# 2024 The LiUNA!

The 2024 The LiUNA! was the 3rd stock car race of the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series, and the 28th iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, March 2, 2024, at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in North Las Vegas, Nevada, a 1.5 miles (2.4 km) permanent asphalt quad-oval shaped intermediate speedway. The race took the scheduled 200 laps to complete. John Hunter Nemechek, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, won the race leading a race-high 99 laps and earning his 10th career NASCAR Xfinity Series win, and his first of the season. Nemechek's teammate, Chandler Smith, won both stages and led 74 laps, but fell back in the final stage and finished 3rd. To fill out the podium, Cole Custer, driving for Stewart–Haas Racing, and Smith, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, would finish 2nd and 3rd, respectively.

## Report
### Background

Las Vegas Motor Speedway, located in Clark County, Nevada outside the Las Vegas city limits and about 15 miles northeast of the Las Vegas Strip, is a 1,200-acre (490 ha) complex of multiple tracks for motorsports racing. The complex is owned by Speedway Motorsports, Inc., which is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina.

#### Entry list

* (R) denotes rookie driver.
* (i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points.
| # | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
| 00 | Cole Custer | Stewart–Haas Racing | Ford | Production Alliance Group |
| 1 | Sam Mayer | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | Club Car |
| 2 | Jesse Love (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Whelen |
| 4 | Dawson Cram (R) | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | KSDT CPA |
| 5 | Anthony Alfredo | Our Motorsports | Chevrolet | Dude Wipes |
| 6 | Garrett Smithley | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | JD Motorsports |
| 07 | Patrick Emerling | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet | Frontline Optics |
| 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | BRANDT |
| 8 | Sammy Smith | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | Pilot Flying J / BTI |
| 9 | Brandon Jones | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | Jeld-Wen / Menards |
| 11 | Josh Williams | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | Alloy Employer Services |
| 14 | J. J. Yeley | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet | SS-Green Light Racing |
| 15 | Hailie Deegan (R) | AM Racing | Ford | AirBox |
| 16 | A. J. Allmendinger | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | Action Industries |
| 18 | Sheldon Creed | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | Friends of Jaclyn Foundation |
| 19 | Aric Almirola | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | He Gets Us |
| 20 | John Hunter Nemechek (i) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | Safeway / Albertsons |
| 21 | Austin Hill | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Bennett Transportation |
| 26 | Corey Heim (i) | Sam Hunt Racing | Toyota | GearWrench |
| 27 | Jeb Burton | Jordan Anderson Racing | Chevrolet | State Water Heaters |
| 28 | Kyle Sieg | RSS Racing | Ford | TopPool.com |
| 29 | Blaine Perkins | RSS Racing | Ford | AutoParkIt.com |
| 31 | Parker Retzlaff | Jordan Anderson Racing | Chevrolet | FUNKAWAY |
| 32 | Sage Karam | Jordan Anderson Racing | Chevrolet | Lerner & Rowe / EasyCare |
| 35 | Joey Gase | Joey Gase Motorsports | Chevrolet | Nevada Donor Network |
| 38 | C. J. McLaughlin | RSS Racing | Ford | Viking Motorsports |
| 39 | Ryan Sieg | RSS Racing | Ford | Sci Aps |
| 42 | Leland Honeyman (R) | Young's Motorsports | Chevrolet | LH Waterfront Construction |
| 43 | Ryan Ellis | Alpha Prime Racing | Chevrolet | Classic Collision |
| 44 | Brennan Poole | Alpha Prime Racing | Chevrolet | Macc Door Systems |
| 48 | Parker Kligerman | Big Machine Racing | Chevrolet | Big Machine Spiked Light Coolers |
| 51 | Jeremy Clements | Jeremy Clements Racing | Chevrolet | First Pacific Funding |
| 78 | B. J. McLeod | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Chevrolet | B. J. McLeod Motorsports |
| 81 | Chandler Smith | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | Quick Tie Products |
| 91 | Kyle Weatherman | DGM Racing | Chevrolet | DriveSmartWarranty.com |
| 92 | Nick Leitz | DGM Racing | Chevrolet | Precision Measurements |
| 97 | Shane van Gisbergen (R) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | Focused Health |
| 98 | Riley Herbst | Stewart–Haas Racing | Ford | Monster Energy |
| Official entry list |||||

