Connor Zilisch finished just behind the leader at the recent race at Kansas Speedway, falling 2.787 seconds short in his pursuit of a tenth win this season. His Kansas Speedway performance, behind the wheel of the No. 88 car for JR Motorsports, was marked by determined racing and a close challenge to Brandon Jones, who ultimately secured the victory for Joe Gibbs Racing’s No. 20 Toyota Supra.
Brandon Jones Secures Spot in Round of 8 with Kansas Triumph
Brandon Jones captured victory at the 1.5-mile Kansas Speedway, locking himself into the championship’s Round of 8. This win marked his third victory at the Kansas track and the seventh Xfinity win of his career. Jones dominated the event by starting from pole position and controlling the race through to the finish, demonstrating impeccable execution throughout the day. With this victory, he now holds fourth place in the points standings thanks to two season wins, six top-five finishes, and 11 top-10 results.
Zilisch Acknowledges Close Competition and Consistency
Despite missing out on the top spot, Connor Zilisch commended Jones for his Kansas performance and reflected on coming close to victory himself.
“You always show up to the track wanting to win, and some weeks you just can’t,”
Connor Zilisch said.
“Today was one of those. Brandon and the #20 team were on it today, and he’s been really good here, so props to them, but I feel like we were really close to being a winning card, just not quite good enough.”
– Connor Zilisch, Driver
This Kansas race marked Zilisch’s 16th consecutive finish in the top five. He led for 42 laps, increasing his total laps led to 890 this season. The Charlotte, North Carolina, native’s record in 27 starts now stands at 17 top-five and 19 top-10 finishes, highlighting his growing consistency and competitive edge in the Xfinity Series.
Randall Burnett Will Partner with Zilisch at Trackhouse Racing in 2026
Excitement builds for Zilisch’s future, as seasoned crew chief Randall Burnett, formerly part of Kyle Busch’s team at Richard Childress Racing, is slated to join Trackhouse Racing as crew chief for Zilisch starting in 2026. This partnership signals Zilisch’s upcoming move to a full-time seat in the Cup Series with the Chevrolet-backed Trackhouse organization.
“I think everybody needs a fresh start,”
Burnett told NASCAR.com.
“I got a really good opportunity with where I’m going. Obviously, Connor’s a great young talent. I miss working with the younger guys. So, you know, just kind of all worked out.”
– Randall Burnett, Crew Chief
Burnett reflected on the unique opportunities and challenges that come with coaching a young, talented driver like Zilisch as they transition to the top level of NASCAR competition.
“I think he’ll have a pretty steep learning curve when he gets over here, but I want to help guide him with that and try to coach him up. Obviously, the kid’s got an immense amount of talent, there’s no question about that,”
he added. – Randall Burnett, Crew Chief
The partnership is expected to help Zilisch adapt to the demands of the longer, more challenging Cup Series races, as well as the fiercely skilled field of drivers competing at that level.
Next on the Schedule: Road Course Challenge at Charlotte
Connor Zilisch’s focus now shifts to the Blue Cross NC 250 at Charlotte Motor Speedway’s road course, scheduled for Saturday, October 4. The 19-year-old will attempt to convert his recent momentum into another strong showing during this 67-lap event. Fans will be able to follow all the action live on CW starting at 5 pm ET, with radio updates from PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
The intense competition seen at Kansas outlines Zilisch’s steady rise as a formidable presence in the Xfinity Series while his forthcoming alliance with Trackhouse Racing and Randall Burnett hints at a promising Cup Series future. As Brandon Jones locks in his playoff position and Zilisch continues to deliver impressive results, NASCAR watchers will keep a close eye on both drivers as the season progresses.
Connor Zilisch finished second at Kansas and easily clinched a spot in the next round on points. So he can go to the Charlotte road course — where he also will race a Spire truck — and just be focused on winning: pic.twitter.com/lis6ZTA6KK
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) September 27, 2025
