Connor Zilisch delivered a remarkable performance to secure victory at the NASCAR Xfinity Series race in Portland on Saturday, making a triumphant return after recent collarbone surgery. The 19-year-old’s determination was evident as he dominated the event, marking his eighth win of the 2025 season and reinforcing the story of the Connor Zilisch NASCAR Xfinity Portland win.
Zilisch Overcomes Injury and Late-Race Drama
Three weeks ago, Zilisch suffered a broken collarbone after falling from his car during Victory Lane celebrations at Watkins Glen, and since then, his resilience has been on full display. Although Parker Kligerman took over the No. 88 for a victory at Daytona the week following the accident, Zilisch quickly returned to the driver’s seat. In Portland, he proved unstoppable, despite multiple chaotic restarts in the closing laps.
His win was not just a testament to skill but also to determination and grit. Zilisch’s post-race celebration was both careful and humorous, as he made sure to climb from his car without incident and even checked that his window net was properly stowed.
When asked about the secret to his success on the track, Zilisch responded,
“I guess cut the track, I don’t know,”
punctuated with laughter, and added,
“So proud of this WeatherTech Chevrolet team. It’s got a ‘W’ on the hood so no better thing to do than to win with it. It was really cool. To come back two weeks after collarbone surgery — it hurt, but it hurt so good.”
—Connor Zilisch, Driver
During the final restart, Austin Hill held the advantage, but Zilisch quickly reclaimed the lead, demonstrating his mastery under pressure. In a moment of confusion, Zilisch missed the entry to Turn 1 and was forced by NASCAR rules to take an alternative route, ensuring fair play. Meanwhile, Sammy Smith was spun while wrestling for the position, causing further drama behind the leaders.
Emerging from the smoky chaos, Zilisch maintained his lead with William Sawalich close behind. Nick Sanchez secured third, Christian Eckes finished fourth, and Hill, after leading late, wound up fifth. The rest of the top-10 featured Carson Kvapil, Jeb Burton, Austin Green, Blaine Perkins, and Jesse Love.
Commanding Early Performance in Opening Stages
Zilisch set the tone for the race by controlling the front of the field almost immediately. Early in the opening stage, multiple drivers, such as William Sawalich, who had been running fourth, slid off the course, foreshadowing the event’s intense on-track battles. Dean Thompson had a challenging outing with off-track issues and an unscheduled pit stop, followed by a spin at the final corner, marking a difficult day for him.
None of the early incidents necessitated a complete caution, allowing Zilisch to pull out to a substantial 15-second lead as the first stage progressed. Austin Hill managed to get past Allgaier for second, but a dramatic moment unfolded as Matt DiBenedetto was forced to exit his car quickly due to fire at his feet, as later revealed. The situation underscored the chaotic and hazardous moments drivers sometimes face within the series.
The start of Stage 2 brought renewed battle as Hill attempted to challenge Zilisch for the lead, but his challenge lasted only a few turns before Zilisch began to stretch his advantage once more. Fierce competition persisted throughout the field, with Jesse Love suffering damage in contact with Sawalich, and further off-track excursions occurred. Even a small grass fire briefly broke out, but none of these events warranted a full-course yellow. Zilisch took the Stage 2 win decisively, finishing nearly nine seconds ahead of Hill.
Intense Final Stage and Late-Race Overtime
The final segment began with Zilisch in control, but the path to victory would be anything but simple. With just 12 laps to go, Sheldon Creed was forced to pit due to a flat tire, and Anthony Alfredo stalled elsewhere on the circuit, setting the stage for wild restarts. As the green flag waved again, William Sawalich aggressively challenged from several car lengths back and made contact with Zilisch, forcing the leader to take the escape road. Allgaier, who was running inside the top five, spun in the melee.
From the ensuing mayhem, Austin Hill took over the race lead with a bold move, even as more contact and spins unfolded throughout the field. Supercars veteran Jack Perkins surged into third, but went off in the final corner and got stuck, prompting a caution that extended the race into overtime.
When it mattered most, Zilisch capitalized on the final restart to seize the advantage for good, consolidating his victory and further building his lead in the regular season standings.
The Broader Impact of Zilisch’s Win
Connor Zilisch’s triumph in Portland cements his status as a dominant force in the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series season, following up recent adversity with a display of resilience and skill. Rivals such as Jesse Love, Nick Sanchez, Sammy Smith, Christian Eckes, Jeb Burton, Carson Kvapil, Austin Green, Blaine Perkins, and Austin Hill all featured in the dramatic battle, but none could deny Zilisch’s relentless momentum.
The events in Portland offer a testament to the unpredictable nature of NASCAR racing, where strategy, physical endurance, and little moments of fortune shape the outcome. As the season advances, all eyes will be on Zilisch to see if he can maintain his remarkable pace and convert his current momentum into a championship run.
