O’Reilly Auto Parts Series At Las Vegas Motor Speedway: LiUNA! Starting Lineup

Las Vegas Motor Speedway has a way of revealing who’s ready to contend and who’s still searching for answers. The 1.5‑mile oval rewards rhythm, punishes hesitation, and exposes any weakness in a team’s intermediate‑track program. With championship hopefuls, rising stars, and seasoned veterans scattered throughout the grid.

Saturday’s race shapes up as an early‑season checkpoint for the entire O’Reilly Auto Parts Series field.Qualifying delivered a front row at Las Vegas that reflects both raw speed and big‑picture implications. Sam Mayer put the Haas Factory Team on the pole with a blistering lap. While Kyle Larson one of the most dangerous drivers on any intermediate track will start alongside him.

Behind them, the depth of the field becomes immediately clear. With powerhouse organizations stacking the first several rows and hungry challengers lining up just behind. The stage is set for a race where track position matters, strategy will matter even more, and the opening laps could dictate the tone for the entire afternoon.

How Qualifying Played Out

Sam Mayer’s pole‑winning lap of 29.462 seconds was enough to edge Kyle Larson by six‑hundredths a razor‑thin margin that speaks to how dialed‑in both teams were in qualifying trim. Mayer’s second pole of the season reinforces the strength of the Haas Factory Team’s intermediate‑track program, while Larson’s presence on the front row ensures the opening laps will be anything but calm.

Row two features Sheldon Creed and Sammy Smith, two drivers with very different styles but equally strong potential. Creed brings aggression and experience, while Smith continues to build a résumé that demands more attention with each passing week. Brandon Jones and Taylor Gray will launch from the third row,

Both drivers are capable of running inside the top five if the race settles into long green‑flag stretches. The top ten is rounded out by Jesse Love, Rajah Caruth, Justin Allgaier, and Jeremy Clements displaying a mix of youth, experience, and underdog grit that reflects the competitive balance of this year’s field.

Driver Notes And Key Facts

Sam Mayer: Starting 1st

Sam Mayer’s Las Vegas qualifying speed is becoming a trend rather than a surprise. His ability to extract speed from the Haas Factory Team Chevrolet continues to elevate expectations around him. Starting from the pole gives him the clean air advantage that Las Vegas often rewards, but holding off Larson will be a challenge from the moment the green flag waves.

Kyle Larson: Starting 2nd

Kyle Larson’s reputation at 1.5‑mile tracks like Las Vegas Motor Speedway speaks for itself. He rarely waits long to challenge for the lead, and his ability to run multiple grooves makes him a constant threat. Starting alongside Mayer sets up a compelling battle between two drivers who excel under pressure.

Sheldon Creed: Starting 3rd

Sheldon Creed’s aggressive approach often pays dividends at tracks where restarts and momentum matter. If he can stay in touch with the leaders early, he has the pace to disrupt the front row and insert himself into the fight for stage points.

Sammy Smith: Starting 4th

Sammy Smith continues to show maturity beyond his years. His smooth driving style suits Las Vegas, especially during long green‑flag runs. A clean first stage could position him as a legitimate contender.

Brandon Jones: Starting 5th

Brandon Jones has shown improved consistency this season, and qualifying inside the top five especially at a track like Las Vegas Motor Speedway reflects the strength of the Joe Gibbs Racing program. If he avoids early traffic issues, he has the pace to maintain track position.

O’Reilly Auto Parts Series At Las Vegas Motor Speedway

The LiUNA! : Starting Lineup

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

Did Not Qualify: Chad Finchum, Dawson Cram, Myatt Snider

Who Looks Strongest Heading Into Race Day

The front of the field in Las Vegas is stacked with organizations that expect to contend for wins. Hendrick Motorsports puts Corey Day in 11th a position that undersells the speed he showed in practice. Parker Retzlaff, Austin Hill, and William Sawalich all start just outside the top ten, forming a cluster of drivers capable of climbing quickly if the race settles into a rhythm.

Further back, Jeb Burton, Cole Custer, and Connor Zilisch form one of the most intriguing mid‑pack groups. All three have the speed to run inside the top ten, but they’ll need clean air and well‑timed cautions to get there. Custer, in particular, has the résumé to outperform his starting spot.

What Las Vegas Motor Speedway Means for Saturday

Las Vegas is a track where long green‑flag runs can make or break a race. Drivers who qualified deeper in the field including Ryan Sieg, Nick Sanchez, Patrick Staropoli, Chase Briscoe, and Harrison Burton will need to be aggressive early to avoid losing touch with the leaders.

Briscoe and Burton, both with significant experience, are unlikely to stay buried for long.The back half of the field includes several drivers capable of surprising the field with strategy or late‑race pace. A well‑timed caution could flip the running order and bring new contenders into the mix.

Championship Implications

Sam Mayer’s Las Vegas pole run signals that Haas Factory Team is emerging as a legitimate threat in the early championship conversation. Larson’s consistency keeps JR Motorsports firmly in the hunt, while Creed and Smith give their organizations multiple paths to stage points and playoff positioning.

The struggles of Briscoe, Burton, and Sieg in qualifying raise questions about their early‑season form. All three have the talent and equipment to rebound, but starting deep in the field at Las Vegas is never ideal. This race could become a pivotal moment in establishing which teams have truly found speed on intermediate tracks a crucial factor in the championship picture.

What’s Next

Las Vegas rarely produces quiet afternoons. The opening laps will set the tone, but the final stage often becomes a battle of strategy, tire management, and composure. Mayer has the pole, Larson has the pedigree, and the rows behind them are filled with drivers who believe they can win.

With 300 miles ahead, the only certainty is that this race will test every team’s preparation and adaptability. The first stage may tell us who’s fast but the final laps will reveal who’s ready to contend for the 2026 championship.