Best of the Rest: Las Vegas

With only a handful of races remaining in 2024, the Xfinity and Cup Series teams spent last weekend on center stage in Las Vegas. Here are some of the underdogs that bet on themselves and got a big pay day.

Xfinity Series / Ambetter Health 302

Ryan Sieg (#28 RSS Racing Ford): Switching numbers to the team’s #28 Ford (from #39) seemed to tip the odds in Sieg’s favor in Las Vegas. While the RSS Racing driver came up short in his bid for a win, Sieg did earn his third 2nd place finish this season. With runs like this, the family-owned team’s first trophy may be just around the corner soon.

Corey Heim (#26 Sam Hunt Racing Toyota): Heim, a regular standout in the trucks for TRICON garage, made his thirteenth Xfinity Series start for Sam Hunt’s team in Vegas. After qualifying 14th, Heim had a drama free race and came home just outside the Top 10 in 11th. In his limited starts this season, the Toyota development driver has 3 Top-5 finishes and 5 Top-10s.

Anthony Alfredo (#5 Our Motorsports Chevrolet): Alfredo and his #5 Chevrolet team have quietly put together a solid first season together. While Vegas did not provide the finish the team was surely hoping for, Alfredo scored yet another Top 20 finish and came home 19th.

Cup Series / South Point 400

Trackhouse Racing (#1 and #99 Chevrolets): Both Trackhouse drivers Ross Chastain and Daniel Suarez played spoiler a bit to the playoffs Sunday. Chastain’s #1 Chevrolet ran near the front most of the day finished 7th. Meanwhile, the #99 team and Suarez led 30 laps late in the race and looked to be a contender for the win, but slightly faded back to 3rd by races end. 

John H. Nemechek (#42 Legacy Motor Club Toyota): The 2024 season has not been kind to Nemechek in his Cup Series return this season. The Las Vegas weekend may have finally tipped the scales in the#42 team’s favor as Nemechek drove his Toyota to a 9th place finish. This was just Nemechek’s fourth Top-10 finish this season. Also interesting to note, this was the team’s second race with new crew chief Brian Campe.

Harrison Burton (#21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford):  Burton and the legendary Wood Brothers #21 team were unfortunately quickly eliminated from this year’s playoff following their milestone Daytona win together. Things changed for the better in Vegas as the DEX Imaging Ford finished 15th after starting 31st. This was also team’s second straight Top-20 finish. Already announced, Burton will be leaving full-time Cup Series competition in 2025 to rebuild in the Xfinity Series with AM Racing (read more here).