Aric Almirola emerged victorious in an electrifying battle against Connor Zilisch in the latest Connor Zilisch NASCAR Xfinity race, securing his third win of the 2025 season and tenth career Xfinity triumph. The dramatic showdown, which unfolded at a crucial stage of the race, saw Almirola fend off a late surge by Zilisch to claim the checkered flag and intensify the Xfinity Series championship race.
Almirola Holds Off Zilisch in Intense Final Laps
The former Cup Series competitor, Aric Almirola, managed to seize the lead when Connor Zilisch struggled with a loose car and faltered in Turn 2. The two contenders made door-to-door contact on the backstretch, heightening the drama as they dueled for the win. Despite Zilisch’s determination and late attempts to regain ground, his car’s handling issues allowed Almirola to maintain control and finish first.
“Thank you God, this is such an incredible opportunity,”
said Almirola.
“Thank you Coach (Gibbs). It’s such an awesome honor to go race for an owner’s championship with JD Gibbs’ name on the car. I’m having so much fun. This is the time of my life, man. Our car was good, but the longer I ran, the tighter I got. That restart there, I took off incredibly tight. I couldn’t get going. The #48 [Nick Sanchez] kind of slowed my momentum down, and finally I got clear of him and was able to go chase the #88 [Zilisch] down. He looked pretty loose, and I was able to capitalize on that.”
– Aric Almirola, Driver
Connor Zilisch finished in second, just behind Almirola, while Justin Allgaier claimed third, Corey Day came in fourth, and Nick Sanchez rounded out the top five. The result marked Corey Day’s first-ever top-five finish in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, achieved in only his ninth start.
Jesse Love, another strong contender throughout the race, finished sixth after spending much of the event in the hunt for victory. After the checkered flag, Love was seen in a heated conversation on pit road, adding to the intensity of the day.
Action-Packed Opening Stages
The race began with Justin Allgaier on pole position. An early caution for debris slowed the field, but on the restart, Jesse Love made an ambitious three-wide attempt for the top spot that did not succeed. Aric Almirola took the opening stage, with Connor Zilisch pushing him closely and Jesse Love in third.
During the second stage, Jesse Love’s crew helped him win the race off pit road, only for Almirola to wrestle the lead back when the green flag flew again. This segment featured tense side-drafting, including contact between Zilisch and Love amid aggressive racing, while Allgaier and Austin Hill also battled, with Hill managing to save his car after it broke loose in Turn 3 with Ryan Sieg close behind.
Almirola completed a sweep by winning both early stages, finishing just ahead of Love in stage two, with Zilisch in third—highlighting the fierce competitiveness of the leading drivers.
Three-Way Battle and Crucial Pit Stops Shape Final Stage
With 94 laps to go, Almirola passed Zilisch for the lead, but Jesse Love mounted a comeback to take control with 59 laps remaining. Leaders headed to pit road shortly after, where Almirola made an assertive move to retake the position from Love, only for Love to regain command following a swift pit stop by his crew.
The front of the field saw a three-way tussle between Love, Zilisch, and Almirola. As traffic became a factor, Zilisch forced Love loose and grabbed the lead with 30 laps left. However, a caution emerged almost immediately when Dean Thompson spun deeper in the field, shaking up the running order once again.
After pit stops under yellow, Almirola edged ahead of Love, pushing Love down the order after the restart. Zilisch led the final restart with just 23 laps to go, but Almirola stayed locked onto his bumper, creating a high-tension dash to the finish.
Finishing Order Features Standout Performances
The closing laps featured relentless pressure as Almirola and Zilisch traded momentum, culminating in Almirola’s narrow victory. Zilisch’s near-miss assured his status as a rising star in the series and kept the championship picture in flux. Behind them, established competitors such as Justin Allgaier, up-and-comers like Corey Day, and the consistent Nick Sanchez filled out the top five slots. Other drivers, including Jesse Love and Austin Hill, faced both highlights and setbacks that shaped the dynamic running order through the day.
What This Intense Race Means Going Forward
Aric Almirola’s win not only cements his place among championship contenders but also demonstrates his ability to capitalize under pressure, while Connor Zilisch’s strong second-place performance builds excitement for his future NASCAR Xfinity Series appearances. The thrilling dogfight and calculated strategy by the leaders, including notable moments for JD Gibbs’ legacy, reinforce the depth of competition in NASCAR’s feeder series. With each race, drivers like Love, Day, and Sanchez add layers to the 2025 season’s unfolding storylines, keeping fans and teams anticipating the coming battles.
