR Motorsports left Las Vegas with four cars inside the top ten and a combined 112 laps led. Allgaier, Smith, Zilisch, and Day all showed race‑winning potential, and their intermediate‑track program looks like the strongest in the field. If this pace continues, JRM could control the early championship narrative.

Sheldon Creed: A Championship Threat Emerging

Sheldon Creed’s third‑place finish at Las Vegas was his third straight top‑five result, the longest streak of his O’Reilly career. His aggressive style, highlighted by the clash with Taylor Gray, is becoming a defining trait. If he starts converting these runs into wins, he’ll be a major threat.

Corey Day: A Phenom In The Making

Corey Day’s eighth‑place finish undersells his performance. He led 12 laps in the first of his O’Reilly Series career and battled veterans with confidence. His ability to manage restarts and maintain pace in traffic shows he’s ahead of schedule in his development.

Five Drivers Who Nearly Had Even Bigger Nights

Sheldon Creed: Had the pace to challenge Larson directly, posting the third‑best average running position of 6.4, and leading 14 laps.
Jesse Love: Recovered from his penalty to finish sixth, making 22 passes in the final stage.
Connor Zilisch: Rebounded from early contact to finish seventh, his best intermediate‑track result of the season.
Corey Day: Nearly stole the race before dirty air, and Larson’s momentum beat him late.
William Sawalich: Delivered his second straight top‑ten finish, showing improved long‑run pace.

What This Means For The Championship Picture

Las Vegas reshaped the early‑season landscape. Larson’s win puts him firmly in the title conversation, but the bigger story is the depth of contenders behind him. JR Motorsports appears to be the strongest organization in the field. Creed is emerging as a weekly threat. The day is rising quickly.

And Love’s speed suggests he’ll be a factor everywhere the series goes. Through three races, six different drivers have led laps, and the average margin of victory is under one second. The 2026 season is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in recent memory.

What’s Next

Las Vegas has a way of revealing who can handle pressure and who still has work to do. Larson proved he’s ready. Allgaier showed elite speed. Briscoe delivered a comeback that will be remembered. And the rest of the field learned just how punishing and rewarding intermediate racing can be. The trophy goes to Kyle Larson. But the battles behind him will shape the championship long after the desert dust settles.