## Practice

The first and only practice session was held on Friday, March 1, at 3:35 pm PST, and would last for 20 minutes. Brandon Jones, driving for JR Motorsports, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 30.423, and a speed of 177.497 mph (285.654 km/h).
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 9 | Brandon Jones | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 30.423 | 177.497 |
| 2 | 00 | Cole Custer | Stewart–Haas Racing | Ford | 30.425 | 177.486 |
| 3 | 31 | Parker Retzlaff | Jordan Anderson Racing | Chevrolet | 30.525 | 176.904 |
| Full practice results |||||||

## Qualifying

Qualifying was held on Friday, March 1, at 4:05 pm PST. Since Las Vegas Motor Speedway is an intermediate speedway, the qualifying system used is a single-car, single-lap system with only one round. Whoever sets the fastest time in that round will win the pole.
Cole Custer, driving for Stewart–Haas Racing, would score the pole for the race, with a lap of 29.778, and a speed of 181.281 mph (291.743 km/h).
No drivers would fail to qualify.

### Qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 00 | Cole Custer | Stewart–Haas Racing | Ford | 29.778 | 181.281 |
| 2 | 81 | Chandler Smith | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 29.805 | 181.178 |
| 3 | 16 | A. J. Allmendinger | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 29.904 | 180.578 |
| 4 | 31 | Parker Retzlaff | Jordan Anderson Racing | Chevrolet | 29.987 | 180.078 |
| 5 | 21 | Austin Hill | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 30.012 | 179.928 |
| 6 | 39 | Ryan Sieg | RSS Racing | Ford | 30.023 | 179.862 |
| 7 | 48 | Parker Kligerman | Big Machine Racing | Chevrolet | 30.037 | 179.778 |
| 8 | 8 | Sammy Smith | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 30.062 | 179.629 |
| 9 | 18 | Sheldon Creed | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 30.072 | 179.569 |
| 10 | 19 | Aric Almirola | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 30.165 | 179.015 |
| 11 | 98 | Riley Herbst | Stewart–Haas Racing | Ford | 30.209 | 178.755 |
| 12 | 20 | John Hunter Nemechek (i) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 30.232 | 178.619 |
| 13 | 9 | Brandon Jones | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 30.289 | 178.283 |
| 14 | 1 | Sam Mayer | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 30.292 | 178.265 |
| 15 | 2 | Jesse Love (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 30.292 | 178.265 |
| 16 | 26 | Corey Heim (i) | Sam Hunt Racing | Toyota | 30.314 | 178.136 |
| 17 | 51 | Jeremy Clements | Jeremy Clements Racing | Chevrolet | 30.336 | 178.006 |
| 18 | 44 | Brennan Poole | Alpha Prime Racing | Chevrolet | 30.519 | 176.939 |
| 19 | 42 | Leland Honeyman (R) | Young's Motorsports | Chevrolet | 30.633 | 176.280 |
| 20 | 91 | Kyle Weatherman | DGM Racing | Chevrolet | 30.666 | 176.091 |
| 21 | 27 | Jeb Burton | Jordan Anderson Racing | Chevrolet | 30.714 | 175.816 |
| 22 | 14 | J. J. Yeley | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet | 30.809 | 175.273 |
| 23 | 43 | Ryan Ellis | Alpha Prime Racing | Chevrolet | 30.815 | 175.239 |
| 24 | 78 | B. J. McLeod | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Chevrolet | 30.961 | 174.413 |
| 25 | 97 | Shane van Gisbergen (R) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 31.053 | 173.896 |
| 26 | 4 | Dawson Cram (R) | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 31.096 | 173.656 |
| 27 | 28 | Kyle Sieg | RSS Racing | Ford | 31.155 | 173.327 |
| 28 | 15 | Hailie Deegan (R) | AM Racing | Ford | 31.250 | 172.800 |
| 29 | 29 | Blaine Perkins | RSS Racing | Ford | 31.305 | 172.496 |
| 30 | 07 | Patrick Emerling | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet | 31.311 | 172.463 |
| 31 | 92 | Nick Leitz | DGM Racing | Chevrolet | 31.367 | 172.155 |
| 32 | 11 | Josh Williams | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 31.597 | 170.902 |
| 33 | 6 | Garrett Smithley | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 31.862 | 169.481 |
| Qualified by owner's points |||||||
| 34 | 38 | C. J. McLaughlin | RSS Racing | Ford | 32.234 | 167.525 |
| 35 | 32 | Sage Karam | Jordan Anderson Racing | Chevrolet | 32.297 | 167.198 |
| 36 | 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | – | – |
| 37 | 5 | Anthony Alfredo | Our Motorsports | Chevrolet | – | – |
| 38 | 35 | Joey Gase | Joey Gase Motorsports | Chevrolet | – | – |
| Official qualifying results |||||||
| Official starting lineup |||||||

