Connor Zilisch wins at Portland International Speedway, giving JR Motorsports its first-ever victory at this venue on a thrilling race day. The win comes as a highlight for both Zilisch and Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s team, cementing an important moment in their season and energizing fans ahead of the upcoming race at St. Louis.
Starting from pole position, Zilisch proved unstoppable in the No. 88 car, leading 70 of 78 laps, capturing both stage wins, and setting the day’s fastest time. Although Austin Hill briefly overtook him near the finish, a late caution and overtime restart allowed Zilisch to reclaim the top spot. In an intense four-wide contest entering Turn 1, he was forced to use the runoff area before making a swift recovery and charging back to the front for victory.
This triumph marks the 15th win of the season for JR Motorsports and brings Zilisch’s personal season tally to eight victories. The milestone was immediately celebrated, with Zilisch expressing his gratitude and determination to keep the team’s momentum roaring.
“Hey Junior Nation. Conor Zilich here we just won at Portland Junior Motorsports first win here. Pretty awesome to get that. There’s not a lot of tracks they haven’t won at, so Im glad to get this one for them and excited to go to St. Louis next week and try to get the team our 16th win of the year.
“I think that would be a record and hopefully I can be the one to do it and get four in a row. But thank you guys for supporting us and cheering us on every week. We sure do appreciate it,” he said via X/JR Motorsports.
Overcoming Injury: Zilisch’s Triumphant Return
The Portland event was also significant as it marked Zilisch’s full-time comeback after undergoing collarbone surgery just two weeks prior. Parker Kligerman filled in for him at Daytona and delivered an electrifying final lap win, adding another highlight to the team’s season, but Zilisch’s return brought renewed energy and drive.
During the post-race interview, Zilisch openly discussed the pain he still endures, but emphasized the joy that racing and winning bring, echoing the resilience shown by racing legend Dale Earnhardt at Watkins Glen in 1996. That year, Earnhardt competed with a broken collarbone, finished sixth despite having Jeff Green on standby as relief driver, and described the pain as a ‘good hurt.’
“Coming back two weeks after collarbone surgery. It hurt, but it hurt so good. So, yeah,it’s awesome,” Connor Zilisch said in a post-race interview, via NASCAR.
Looking Ahead to St. Louis and More Records
Zilisch’s recent win sets up high expectations for JR Motorsports and the team as they prepare for the next event at World Wide Technology Raceway. The St. Louis race, scheduled for Saturday, September 6, holds the promise of achieving a sixteenth win this season—what could be a record for the organization. With Zilisch’s current streak, fans and teammates alike are rallying behind the hope that he will deliver another landmark victory and potentially stretch his win count to four in a row.
The achievements at Portland not only represent a new chapter for Zilisch but also underscore the determination across JR Motorsports. As the playoffs continue and the season’s momentum builds, all eyes are now set on St. Louis, where the energy and optimism surrounding the team show no signs of slowing down.
