The recent NASCAR Xfinity Series race in Las Vegas showcased Connor Zilisch’s emerging talent, as the young standout for Dale Earnhardt Jr Xfinity Series nearly clinched victory before being edged out by veteran Aric Almirola. Taking place Saturday at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the intense contest highlighted Zilisch’s winning form this season and reinforced why he is considered a rapidly rising star ahead of his planned Cup Series promotion.
Nineteen-year-old Zilisch has been the most successful driver in NASCAR’s second-tier series this year, making a significant mark for JR Motorsports, the team co-owned by Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. In Las Vegas, Zilisch began the race in second position, with Almirola starting close behind in fourth. Both drivers quickly established themselves as the main contenders, leading the pack and delivering a head-to-head battle that kept fans on edge from the opening laps.
Almirola, representing Joe Gibbs Racing, secured early momentum by winning both of the opening stages, while Zilisch demonstrated consistency with second and third-place finishes in those segments. The real turning point came in the closing laps – with just 10 laps to go, Zilisch had maneuvered his No. 88 car to the front. However, a brief slip in turn two allowed Almirola to pounce, making contact and overtaking the young driver. This set off a dramatic chase to the finish, with Zilisch refusing to relent.
As the race neared its conclusion, Almirola maintained a slender lead, ultimately crossing the finish line just 0.696 seconds ahead of Zilisch. Notably, Almirola was not competing for playoff points, while Zilisch was aiming to further cement his leading status in the series. The thrilling finish drew commentary across the NASCAR community, particularly on Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s own “The Dale Jr. Download” podcast, where the team owner analyzed the tense final moments and praised Zilisch’s poise under stress.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Take on Zilisch’s Performance Under Pressure
On his podcast, Dale Earnhardt Jr. offered an emotional assessment of his driver’s effort, sharing a behind-the-scenes view of the decisive final laps from a team owner’s perspective.
“I’m the owner of the car, so I’m sitting there watching the car, and part of me is like, ‘Damn, he might get him.’ He’s got a good run here, if he can just get him upset a little bit and get to the rear bumper and get him up off the bottom, maybe he can get ahead.”
— Dale Earnhardt Jr., Team Owner
The NASCAR Hall of Famer described how the close contest between Zilisch and Almirola dramatically shifted as they fought for position.
“Then he gets sideways and loses a ton of track position, loses a lot of room, and you’re like, ‘All right, just settle in and bring it home.’”
— Dale Earnhardt Jr., Team Owner
Despite what seemed like a lost opportunity, Earnhardt recounted his amazement at Zilisch’s persistent counterattack late in the race.
“I don’t know how he was doing that, cause I’m sitting there looking at the tires, and it’s like they’re boiling hot,”
— Dale Earnhardt Jr., Team Owner
“I don’t know how he’s able to get that thing to have the grip to actually mount another run and another charge to Eric.”
— Dale Earnhardt Jr., Team Owner
The series of tense moments left Earnhardt deeply impressed with Zilisch’s relentless pursuit, even in the face of exhaustion and worn tires. While victory slipped away, Earnhardt underscored that Zilisch’s showing sent a strong message to the racing world about his legitimacy as a frontrunner and future contender at the top level.
Las Vegas Showdown Signals Bright Future for Zilisch
Though the loss was difficult for Connor Zilisch and the JR Motorsports crew, his commanding presence in the Las Vegas race has only cemented his status as the top driver in the Xfinity Series this season. The performance, praised by his team owner and many across the sport, not only intensified anticipation for Zilisch’s forthcoming move to the Cup Series, but also highlighted the competitive strength of Dale Earnhardt Jr Xfinity Series efforts in developing elite NASCAR talent.
As the season progresses, the intense battles and close finishes witnessed in Las Vegas are likely to further amplify the spotlight on Zilisch, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and the whole JR Motorsports organization as they continue their pursuit of victory and develop the next generation of NASCAR stars.
