Connor Zilisch grabbed his fifth pole of the NASCAR Xfinity Series season at Watkins Glen, making him the leading qualifier in the series and preventing Shane van Gisbergen from securing another front-row start. With the Connor Zilisch NASCAR Xfinity Watkins Glen result, attention now turns to Saturday’s race and how the field will shape up behind this strong performance.
Zilisch Leads the Field, Outpacing Van Gisbergen
At Watkins Glen, Connor Zilisch continued his remarkable streak by earning his fifth pole of the season—more than any other Xfinity Series driver so far. Zilisch remains the only competitor to overtake Shane van Gisbergen in qualifying, including earlier at Sonoma, and this marks the first time van Gisbergen has not started from the pole in his three Xfinity appearances.
Shane van Gisbergen will join Zilisch on the front row for Saturday’s race. Taylor Gray, who has consistently shown strong pace though he is yet to claim his first win, will start third. Gray previously contended for victory at Iowa Speedway before pit road trouble impacted his chances, allowing Sam Mayer, who now starts fourth, to take that win.
Key Qualifying Performances Set the Stage
William Sawalich rounded out the top five in qualifying, building momentum as the season progresses, but he still requires a race win to lock himself into the playoffs. Further down the grid, Kaz Grala will line up eighth, marking only his third Xfinity start since returning to full-time competition with Sam Hunt Racing last year.
Among the NASCAR Cup drivers making Xfinity appearances, Michael McDowell will begin the race in 12th, and Riley Herbst will start 16th. These experienced competitors will be working through the field in pursuit of a win.
Incidents Impact Starting Positions
Notably, Christian Eckes, McDowell’s teammate, will start from the 36th position after being involved in a crash during practice with Shane van Gisbergen and Sam Mayer. The incident also involved other potential contenders and could influence race strategy for teams forced down the order.
The NASCAR Xfinity Series field is now set for what promises to be an exciting and competitive race at Watkins Glen, with Zilisch in a commanding position and van Gisbergen, Taylor Gray, William Sawalich, and others looking to challenge for the win. These qualifying results will play a key role in how strategies and rivalries unfold when the green flag drops.
