Racing Refresh Team Previews - JR Motorsports

By Adam Carabine

JR Motorsports

Four full-time entries in the NASCAR Xfinity Series

Car No. 1

Carson Kvapil

Team Owner Dale Jr. and Carson Kvapil ahead of a race at Martinsville last season - Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

2024 Stats

Kvapil ran part-time in the 88 car for JR Motorsports last season

• Final Standings Position – N/A

• Best 2024 Finish – P2 at Dover

• Points – 227

• Average Finish – 13.22

Career Xfinity Series Stats

• Starts – 9

• Wins – 0

• Best Career Season Finish Position – N/A

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Car No. 7

Justin Allgaier

Crew Chief James Pohlman and Justin Allgaier pose with their 2024 Xfinity Series Championship trophy - Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images

2024 Stats

Allgaier was in this ride last season

• Final Standings Position – 1st 

• Best 2024 Finish – P1 twice, at Darlington and Michigan

• Points – 4,035

• Average Finish – 13.55

Career Xfinity Series Stats

• Starts – 471

• Wins – 25

• Best Career Season Finish Position – 1st last season with JR Motorsports

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Car No. 8

Sammy Smith

Sammy Smith - Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images

2024 Stats

Smith was in this ride last season

• Final Standings Position – 11th 

• Best 2024 Finish – P1 at Talladega

• Points – 2,185

• Average Finish – 15.18

Career Xfinity Series Stats

• Starts – 75

• Wins – 2

• Best Career Season Finish Position – 6th in 2023 with Joe Gibbs Racing

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Car No. 88

Connor Zilisch

Connor Zilisch celebrates after winning his first Xfinity Series start at Watkins Glen - Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images

2024 Stats

This will be Zilisch’s first full-time season in the Xfinity Series

• Final Standings Position – N/A

• Best 2024 Finish – P1 at Watkins Glen

• Points – N/A

• Average Finish – 5.25 (only 4 starts)

Career Xfinity Series Stats

• Starts – 4

• Wins – 1

• Best Career Season Finish Position – N/A

2025 Hopes and Expectations

JR Motorsports has an interesting collection of drivers lined up for their 2025 season.  With defending champion Justin Allgaier being the ‘old guard,’ he’ll be the leader of a younger team.  Both Carson Kvapil and Connor Zilisch will be competing for Rookie of the Year in ’25, but watch for them to be competitive early.  Sammy Smith is the wildcard of the group, as he enters his third full-time Xfinity Series season. 

Allgaier will be a perennial contender for the championship, and so anything less will be a step back.  Smith needs to make the playoffs and push for a spot in the Final Four.  There might not be room for both Kvapil and Zilisch in the playoffs, but they’ll certainly try – and it’s not unrealistic to think they’ll have a shot.