NASCAR: Riley Herbst Las Vegas Xfinity race

For the first time in 139 starts, #98-Riley Herbst is a winner in the Xfinity Series – a dominating 14.9-second victory in Las Vegas.

Herbst led a race-high 103 laps in winning the Alsco Uniforms 302 at his home track, Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Herbst had led 130 laps total in his previous 138 starts.

More than 60 of Herbst’s close friends and family members were trackside for this standout showing, and Herbst was understandably emotional as he climbed out of his Ford – earning his first trophy in his 139th series start.

“Oh my goodness, I love this town and I love this team,” Herbst said, effusively thanking the people – family, team owners and corporate sponsors – who had stuck by him as he made his way up the ranks.

“Oh my goodness, you don’t know what this means, what this takes off my chest. I can’t believe it. I love you, Las Vegas. Let’s go,” said Herbst.

“I’ve been working on myself and everything I can control and all I can do is all I can do,” he added. “If there was a caution, there was a caution and we would race them straight up.”

#20-John Hunter Nemechek was the first playoff driver in the final rundown, placing second. Nemechek scored stage points in both stages after starting in the rear. #00-Cole Custer finished third, with playoff drivers #16-Chandler Smith and #1-Sam Mayer rounding out the top five.

“Congrats to Riley, I know he’s been trying to win one of these things for a long time,” Nemechek said, adding, “We got stage points. .. solid points day just have to keep on with it.”

#7-Justin Allgaier took the checkered flag in sixth, as #21-Austin Hill, #9-Brandon Jones, #10-Daniel Hemric and #11-Layne Riggs filled out the top 10.

“I’m really disappointed,” Allgaier said. “A great points day and the guys did a great job. We got behind at the beginning, and hard to get it back. … Proud of the effort all day. Hats off to Riley. That was a demonstration right there.”

The two remaining playoff drivers that didn’t crack the top 10 were #2-Sheldon Creed (15th) and #18-Sammy Smith (17th), who had two loose wheels.

Stewart-Haas Racing swept the stages, with #00-Custer earning his seventh stage win of the season in the opening stage. #98-Herbst won his second career stage in the second stage.

There were 11 lead changes among six drivers and five cautions for 26 yellow flag laps.
The average speed of the race was 130.598 mph.

Race Results