The 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway had everything fans could expect—drama, dominance, and a dust-up that may lead to serious consequences. Connor Zilisch took the checkered flag for his third straight victory, but much of the post-race chatter revolved around an on-track incident between Austin Hill and Aric Almirola, igniting a firestorm among fans online.
Key Highlights
Connor Zilisch claimed his fifth win of the 2025 season and third in a row.
The race featured 10 lead changes and six cautions.
Sam Mayer and Taylor Gray completed the podium.
Austin Hill and Aric Almirola collided, prompting investigation.
Justin Allgaier failed to finish due to terminal damage.
Connor Zilisch the Star Again
Connor Zilisch’s talent continues to amaze, as the 19-year-old JR Motorsports driver earned his fifth win of the year and added another feather to an already stacked rookie campaign. Zilisch passed Taylor Gray with just two laps remaining in Saturday’s Pennzoil 250 and held off Sam Mayer by 0.339 seconds to take the win at the historic Brickyard.
But while Zilisch’s win extends his dominant streak, fan conversations quickly veered toward the aggressive driving and post-race tension between Austin Hill and Aric Almirola.
Fans Unleash Opinions on Hill-Almirola Clash
What might have been a relatively quiet post-race narrative erupted when cameras captured an incident involving Austin Hill and Aric Almirola late in the race. CW Network broadcast crews caught the contact at just the right moment, earning praise from fans for staying on top of the unfolding situation.
“As annoying as the ‘under the flag stand’ camera was for stage finishes, gotta say CW cameras latched on to the Almirola/Hill incident at exactly the right time.”
However, the mood quickly turned, with many fans calling for harsh penalties on Hill due to what they described as repeated reckless behavior.
“Hill should be suspended for multiple races after losing his mind again. He has a clear pattern of driving like a jackass and running over people and a 1-race suspension isn’t going to do anything.”
Some brought up NASCAR’s past inconsistency when dealing with driver discipline.
“Remember when Allgaier smoked the wall on that restart… yeah NASCAR and credibility aren’t words I’d say together.”
Others sarcastically suggested a military-style spectacle to match NASCAR’s recent themes, taking a jab at both Hill’s driving and NASCAR’s promotional approach.
“Since NASCAR is embracing military themed gimmicks lately, next week’s flyover should feature an AH-61 Apache helicopter launching a hellfire missile at the (empty) 21 car parked in the infield while Austin and Richard are forced to watch. I can get behind that kind of military spectacle.”
Adding fuel to the fire, some cited NASCAR reporter Kelly Crandall, noting that officials are not ruling out additional punishment for Hill.
“According to Kelly Crandall, NASCAR says that they are going to further investigate the Hill-Almirola incident and the door is not closed on further penalties. If they don’t suspend him they will lose all credibility IMO.”
Connor Zilisch Draws Praise Amid the Chaos
While much of the fan discourse focused on the controversy, there was also admiration for race winner Connor Zilisch.
“Zilisch is just a monster. Cannot wait to see what he can do in Cup.”
“So in conclusion, Zilisch is going to be a nightmare for a long while and Austin Hill is a moron.”
The JR Motorsports driver’s clean execution during restarts, patience throughout the green-flag runs, and well-timed move to the lead was a masterclass in late-race execution. With five wins, Zilisch has firmly placed himself at the center of the 2025 championship conversation.
Full Recap: Intensity from Start to Finish
Saturday’s 100-lap event at the Indianapolis oval was filled with strategy, drama, and strong performances across the field. Sam Mayer, who started on pole, kept up the pace all day and narrowly missed a victory. Taylor Gray’s third-place finish showed his readiness to battle at the front, and Kyle Larson’s fourth-place run proved why he’s dangerous in any series.
The race saw only six cautions, including one that took out defending champion Justin Allgaier with terminal damage, knocking him down the playoff order.
Full Results:
| Car | Driver Name |
|---|---|
| 88 | Connor Zilisch |
| 41 | Sam Mayer |
| 54 | Taylor Gray |
| 17 | Kyle Larson |
| 39 | Ryan Sieg |
| 18 | William Sawalich |
| 8 | Sammy Smith |
| 10 | Daniel Dye |
| 2 | Jesse Love |
| 26 | Dean Thompson |
| 99 | Matt DiBenedetto |
| 51 | Jeremy Clements |
| 16 | Christian Eckes |
| 4 | Parker Retzlaff |
| 27 | Jeb Burton |
| 28 | Kyle Sieg |
| 0 | Sheldon Creed |
| 25 | Harrison Burton |
| 91 | Josh Bilicki |
| 44 | Brennan Poole |
| 71 | Ryan Ellis |
| 11 | Josh Williams |
| 42 | Anthony Alfredo |
| 45 | Mason Massey |
| 14 | Garrett Smithley |
| 70 | Leland Honeyman |
| 31 | Blaine Perkins |
| 53 | Joey Gase |
| 35 | David Starr |
| 1 | Carson Kvapil |
| 74 | Dawson Cram |
| 20 | Brandon Jones |
| 48 | Nick Sanchez |
| 21 | Austin Hill |
| 19 | Aric Almirola |
| 7 | Justin Allgaier |
| 32 | Katherine Legge |
| 7 | Logan Bearden |
News in Brief: Fan Reactions to 2025 Pennzoil 250 at Indianapolis
Connor Zilisch won his fifth race of the 2025 season and third in a row at Indianapolis Motor Speedway during the Pennzoil 250. The race saw 10 lead changes and six cautions, ending with Sam Mayer and Taylor Gray on the podium. Drama broke out after a late-race collision between Austin Hill and Aric Almirola, with NASCAR confirming that further disciplinary action remains on the table. Meanwhile, fans celebrated Zilisch’s continued dominance and questioned the sport’s consistency in policing aggressive driving. The Xfinity Series moves on to Iowa Speedway for the HyVee Perks 250 next weekend.
ALSO READ: All the Reasons Why Connor Zilisch Won the 2025 Xfinity Race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway
