DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 17: CJ McLaughlin, driver of the #35 Sci-Aps Chevrolet, drives during practice for the  NASCAR Xfinity Series Beef. It's What's For Dinner. 300 at Daytona International Speedway on February 17, 2023 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) | Getty Images
DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 17: CJ McLaughlin, driver of the #35 Sci-Aps Chevrolet, drives during practice for the NASCAR Xfinity Series Beef. It's What's For Dinner. 300 at Daytona International Speedway on February 17, 2023 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Patrick Emerling filling in for CJ McLaughlin in Xfinity race at Las Vegas

Patrick Emerling will replace CJ McLaughlin in Saturday’s Alsco Uniforms 300 Xfinity Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the team announced Saturday morning.

During the 20-minute practice session on Friday, McLaughlin got loose in Turns 1 and 2 and spun into the inside wall on the backstretch. This was to be his third of 18 starts with Emerling-Gase Motorsports in 2023.

Emerling, co owner of the team, will compete in his first Xfinity Series race since the penultimate event of the 2022 season at Martinsville Speedway.