Taylor Gray Heads Rookie Top Three in HMS Xfinity Qualifying

(HOMESTEAD, FL – MAR 22, 2025 – RIS) Taylor Gray will start on the pole position for the Hard Rock Bet 300  NASCAR Xfinity race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Three rookies, Gray, Connor Zilisch and Nick Sanchez will start in the top trio of starting positions, with veteran Justin Allgaier starting fourth. Another rookie, Christian Eckes, will start in fifth position.

The first practice session for the Hard Rock Bet 300 NASCAR Xfinity race looked like a continuation of last night’s Craftsman Truck Series race with Kyle Larson fastest in the first group and Ryan Sieg tops in the second practice session.

Josh Williams, after getting out of the Kaulig Racing car last week, decided to start the race and then let Ty Dillon get in the car for the race. Williams is suffering from pneumonia, Ty Dillon immediately put the car second in the group, just 0.047 second behind Larson’s best time and almost a quarter of a second ahead of third-place Anthony Alfredo. Larson brushed the wall lightly late in his run and cooled the car in preparation for qualifying after the second practice group’s run. “It’s good to graze it,” quipped Larson in a TV interview.

Chevrolets ruled the top ten in group one practice, with William Sawalich and Corey Heim’s Toyotas in the next two spots. Mason Maggio put his Ford in the 19th spot.

Ryan Sieg reigned in the second group of practice, his first hot lap good for third overall, 0.181 second behind Larson’s 33.137-second lap and a tenth of a second ahead of Anthony Alfredo’s effort. Harrison Burton joined Sieg as the only non-Chevy in the top ten, his 33.575 lap good for eighth in the charts. 

A short caution flew for Daniel Dye’s spin and the session ended with Larson, Dillon and Sieg as the top three, with Anthony Alfredo and Jeremy Clements the other pair in the top five.

In qualifying, Kyle Larson’s early slot may have worked against the Cup star’s odds at winning the pole, as William Sawalich used a slightly later start to pip Larson’s time by an eighth of a second. 2021 Miami Xfinity winner Myatt Snider moved up to fifth on the table advancing from his practice times. 

Just a few cars later, Ty Dillon drove Josh Williams’ car to the top of the table with a time just 0.015 second ahead of Sawalich. Dillon’s lap went in the books at 33.443/161.469 against Sawalich’s effort of 33.458/161.396.

Dillon’s glory was fleeting as Matt DiBenedetto, Christian Eckes, Nick Sanchez and Taylor Gray all bettered his lap time leading up to the last qualifying group. 

Sheldon Creed moved to fourth with his lap, then Connor Zilisch leaped to second on the table, leading to Ryan Sieg’s effort being foiled by the car getting loose in the second turn. Sam Mayer, next out, lost time in the fourth turn, but still clocked in as fourth-fast so far, leading to Austin Hill’s lap only good for 18th. Jesse Love, Hill’s teammate, pipped Hill by a thousandth of a second to push Hill down a slot, then Justin Bonsignore clocked in at sixth, leading to Justin Allgaier, the last car to qualify, broke up the four rookies at the top of the table by qualifying in fourth at 33.223/162.538.

Dawson Cram’s lap of 34.290 sent him home early as the team has not earned enough owner points to ensure him of a starting spot.