## Race results

Stage 1 Laps: 45
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Pts |
| 1 | 81 | Chandler Smith | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 10 |
| 2 | 20 | John Hunter Nemechek (i) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 0 |
| 3 | 21 | Austin Hill | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 8 |
| 4 | 98 | Riley Herbst | Stewart–Haas Racing | Ford | 7 |
| 5 | 00 | Cole Custer | Stewart–Haas Racing | Ford | 6 |
| 6 | 16 | A. J. Allmendinger | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 5 |
| 7 | 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 4 |
| 8 | 48 | Parker Kligerman | Big Machine Racing | Chevrolet | 3 |
| 9 | 39 | Ryan Sieg | RSS Racing | Ford | 2 |
| 10 | 9 | Brandon Jones | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 1 |
Stage 2 Laps: 45
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Pts |
| 1 | 81 | Chandler Smith | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 10 |
| 2 | 20 | John Hunter Nemechek (i) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 0 |
| 3 | 98 | Riley Herbst | Stewart–Haas Racing | Ford | 8 |
| 4 | 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 7 |
| 5 | 16 | A. J. Allmendinger | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 6 |
| 6 | 21 | Austin Hill | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 5 |
| 7 | 2 | Jesse Love (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 4 |
| 8 | 48 | Parker Kligerman | Big Machine Racing | Chevrolet | 3 |
| 9 | 00 | Cole Custer | Stewart–Haas Racing | Ford | 2 |
| 10 | 39 | Ryan Sieg | RSS Racing | Ford | 1 |
Stage 3 Laps: 110
| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts |
| 1 | 12 | 20 | John Hunter Nemechek (i) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 200 | 99 | Running | 0 |
| 2 | 1 | 00 | Cole Custer | Stewart–Haas Racing | Ford | 200 | 0 | Running | 43 |
| 3 | 2 | 81 | Chandler Smith | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 200 | 74 | Running | 54 |
| 4 | 5 | 21 | Austin Hill | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 200 | 6 | Running | 46 |
| 5 | 11 | 98 | Riley Herbst | Stewart–Haas Racing | Ford | 200 | 0 | Running | 47 |
| 6 | 3 | 16 | A. J. Allmendinger | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 200 | 0 | Running | 42 |
| 7 | 6 | 39 | Ryan Sieg | RSS Racing | Ford | 200 | 0 | Running | 33 |
| 8 | 8 | 8 | Sammy Smith | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 200 | 0 | Running | 29 |
| 9 | 13 | 9 | Brandon Jones | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 200 | 0 | Running | 29 |
| 10 | 36 | 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 200 | 11 | Running | 38 |
| 11 | 7 | 48 | Parker Kligerman | Big Machine Racing | Chevrolet | 200 | 0 | Running | 32 |
| 12 | 10 | 19 | Aric Almirola | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 200 | 0 | Running | 25 |
| 13 | 16 | 26 | Corey Heim (i) | Sam Hunt Racing | Toyota | 200 | 0 | Running | 0 |
