Connor Zilisch Xfinity Series pole position efforts were on full display at Portland International Raceway as he captured another pole for the Pacific Office Automation 147 on Saturday, less than a month after an injury forced him out of a major event. The 19-year-old, recently back from a broken collarbone, will lead the field, solidifying his reputation as one of the season’s standout road course competitors.
Zilisch Returns to the Front After Injury Setback
Connor Zilisch’s latest pole was celebrated with an official NASCAR Xfinity video on social media, showing his qualifying run and confirming his return to the front row. Just weeks prior, Zilisch had suffered a broken collarbone during a Victory Lane celebration at Watkins Glen, sidelining him and allowing Parker Kligerman to race in his stead at Daytona. Kligerman would go on to win that event following a driver change, temporarily delaying Zilisch’s own on-track season.
Once cleared to return, Zilisch wasted no time, immediately setting the fastest qualifying lap at Portland on the West Coast. His speed in qualifying at new tracks continues to set him apart in the Xfinity Series, particularly given that he had never raced at Portland before this event.
Consistent Excellence in Road Course Qualifying
Securing the pole at Portland marks Zilisch’s fifth such achievement this season and constitutes his sixth Kennametal Pole Award. His overall victory tally stands at seven, though one win is officially credited to Kligerman due to the Daytona driver swap. Despite the technicality, Zilisch’s numbers rank among the best in the 2024 Xfinity grid, demonstrating his growing consistency and dominance—especially on road courses.
The field for the Pacific Office Automation 147 is stacked with talent, including road course experts, one-off entrants, and international drivers. Notably, Takuma Koga, Alex Labbe, endurance racer Joey Hand substituting for Kyle Sieg, as well as Australian Supercars drivers Will Brown and Jack Perkins, are all aiming to challenge Zilisch at the front.
Gracious Approach Amid Rising Success
Before this weekend’s race, Connor Zilisch spoke with NASCAR analyst Bob Pockrass, reflecting on his rapid career rise and the people who helped him along the way. Their discussion highlighted how Zilisch, despite his achievements, maintains a humble perspective rooted in gratitude and self-awareness.
“Probably much dumber than what people see on TV. Everyone always tells me how smart I sound and how well spoken I am, and it would be much different coming from someone else. But as a friend, I care about people and anybody who has helped me in any way get to this point — I owe a lot to a lot of people, and I’m very fortunate to be where I am today. I feel like I’m just down to Earth. I didn’t come from a family with a name or I didn’t come from a family with boatloads of money.”
—Connor Zilisch, Driver, JR Motorsports
His outlook remains consistent even as his public profile grows. Zilisch has acknowledged that some see him as a polished competitor, but he remains keenly aware of his imperfections and continues to prioritize gratitude for the opportunities he has received.
“I’m grateful to be here. And I just try and be thankful every day that I’ve been put in this position to do what I love. Jesse, I’m sure he would say good things about my personality, but I’m definitely not as perfect as people sometimes think I am.”
—Connor Zilisch, Driver, JR Motorsports
Chasing the Championship Lead
On the competitive side, Zilisch sits second in the current Xfinity Series standings with 863 points, trailing the leader by only three. He has tallied seven wins and finished in the top five on thirteen occasions, also leading 559 laps this season. His dual role as a development driver for Trackhouse Racing in the Cup Series, where he posted a best result of 11th at Atlanta Motor Speedway, adds to his growing reputation as one of NASCAR’s most promising young talents.
As the Pacific Office Automation 147 approaches, all eyes remain on Connor Zilisch to see whether his impressive return and mastery on road courses can translate into another race win, further advancing his position and influence within the NASCAR Xfinity field.