Practice: Hard Rock Bet 300 Homestead-Miami Speedway
Pos, Driver, Car, Time, Speed, Lap #, # Laps, -Fastest, -Next
1) Kyle Larson(i), No. 17 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, 33.137 sec, 162.960 mph, 1, 19, ---, ---
2) Ty Dillon(i), No. 11 Star Tron Chevrolet, 33.184, 162.729, 1, 18, -0.047 sec, -0.047 sec
3) Ryan Sieg, No. 39 Sci Aps Ford, 33.318, 162.075, 2, 22, -0.181, -0.134
4) Anthony Alfredo, No. 42 RANDCO/Roth ID Tag Chevrolet, 33.422, 161.570, 1, 18, -0.285, -0.104
5) Jeremy Clements, No. 51 All South Electric Chevrolet, 33.525, 161.074, 1, 17, -0.388, -0.103
6) Matt DiBenedetto, No. 99 Viking Motorsports Chevrolet, 33.543, 160.987, 1, 24, -0.406, -0.018
7) Jeb Burton, No. 27 Sprayway Chevrolet, 33.552, 160.944, 1, 23, -0.415, -0.009
8) Harrison Burton, No. 25 DEX Imaging Ford, 33.575, 160.834, 1, 29, -0.438, -0.023
9) Austin Hill, No. 21 Global Industrial Chevrolet, 33.595, 160.738, 1, 18, -0.458, -0.020
10) Brennan Poole, No. 44 Frontline Fire Protection Chevrolet, 33.598, 160.724, 2, 18, -0.461, -0.003
11) Justin Allgaier, No. 7 BRANDT/TradeMark Nitrogen Chevrolet, 33.604, 160.695, 2, 19, -0.467, -0.006
12) Sheldon Creed, No. 00 Road Ranger/Redcon1 Ford, 33.628, 160.580, 1, 25, -0.491, -0.024
13) Brad Perez, No. 45 FIU/KSDT Chevrolet, 33.653, 160.461, 1, 17, -0.516, -0.025
14) Sammy Smith, No. 8 Allstate Peterbilt Group Chevrolet, 33.667, 160.394, 2, 26, -0.530, -0.014
15) Brandon Jones, No. 20 Menards/KlearVue Toyota, 33.669, 160.385, 1, 31, -0.532, -0.002
16) Blaine Perkins, No. 31 WERNER Chevrolet, 33.684, 160.314, 1, 26, -0.547, -0.015
17) Connor Zilisch #, No. 88 WeatherTech Chevrolet, 33.699, 160.242, 2, 22, -0.562, -0.015
18) Nick Sanchez #, No. 48 Big Machine Vodka Spiked Coolers Chevrolet, 33.700, 160.237, 1, 26, -0.563, -0.001
19) Sam Mayer, No. 41 Audibel Ford, 33.713, 160.176, 4, 23, -0.576, -0.013
20) Parker Retzlaff, No. 4 Prime Bites Mini Muffins Chevrolet, 33.727, 160.109, 1, 23, -0.590, -0.014
21) Jesse Love, No. 2 Whelen Chevrolet, 33.820, 159.669, 1, 30, -0.683, -0.093
22) Taylor Gray #, No. 54 Operation 300 Toyota, 33.859, 159.485, 3, 20, -0.722, -0.039
23) Leland Honeyman, No. 70 Mr Wizzleman/Fast Lane Drive Chevrolet, 33.881, 159.381, 2, 26, -0.744, -0.022
24) Christian Eckes #, No. 16 Campers inn RV Mobile Medic Chevrolet, 33.888, 159.348, 2, 27, -0.751, -0.007
25) William Sawalich #, No. 18 Soundgear Toyota, 33.920, 159.198, 2, 26, -0.783, -0.032
26) Corey Heim(i), No. 24 Columbia Sportswear Company Toyota, 33.949, 159.062, 1, 9, -0.812, -0.029
27) Dean Thompson #, No. 26 Assured Partners Toyota, 34.015, 158.753, 2, 30, -0.878, -0.066
28) Daniel Dye #, No. 10 Halifax Health Chevrolet, 34.052, 158.581, 2, 12, -0.915, -0.037
29) Joey Gase, No. 35  Chevrolet, 34.078, 158.460, 1, 4, -0.941, -0.026
30) Patrick Emerling, No. 07 Priority Tire Chevrolet, 34.115, 158.288, 1, 25, -0.978, -0.037
31) Kris Wright, No. 5 First National Bank Corp Chevrolet, 34.141, 158.168, 1, 19, -1.004, -0.026
32) Justin Bonsignore, No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, 34.163, 158.066, 2, 30, -1.026, -0.022
33) Dawson Cram, No. 74 Realty.com Chevrolet, 34.180, 157.987, 1, 3, -1.043, -0.017
34) Carson Kvapil #, No. 1 Bass Pro Shops/Clarience Tech Chevrolet, 34.215, 157.826, 2, 30, -1.078, -0.035
35) Ryan Ellis, No. 71 Classic Collision Chevrolet, 34.235, 157.733, 1, 22, -1.098, -0.020
36) Kyle Sieg, No. 28 RSS Racing Ford, 34.252, 157.655, 2, 26, -1.115, -0.017
37) Myatt Snider, No. 91 Tree Top Chevrolet, 34.361, 157.155, 2, 17, -1.224, -0.109
38) Mason Maggio, No. 53 Denssi Energy Pouches Ford, 34.391, 157.018, 2, 23, -1.254, -0.030
39) Garrett Smithley, No. 14 Trophy Tractor Chevrolet, 34.775, 155.284, 1, 20, -1.638, -0.384
(OP) Top 30 in Owner Points, (i)Ineligible for driver points, (#) Rookie

