Conner Zilisch Wins Xfinity Race at COTA

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AUSTIN, TX – RIS – Connor Zilisch started the race on the pole, but got behind, came back and won the NASCAR Xfinity Series race on the road course at COTA. Zilisch entered the weekend as a heavy odds-on favorite, after claiming his first-career victory in his Xfinity Series debut at Watkins Glen last season. Although he started the second stage in 32nd on lap 24, he found himself in 16th six laps later on lap 30. Another three laps later, on lap 33, and he was back inside the top 10

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As the final stage started, Zilisch carried on behind Kvapil, running second after Hill went wide, and closed on him with nine laps to go to take the lead. Zilisch would seal the deal, despite dealing with a right-front tire issue in the closing lap. After a difficult start to the season with back-to-back DNFs at Daytona and Atlanta, Saturday’s win could be the turning point in the year that Zilisch’s JR Motorsports team was looking for. With the win, Zilisch has now clinched a spot in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs.

On Sunday, he will be making his first career start in the NASCAR Cup Series for Trackhouse Racing, as he attempts to sweep the weekend. Zilisch will start 14th and he is considered one of the top contenders for Sunday’s EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix as well.

Unofficial Results: Focused Health 250, March 1, 2025 - Circuit of The Americas
Fin, Str, Driver, Car, Laps, St1, St2, Tms, Laps, Playoff Pts, Pts, Status
1) 1, Connor Zilisch #, No. 88 WeatherTech Chevrolet, 65, , 3, 26, 5, , 40, Running
2) 3, William Byron(i), No. 17 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, 65, 1, 1, 3, , , 0, Running
3) 8, Sam Mayer, No. 41 Audibel Ford, 65, 4, , , , , 41, Running
4) 12, Austin Hill, No. 21 Global Industrial Chevrolet, 65, 6, 1, 6, , , 38, Running
5) 10, Christian Eckes #, No. 16 Celsius Chevrolet, 65, 7, , , , , 36, Running
6) 11, Jesse Love, No. 2 Whelen Chevrolet, 65, , 2, 6, , , 31, Running
7) 7, Taylor Gray #, No. 54 Operation 300 Toyota, 65, , 2, 3, , , 30, Running
8) 2, Ross Chastain(i), No. 9 Acceptance Insurance Chevrolet, 65, 2, 2, 2, , , 0, Running
9) 23, William Sawalich #, No. 18 Starkey Toyota, 65, , , , , , 28, Running
10) 18, Blaine Perkins, No. 31 WERNER Chevrolet, 65, , , , , , 27, Running
11) 16, Sammy Smith, No. 8 Pilot Chevrolet, 65, 8, , , , 3, 37, Running
12) 14, Sheldon Creed, No. 00 Road Ranger Ford, 65, , , , , , 25, Running
13) 9, Riley Herbst(i), No. 19 Monster Energy Toyota, 65, , 1, 7, , , 0, Running
14) 27, Alex Labbe, No. 07 Black Diamond Garages Chevrolet, 65, 10, , , , 7, 28, Running
15) 21, Josh Williams, No. 11 Alloy Employer Services Chevrolet, 65, , , , , 8, 25, Running
16) 34, Ryan Ellis, No. 71 Classic Collision Chevrolet, 65, , , , , , 21, Running
17) 15, Daniel Dye #, No. 10 Heise LED Lighting Systems Chevrolet, 65, , , , , 2, 29, Running
18) 30, Dean Thompson #, No. 26 Thompson Pipe Group Toyota, 65, , , , , , 19, Running
19) 38, Ryan Sieg, No. 39 Sci Aps Ford, 65, , , , , 5, 24, Running
20) 32, Brennan Poole, No. 44 Midas Chevrolet, 65, , , , , 6, 22, Running
21) 17, Anthony Alfredo, No. 42 Austin Gamblers Chevrolet, 65, 9, , , , , 18, Running
22) 26, Josh Bilicki, No. 91 Insurance King Chevrolet, 65, , , , , , 15, Running
23) 5, Carson Kvapil #, No. 1 Bass Pro Shops/Clarience Tech Chevrolet, 65, , 2, 7, , , 15, Running
24) 19, Nick Sanchez #, No. 48 Borchetta Bourbon Chevrolet, 65, , , , , , 13, Running
25) 29, Jeb Burton, No. 27 State Water Heaters Chevrolet, 65, , , , , 4, 19, Running
26) 20, Austin Green, No. 32 Volpi Chevrolet, 65, , , , , , 11, Running
27) 36, Kyle Sieg, No. 28 RSS Racing Ford, 65, , , , , 10, 11, Running
28) 35, Jeremy Clements, No. 51 Henderson Jet Services Chevrolet, 65, , , , , , 9, Running
29) 4, Justin Allgaier, No. 7 BRANDT/Rev1 Energy Chevrolet, 65, 5, , , , , 14, Running
30) 13, Brandon Jones, No. 20 Menards/Bali Toyota, 65, , , , , , 7, Running
31) 6, Corey Heim(i), No. 24 Upper Deck Toyota, 65, 3, , , , , 0, Running
32) 22, Matt DiBenedetto, No. 99 ReMA Chevrolet, 65, , , , , , 5, Running
33) 33, Kris Wright, No. 5 First National Bank Corp Chevrolet, 64, , , , , , 4, Running
34) 28, Sage Karam, No. 53 Eternal Fan Toyota, 58, , , , , 9, 5, Transmission
35) 31, Harrison Burton, No. 25 DEX Imaging Ford, 55, , 1, 5, 1, 1, 12, Axle
36) 25, Preston Pardus, No. 50 Chinchor Electric Inc Chevrolet, 26, , , , , , 1, Rear End
37) 37, Baltazar Leguizamon, No. 35 KSW Construction Corp/Speed Agro Chevrolet, 17, , , , , , 1, Suspension
38) 24, Carson Hocevar(i), No. 14 Trophy Tractor Chevrolet, 3, , , , , , 0, Accident
(i) Ineligible for driver points in this series, (#) Rookie

Length: 65 Laps, 156. Miles
Time of Race: 2 Hrs, 13 Mins, 32 Secs.
Average Speed: 70.095 mph
Margin of Victory: 1.639 sec

Stage 1 Top 10: 17, 9, 24, 41, 7, 21, 16, 8, 42, 07
Stage 2 Top 10: 25, 10, 8, 27, 39, 44, 07, 11, 53, 28

Comments: Connor Zilisch won the Focused Health 250 at Circuit of the Americas, his second career NASCAR Xfinity Series victory.

Prior to the start, the following cars dropped to the rear for the reason indicated: Nos. 2, 5, 25, 28, 32, 35, 39, 50, 71, 91 (unapproved adjustments).
Failed to Qualify: (3) No. 45 Brad Perez, No. 4 Parker Retzlaff, No. 70 Thomas Annunziata.
Cautions: 4 for 14 laps;
Laps: 5-6 (No. 14 incident turn 6A [None]);
19-24 (No. 35 stalled on track / Stage 1 Conclusion [32]);
30-31 (Tire pack repair [None]);
42-45 (Stage 2 Conclusion [None]).
Lead Changes: 14 among 9 drivers;
C. Zilisch # 1-5;
R. Chastain(i) 6;
C. Zilisch # 7-17;
W. Byron(i) 18-20;
R. Chastain(i) 21;
T. Gray # 22-23;
J. Love 24;
T. Gray # 25;
J. Love 26-30;
R. Herbst(i) 31-37;
H. Burton 38-42;
C. Kvapil # 43-45;
A. Hill 46-51;
C. Kvapil # 52-55;
C. Zilisch # 56-65.