Connor Zilisch earned the coveted pole position for the Focused Health 250 at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas, on Friday, February 27, giving him a prime opportunity to repeat as race winner. By clinching the fastest time in a competitive qualifying session, Zilisch continues his strong form at the venue, further cementing his reputation among road course specialists.
Zilisch Sets the Pace in Group Qualifying Format
The qualifying for the Focused Health 250 featured a split format, with the 40-driver field divided into two groups, each receiving a 20-minute session to lay down their quickest lap. Once both groups had completed their runs, the overall fastest lap from either group determined who would start at the front of the grid for Saturday’s race.
Representing Charlotte, North Carolina, Connor Zilisch participated in the first qualifying group after ranking ninth in the preceding practice session. Zilisch managed a blistering lap at 88.398 mph, clocking in at 97.740 seconds. This run secured him his first NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series pole of the 2026 season, a notable achievement considering the level of competition and the technical demands of the COTA road course.
A Decade’s Worth of Poles and COTA Milestones
This latest pole marks the tenth time Zilisch has started from the front in his O’Reilly career and his seventh at a road course event. It is also significant in that he has now captured back-to-back poles at Circuit of the Americas in the O’Reilly series. His consistency at the Texas track is underscored by another milestone: Zilisch has now won a pole at COTA across NASCAR’s top three national touring series for three years running, after locking down the Craftsman Truck Series top spot in 2024.
Running full-time for Trackhouse Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series, Zilisch is making a select appearance for JR Motorsports in the No. 1 Chevrolet Camaro at this event. Already the defending O’Reilly winner at COTA, he now seeks to join AJ Allmendinger as the only drivers to achieve consecutive O’Reilly wins in Austin, highlighting the event’s historical weight.
Front Row Rivals and Key Contenders
Lining up next to Zilisch on the front row will be Shane van Gisbergen, piloting the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro in his second year of part-time competition with JR Motorsports. Van Gisbergen’s fastest lap of 88.209 mph (97.949 seconds) was good enough for second place in qualifying, and he will be pursuing his first COTA victory during Saturday’s race.
Austin Hill, who emerged as the quickest in the second qualifying group, secured the third starting position with a matching 88.209 mph lap in 97.949 seconds. Hill, a two-time runner-up at COTA, aims for his first triumph on a road course, building on his impressive record at this venue.
Brandon Jones and Justin Allgaier complete the top five starters, bringing a wealth of experience and determination to their respective positions. Other notable competitors who locked in top-ten starting spots include Carson Kvapil, Brent Crews—making a strong showing as a newcomer—Sam Mayer (who topped the practice session times), Sheldon Creed, and Sammy Smith.
Breakdown of the Starting Grid
The competitive qualifying session highlighted several drivers’ strengths and set the tone for a closely fought main event. The top ten starters are as follows:
1. Connor Zilisch, 88.398 mph, 97.740 seconds
2. Shane van Gisbergen, 88.209 mph, 97.949 seconds
3. Austin Hill, 87.841 mph, 98.359 seconds
4. Brandon Jones, 87.762 mph, 98.448 seconds
5. Justin Allgaier, 87.661 mph, 98.562 seconds
6. Carson Kvapil, 87.652 mph, 98.572 seconds
7. Brent Crews, 87.565 mph, 98.670 seconds
8. Sam Mayer, 87.523 mph, 98.717 seconds
9. Sheldon Creed, 87.462 mph, 98.786 seconds
10. Sammy Smith, 87.394 mph, 98.863 seconds
The remainder of the field features a deep roster including Jesse Love, Corey Day, Austin Green, Taylor Gray, William Sawalich, Anthony Alfredo, Preston Pardus, Ryan Sieg, Rajah Caruth, Nick Sanchez, Ross Chastain, Sage Karam, Harrison Burton, Blaine Perkins, Josh Bilicki, Brennan Poole, Dean Thompson, Alex Labbe, Parker Retzlaff, Jeremy Clements, and Lavar Scott. Several competitors—Ryan Ellis, Jeb Burton, Kyle Sieg, JJ Yeley, Baltazar Leguizamon, and Austin J. Hill—secured their places based on owner points, reflecting the intensity of the fight for starting spots.
Missed Opportunities and Race Day Details
With a packed entry list of 40, only 38 drivers advanced to Saturday’s main event. Josh Williams and Tyler Gonzalez missed the cut, underscoring the fine margins at play in COTA qualifying.
The main event, the Focused Health 250, is scheduled for Saturday, February 28, with the green flag dropping at 3 p.m. ET. Fans can catch the excitement on the CW Network, PRN Radio, or SiriusXM. The stakes are high, as drivers like Zilisch, van Gisbergen, Hill, Sam Mayer, and others aim to make their mark on one of NASCAR’s most challenging road courses.
What Zilisch’s Pole Means for the Race
Connor Zilisch’s conquest of the COTA pole position not only highlights his exceptional talent on road courses, but also sets the stage for a potential repeat victory at a track where he has consistently excelled. The presence of seasoned drivers and strong newcomers in the top ten hints at a closely contested battle ahead. Zilisch’s bid to replicate the rare feat achieved by AJ Allmendinger—winning back-to-back O’Reilly events in Austin—adds historical context and excitement for fans and competitors alike. With the green flag approaching, all eyes will be on the front row as the action unfolds at Circuit of the Americas.