Best 10 Consecutive Lap Average
Pos, Driver, Car, From Lap, To Lap, Avg Speed
1) Kyle Larson(i), No. 17 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, 1, 10, 159.162 mph
2) Justin Allgaier, No. 7 BRANDT/TradeMark Nitrogen Chevrolet, 1, 10, 157.818
3) Sheldon Creed, No. 00 Road Ranger/Redcon1 Ford, 1, 10, 157.503
4) Austin Hill, No. 21 Global Industrial Chevrolet, 1, 10, 157.220
5) Ryan Sieg, No. 39 Sci Aps Ford, 1, 10, 156.878
6) Harrison Burton, No. 25 DEX Imaging Ford, 1, 10, 156.864
7) Connor Zilisch #, No. 88 WeatherTech Chevrolet, 1, 10, 156.858
8) Anthony Alfredo, No. 42 RANDCO/Roth ID Tag Chevrolet, 1, 10, 156.699
9) Nick Sanchez #, No. 48 Big Machine Vodka Spiked Coolers Chevrolet, 1, 10, 156.619
10) Jesse Love, No. 2 Whelen Chevrolet, 1, 10, 156.533
11) Jeremy Clements, No. 51 All South Electric Chevrolet, 1, 10, 156.501
12) Sammy Smith, No. 8 Allstate Peterbilt Group Chevrolet, 1, 10, 156.392
13) Christian Eckes #, No. 16 Campers inn RV Mobile Medic Chevrolet, 1, 10, 156.329
14) Sam Mayer, No. 41 Audibel Ford, 3, 12, 156.065
15) Brandon Jones, No. 20 Menards/KlearVue Toyota, 1, 10, 155.978
16) William Sawalich #, No. 18 Soundgear Toyota, 1, 10, 155.972
17) Blaine Perkins, No. 31 WERNER Chevrolet, 1, 10, 155.458
18) Dean Thompson #, No. 26 Assured Partners Toyota, 1, 10, 154.983
19) Carson Kvapil #, No. 1 Bass Pro Shops/Clarience Tech Chevrolet, 1, 10, 154.257
20) Kyle Sieg, No. 28 RSS Racing Ford, 1, 10, 153.911
21) Ty Dillon(i), No. 11 Star Tron Chevrolet, 8, 17, 152.046
22) Parker Retzlaff, No. 4 Prime Bites Mini Muffins Chevrolet, 10, 19, 151.921
23) Matt DiBenedetto, No. 99 Viking Motorsports Chevrolet, 12, 21, 149.935
24) Justin Bonsignore, No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, 15, 24, 149.827
25) Ryan Ellis, No. 71 Classic Collision Chevrolet, 11, 20, 149.481
26) Leland Honeyman, No. 70 Mr Wizzleman/Fast Lane Drive Chevrolet, 11, 20, 149.288
Must run 10 consecutive laps.

Qualifying: Hard Rock Bet 300, Homestead-Miami Speedway
Pos, Driver, Car, , Time, Speed, -Fastest, -Next
1) Taylor Gray #, No. 54 Operation 300 Toyota, 33.064 sec, 163.320 mph, ---, ---
2) Connor Zilisch #, No. 88 WeatherTech Chevrolet, 33.143, 162.930, 0.079 sec, 0.079 sec
3) Nick Sanchez #, No. 48 Big Machine Vodka Spiked Coolers Chevrolet, 33.173, 162.783, 0.109, 0.030
4) Justin Allgaier, No. 7 BRANDT/TradeMark Nitrogen Chevrolet, 33.223, 162.538, 0.159, 0.050
5) Christian Eckes #, No. 16 Campers inn RV Mobile Medic Chevrolet, 33.234, 162.484, 0.170, 0.011
6) Sam Mayer, No. 41 Audibel Ford, 33.237, 162.470, 0.173, 0.003
7) Justin Bonsignore, No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, 33.258, 162.367, 0.194, 0.021
8) Ryan Sieg, No. 39 Sci Aps Ford, 33.260, 162.357, 0.196, 0.002
9) Sheldon Creed, No. 00 Road Ranger/Redcon1 Ford, 33.347, 161.934, 0.283, 0.087
10) Matt DiBenedetto, No. 99 Viking Motorsports Chevrolet, 33.390, 161.725, 0.326, 0.043
11) Ty Dillon(i), No. 11 Star Tron Chevrolet, 33.443, 161.469, 0.379, 0.053
12) Harrison Burton, No. 25 DEX Imaging Ford, 33.455, 161.411, 0.391, 0.012
13) William Sawalich #, No. 18 Soundgear Toyota, 33.458, 161.396, 0.394, 0.003
14) Carson Kvapil #, No. 1 Bass Pro Shops/Clarience Tech Chevrolet, 33.459, 161.392, 0.395, 0.001
15) Sammy Smith, No. 8 Allstate Peterbilt Group Chevrolet, 33.487, 161.257, 0.423, 0.028
16) Blaine Perkins, No. 31 WERNER Chevrolet, 33.575, 160.834, 0.511, 0.088
17) Kyle Larson(i), No. 17 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, 33.583, 160.796, 0.519, 0.008
18) Parker Retzlaff, No. 4 Prime Bites Mini Muffins Chevrolet, 33.591, 160.757, 0.527, 0.008
19) Brennan Poole, No. 44 Frontline Fire Protection Chevrolet, 33.609, 160.671, 0.545, 0.018
20) Jesse Love, No. 2 Whelen Chevrolet, 33.636, 160.542, 0.572, 0.027
21) Austin Hill, No. 21 Global Industrial Chevrolet, 33.637, 160.538, 0.573, 0.001
22) Jeremy Clements, No. 51 All South Electric Chevrolet, 33.643, 160.509, 0.579, 0.006
23) Jeb Burton, No. 27 Sprayway Chevrolet, 33.648, 160.485, 0.584, 0.005
24) Dean Thompson #, No. 26 Assured Partners Toyota, 33.668, 160.390, 0.604, 0.020
25) Anthony Alfredo, No. 42 RANDCO/Roth ID Tag Chevrolet, 33.739, 160.052, 0.675, 0.071
26) Brad Perez, No. 45 FIU/KSDT Chevrolet, 33.957, 159.025, 0.893, 0.218
27) Kyle Sieg, No. 28 RSS Racing Ford, 34.023, 158.716, 0.959, 0.066
28) Ryan Ellis, No. 71 Classic Collision Chevrolet, 34.039, 158.642, 0.975, 0.016
29) Myatt Snider, No. 91 Tree Top Chevrolet, 34.067, 158.511, 1.003, 0.028
30) Daniel Dye #, No. 10 Halifax Health Chevrolet, 34.122, 158.256, 1.058, 0.055
31) Corey Heim(i), No. 24 Columbia Sportswear Company Toyota, 34.123, 158.251, 1.059, 0.001
32) Patrick Emerling, No. 07 Priority Tire Chevrolet, 34.180, 157.987, 1.116, 0.057
33) Leland Honeyman (OP), No. 70 Mr Wizzleman/Fast Lane Drive Chevrolet, 34.265, 157.595, 1.201, 0.085
34) Mason Maggio (OP), No. 53 Denssi Energy Pouches Ford, 34.353, 157.192, 1.289, 0.088
35) Joey Gase (OP), No. 35 Chevrolet, 34.715, 155.552, 1.651, 0.362
36) Kris Wright (OP), No. 5 First National Bank Corp Chevrolet, 34.898, 154.737, 1.834, 0.183
37) Garrett Smithley (OP), No. 14 Trophy Tractor Chevrolet, 34.965, 154.440, 1.901, 0.067
38) Brandon Jones (OP), No. 20 Menards/KlearVue Toyota, 0.000, 0.000, -----, -----
39) Dawson Cram, No. 74 Realty.com Chevrolet, 34.290, 157.480, 1.226, 34.290
(OP) Top 30 in Owner Points, (i)Ineligible for driver points, (#) Rookie

