Connor Zilisch secured a milestone by clinching the NASCAR Xfinity Series regular-season title at the Nu Way 200 Sauced by Blues Hog, held Saturday night at World Wide Technology Raceway. The rookie sensation, representing JR Motorsports, claimed his fourth win in a row and set a new record for series rookies, heightening excitement around the season’s conclusion.
Zilisch’s Dominant Performance Seals the Title
Starting from pole position, Zilisch controlled the race by leading on four separate occasions, clocking a race-high 121 laps in front. His commanding presence culminated in a 1.506-second victory over William Sawalich of Joe Gibbs Racing, who was also contending for a playoff berth.
Zilisch’s achievement marked his ninth win as a rookie in the series—an unprecedented feat. Securing the regular-season title by a 53-point margin over teammate Justin Allgaier, he also added 15 valuable bonus points for the playoffs, underscoring his role as a favorite for the championship chase.
“That one was stressful. Man, that’s awesome! Four in a row,”
—Connor Zilisch, Driver
Consistent week-to-week excellence fueled Zilisch’s success, supported by a strong JR Motorsports team and effective pit crew. His win at World Wide Technology Raceway added another highlight to his breakout season, as he reflected on the demanding nature of his winning streak and the rarity of such consistent performance at this level.
“Every week I show up thinking, man, this is going to be the weekend that we just go run eighth and aren’t great. But every weekend we show up and we’re a winning race car and my pit crew executes, my team executes and everybody does their job, and we end up doing burnouts on the frontstretch.”
—Connor Zilisch, Driver
Playoff Field Set Following Eventful Finale
The 160-lap, 200-mile race represented the concluding regular-season event and finalized the 12-driver field for the Xfinity Series Playoffs. Sheldon Creed of Haas Factory Team, Taylor Gray with Joe Gibbs Racing, and Harrison Burton of AM Racing each secured crucial spots based on points.
They join a roster of race winners: Connor Zilisch, Justin Allgaier, Sam Mayer from Haas Factory Team, Jesse Love of Richard Childress Racing, Austin Hill from RCR, Brandon Jones of Joe Gibbs Racing, Sammy Smith of JR Motorsports, Nick Sanchez of Big Machine Racing, and Carson Kvapil of JR Motorsports, who locked in his playoff berth a week prior.
Late Race Cautions Add to the Challenge
JR Motorsports asserted control early, with Zilisch taking stage one and Allgaier capturing stage two. However, Zilisch faced fresh challenges toward the race’s conclusion, as three caution periods occurred within the final 31 laps. The largest incident unfolded at lap 136 when 10 vehicles were involved in a multi-car crash entering the first turn. A subsequent caution from laps 144 to 148 for debris added more complexity to the closing laps.
Aric Almirola of Joe Gibbs Racing, who finished sixth, seized the lead after a restart but was quickly overtaken by Zilisch, who then held the top spot for the remaining 12 laps, sealing the important win for both himself and the JR Motorsports team.
Attention Shifts to Bristol and the Playoffs
The next phase for the NASCAR Xfinity Series begins as the Playoffs kick off Friday at Bristol Motor Speedway. Zilisch enters the Round of 12 as the top seed, carrying significant momentum and expectations for further success. With competitors like Justin Allgaier, Sheldon Creed, Jesse Love, and the rest of the qualified drivers, the path to the championship promises continued drama and elevated competition.
The regular-season finale provided a thrilling close, ensuring excitement among teams and fans as the focus now moves to the high-stakes playoff battles ahead.
