Connor Zilisch knew what he needed late in the race—and he found it with two laps to go. The JR Motorsports driver claimed his fifth win of the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series season, outdueling fellow rookie Taylor Gray in the closing laps at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The 19-year-old added another chapter to an already impressive season, turning a rough early rhythm into a strong and calculated finish.
Key Highlights
Connor Zilisch scores fifth win of the season and third in a row
Race featured 10 lead changes and six cautions over 100 laps.
Sam Mayer finishes second after starting on pole.
Taylor Gray, Kyle Larson, and Ryan Sieg round out the top five.
Defending champion Justin Allgaier records a DNF due to terminal damage.
Zilisch Seals It Late at the Brickyard
Saturday’s Pennzoil 250 was no runaway. Held over 100 laps on the oval at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the 21st race of the 2025 Xfinity Series season was marked by unpredictability and pressure. With 10 lead changes and six cautions, position battles and pit cycles defined the race’s tempo. It all boiled down to a late dash, where Connor Zilisch made his move.
Zilisch, driving the #88 Chevrolet for JR Motorsports, grabbed the lead from Taylor Gray with just two laps to go. He then held off polesitter Sam Mayer by 0.339 seconds at the finish line. Zilisch led only 19 laps on the day but made them count.
The Charlotte native continues to impress in his rookie campaign, securing his third straight win and sixth overall career victory in the series.
Mayer, Gray, and Larson Keep the Pressure High
Sam Mayer started on pole and ran a clean race. The #41 Chevrolet driver stayed within striking distance the entire event, ultimately finishing second and challenging Zilisch through the final restart. Though the win eluded him, Mayer showed strong race pace and composure.
Rookie Taylor Gray nearly stole the show. The driver of the #54 Toyota led several late laps and looked poised for a breakthrough victory until Zilisch’s overtake in the closing stages. Still, his third-place result marks one of his strongest outings of the year.
Cup Series regular Kyle Larson made the most of his Xfinity appearance, finishing fourth in the #17 entry. Larson remained calm amid restarts and worked his way methodically into the top five. Ryan Sieg rounded out the top five in the #39 Ford, matching his best performance this season.
Allgaier Out Early, Zilisch on a Hot Streak
Not everyone made it to the finish. Defending series champion Justin Allgaier suffered terminal damage in the early stages and was forced to retire the #7 Chevrolet, logging a DNF and slipping in the playoff standings. He was officially credited with 36th.
Other notables included William Sawalich in sixth, Sammy Smith in seventh, and Jesse Love cracking the top 10 with a strong ninth-place run. Daniel Dye and Dean Thompson also turned in consistent days to finish eighth and tenth respectively.
Xfinity race results from Indianapolis: pic.twitter.com/GjI4Qiwz44
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) July 27, 2025
With the win, Zilisch further extends his mark as the driver to beat. His three straight victories send a loud message as the regular season moves into its closing stretch. The rookie’s command of late-race execution continues to grow with each checkered flag.
Full Results from the Pennzoil 250
The full rundown from Saturday’s 100-lap race offers a mix of contenders, comebacks, and early exits. Here’s how the 38 drivers finished:
| 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 | |
| 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: Full Results from 2025 Pennzoil 250
Connor Zilisch powered to his fifth Xfinity win of the year at Indianapolis, passing Taylor Gray with two laps remaining to secure victory in the 2025 Pennzoil 250. The race featured 10 lead changes, six cautions, and finished in just under two and a half hours. Sam Mayer placed second, followed by Gray, Kyle Larson, and Ryan Sieg. Defending champ Justin Allgaier was forced to retire early with damage. The series heads to Iowa Speedway for the HyVee Perks 250 on August 2.
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