NASCAR Cup Series
eero Joins Wood Brothers Racing for Three-Race Sponsorship
Mar 3, 2025
With the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series observing its first off-weekend of the 2025 season, it was up to the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series drivers to battle it out for the Xfinity Fastest Lap Award in their respective races this weekend at Circuit of the Americas.
Incredibly, the average finish of the drivers, who took home the award this weekend was a paltry 27.5, but the finishes were not indicative of how fast both drivers and their cars were around the 2.4-mile road course in Austin, TX.
In Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix, it was Kyle Larson that turned the fastest lap in his No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. Larson's fast lap came on Lap 87 of the 95-lap event, and the lap time was a 1 minute, 39.244 second trip around the 17-turn course.
While Larson started near the front of the field, and was in the mix in the opening Stage of the race, a separated wheel resulted in a two-lap penalty, and Larson was later spun by Ryan Preece on Lap 86 to add insult to injury.
In the end, Larson would be credited with a 32nd-place finish, which doesn't look impressive on the boxscore, but the one additional championship point for turning the Xfinity Fastest Lap will certainly be welcomed with open arms by the 32-year-old driver.
In Saturday's NASCAR Xfinity Series Focused Health 250 at Circuit of the Americas, it wasn't race-winner Connor Zilisch that turned the fastest lap. Nope, he was second-fastest in the rankings. Instead, it was Zilisch's JR Motorsports teammate Carson Kvapil, who turned the fastest lap of the race.
Known as a short track hot shoe, Kvapil has not really been known for his road racing talent, but after the performance he put in on Saturday, that may soon change.
Kvapil's fast lap came on Lap 49 of Saturday's race, and it was a 1 minute, 39.729 second trip around the modified National Course layout at COTA. While Kvapil was fast, and was surprisingly in the mix for the race win in the closing laps, his bid for the victory came to an end with a flat tire a few laps from the finish.
After making a pit stop for a new tire, Kvapil would be credited with a 23rd-place finish.
Next weekend, the NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Cup Series are back in action at Phoenix Raceway, where the hungry fields of drivers will once again compete to see who can take home the Xfinity Fastest Lap Awards.
The NASCAR Xfinity Series GOVX 200 at Phoenix Raceway is set for Saturday, March 8, and will be televised on The CW beginning at 5:00 PM ET.
The NASCAR Cup Series Shriners Children's 500 at Phoenix Raceway is set for Sunday, March 9, and will be televised by FS1 beginning at 3:30 PM ET.
Photo Credit: Jacy Norgaard | HHP for Chevy Racing