| 14 | 32 | 11 | Josh Williams | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 199 | 10 | Running | 23 |
| 15 | 28 | 15 | Hailie Deegan (R) | AM Racing | Ford | 199 | 0 | Running | 22 |
| 16 | 37 | 5 | Anthony Alfredo | Our Motorsports | Chevrolet | 199 | 0 | Running | 21 |
| 17 | 15 | 2 | Jesse Love (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 199 | 0 | Running | 24 |
| 18 | 19 | 42 | Leland Honeyman (R) | Young's Motorsports | Chevrolet | 199 | 0 | Running | 19 |
| 19 | 18 | 44 | Brennan Poole | Alpha Prime Racing | Chevrolet | 199 | 0 | Running | 18 |
| 20 | 27 | 28 | Kyle Sieg | RSS Racing | Ford | 199 | 0 | Running | 17 |
| 21 | 20 | 91 | Kyle Weatherman | DGM Racing | Chevrolet | 199 | 0 | Running | 16 |
| 22 | 23 | 43 | Ryan Ellis | Alpha Prime Racing | Chevrolet | 199 | 0 | Running | 15 |
| 23 | 21 | 27 | Jeb Burton | Jordan Anderson Racing | Chevrolet | 198 | 0 | Running | 14 |
| 24 | 22 | 14 | J. J. Yeley | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet | 198 | 0 | Running | 13 |
| 25 | 17 | 51 | Jeremy Clements | Jeremy Clements Racing | Chevrolet | 197 | 0 | Running | 12 |
| 26 | 9 | 18 | Sheldon Creed | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 197 | 0 | Running | 11 |
| 27 | 31 | 92 | Nick Leitz | DGM Racing | Chevrolet | 197 | 0 | Running | 10 |
| 28 | 30 | 07 | Patrick Emerling | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet | 196 | 0 | Running | 9 |
| 29 | 33 | 6 | Garrett Smithley | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 195 | 0 | Running | 8 |
| 30 | 38 | 35 | Joey Gase | Joey Gase Motorsports | Chevrolet | 195 | 0 | Running | 7 |
| 31 | 29 | 29 | Blaine Perkins | RSS Racing | Ford | 195 | 0 | Running | 6 |
| 32 | 24 | 78 | B. J. McLeod | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | Chevrolet | 195 | 0 | Running | 5 |
| 33 | 34 | 38 | C. J. McLaughlin | RSS Racing | Ford | 194 | 0 | Running | 4 |
| 34 | 26 | 4 | Dawson Cram (R) | JD Motorsports | Chevrolet | 192 | 0 | Running | 3 |
| 35 | 4 | 31 | Parker Retzlaff | Jordan Anderson Racing | Chevrolet | 115 | 0 | Fuel Pump | 2 |
| 36 | 35 | 32 | Sage Karam | Jordan Anderson Racing | Chevrolet | 104 | 0 | Transmission | 1 |
| 37 | 25 | 97 | Shane van Gisbergen (R) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 27 | 0 | Engine | 1 |
| 38 | 14 | 1 | Sam Mayer | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 7 | 0 | Accident | 1 |
| Official race results ||||||||||

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| | 1 | Austin Hill | 148 |
| 2 | 2 | Chandler Smith | 126 (-22) |
| | 3 | Riley Herbst | 121 (–27) |
| 4 | 4 | A. J. Allmendinger | 105 (–43) |
| 7 | 5 | Cole Custer | 99 (–49) |
| 4 | 6 | Sheldon Creed | 96 (–52) |
| 2 | 7 | Jesse Love | 96 (–52) |
| 3 | 8 | Justin Allgaier | 94 (–54) |
| 1 | 9 | Sammy Smith | 86 (–62) |
| 3 | 10 | Brandon Jones | 81 (–67) |
| 4 | 11 | Parker Kligerman | 76 (–72) |
| 2 | 12 | Anthony Alfredo | 71 (–77) |
| Official driver's standings ||||
| Pos | Manufacturer | Points |
| 1 | Chevrolet | 113 |
| 2 | Toyota | 110 (–3) |
| 3 | Ford | 88 (–25) |