Starting Line Up: Hard Rock Bet 300, Homestead-Miami Speedway
Pos, Driver, Car, Time, Speed
1) Taylor Gray #, No. 54 Operation 300 Toyota, 33.064 sec, 163.320 mph
2) Connor Zilisch #, No. 88 WeatherTech Chevrolet, 33.143, 162.930
3) Nick Sanchez #, No. 48 Big Machine Vodka Spiked Coolers Chevrolet, 33.173, 162.783
4) Justin Allgaier, No. 7 BRANDT/TradeMark Nitrogen Chevrolet, 33.223, 162.538
5) Christian Eckes #, No. 16 Campers inn RV Mobile Medic Chevrolet, 33.234, 162.484
6) Sam Mayer, No. 41 Audibel Ford, 33.237, 162.470
7) Justin Bonsignore, No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, 33.258, 162.367
8) Ryan Sieg, No. 39 Sci Aps Ford, 33.260, 162.357
9) Sheldon Creed, No. 00 Road Ranger/Redcon1 Ford, 33.347, 161.934
10) Matt DiBenedetto, No. 99 Viking Motorsports Chevrolet, 33.390, 161.725
11) Ty Dillon(i), No. 11 Star Tron Chevrolet, 33.443, 161.469
12) Harrison Burton, No. 25 DEX Imaging Ford, 33.455, 161.411
13) William Sawalich #, No. 18 Soundgear Toyota, 33.458, 161.396
14) Carson Kvapil #, No. 1 Bass Pro Shops/Clarience Tech Chevrolet, 33.459, 161.392
15) Sammy Smith, No. 8 Allstate Peterbilt Group Chevrolet, 33.487, 161.257
16) Blaine Perkins, No. 31 WERNER Chevrolet, 33.575, 160.834
17) Kyle Larson(i), No. 17 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, 33.583, 160.796
18) Parker Retzlaff, No. 4 Prime Bites Mini Muffins Chevrolet, 33.591, 160.757
19) Brennan Poole, No. 44 Frontline Fire Protection Chevrolet, 33.609, 160.671
20) Jesse Love, No. 2 Whelen Chevrolet, 33.636, 160.542
21) Austin Hill, No. 21 Global Industrial Chevrolet, 33.637, 160.538
22) Jeremy Clements, No. 51 All South Electric Chevrolet, 33.643, 160.509
23) Jeb Burton, No. 27 Sprayway Chevrolet, 33.648, 160.485
24) Dean Thompson #, No. 26 Assured Partners Toyota, 33.668, 160.390
25) Anthony Alfredo, No. 42 RANDCO/Roth ID Tag Chevrolet, 33.739, 160.052
26) Brad Perez, No. 45 FIU/KSDT Chevrolet, 33.957, 159.025
27) Kyle Sieg, No. 28 RSS Racing Ford, 34.023, 158.716
28) Ryan Ellis, No. 71 Classic Collision Chevrolet, 34.039, 158.642
29) Myatt Snider, No. 91 Tree Top Chevrolet, 34.067, 158.511
30) Daniel Dye #, No. 10 Halifax Health Chevrolet, 34.122, 158.256
31) Corey Heim(i), No. 24 Columbia Sportswear Company Toyota, 34.123, 158.251
32) Patrick Emerling, No. 07 Priority Tire Chevrolet, 34.180, 157.987
33) Leland Honeyman, No. 70 Mr Wizzleman/Fast Lane Drive Chevrolet, Owner Points, 
34) Mason Maggio, No. 53 Denssi Energy Pouches Ford, Owner Points, 
35) Joey Gase, No. 35 Chevrolet, Owner Points, 
36) Kris Wright, No. 5 First National Bank Corp Chevrolet, Owner Points, 
37) Garrett Smithley, No. 14 Trophy Tractor Chevrolet, Owner Points, 
38) Brandon Jones, No. 20 Menards/KlearVue Toyota, Owner Points,
(i) Ineligible for driver points, (#) Rookie
Did Not Qualify: No. 74 Dawson Cram

Track Qualifying Record: Casey Mears, 11/20/04 30.348 sec, 177.936 mph

Track Race Record: Tyler Reddick , 11/17/18, 02:08:06, 140.515 mph