Connor Zilisch delivered a thrilling performance on Saturday to claim victory in the Focused Health 250 NASCAR Xfinity COTA race.
The 18-year-old road course prodigy overcame multiple challenges, including a penalty, on-track collisions, and relentless competition at the Circuit of The Americas to secure his second career Xfinity Series win.
Driving the No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet, Connor Zilisch demonstrated resilience and skill to emerge victorious at the NASCAR Xfinity COTA race packed with drama and intense battles.
The race began with Zilisch starting on pole after an impressive qualifying session, however, his journey to the checkered flag was far from smooth. Early in the race, the young driver faced a commitment line violation during a caution period, which forced him to restart from 32nd after the first stage break.
Despite this setback the Charlotte, North Carolina native methodically worked his way through the field on the challenging 2.4-mile, 17-turn road course.
Zilisch’s determination was tested again in the final stage when he made contact with Corey Heim’s Toyota while battling for position. The collision damaged the right-front fender of his Chevy, causing a significant tire rub under hard braking.
Despite the complications, Zilisch maintained his composure and continued to push for glory at NASCAR Xfinity COTA. The turning point came on Lap 56 when Zilisch overtook Carson Kvapil for the lead.
Kvapil, who had been a strong contender throughout the race, applied heavy pressure on Zilisch but suffered a flat right-front tire on Lap 60.
The misfortune allowed Connor Zilisch to create a comfortable gap and focus on managing his car’s condition, ultimately crossing the finish line first to win the Focused Health 250.
Zilisch’s victory marked an important rebound after disappointing finishes at Daytona and Atlanta earlier in the season.
“That was way harder than I wanted it to be,” said Zilisch. “I did not drive a clean race at all … I was kind of mentally fogged halfway through that race.
“I made way too many mistakes … I was glad we were able to fight back.”
Meanwhile, William Byron driving the No. 17 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet finished second after trimming Zilisch’s lead from four seconds to just 1.639 seconds in the closing laps.
Byron praised the competitive nature of the NASCAR Xfinity COTA race but noted that his car struggled on short runs, requiring careful management over longer stints. His performance was commendable as he prepared for Sunday’s Cup Series race at the same venue.
“My car was just kind of floppy in the short run, and I had to try to take care of it,” said Byron. “I just tried to stay with it there in the long run … I had fun. It was a good workout.
“It was good to get back into the rhythm of things, pushing the car. I think it’ll help me for (Sunday).”
Sam Mayer secured third place in his No. 41 Audibel Ford after a consistent run throughout the event.
Last week’s winner in Atlanta Austin Hill finished fourth after briefly leading during a chaotic restart on Lap 46. Hill’s aggressive driving initially propelled him to the front, but an overdriven corner allowed Kvapil and Zilisch to reclaim their positions.
Christian Eckes rounded out the top five with a solid performance in his No. 16 Celsius Chevrolet. Jesse Love finished sixth ahead of Taylor Gray in seventh while Ross Chastain and William Sawalich also delivered strong showings to claim eighth and ninth places respectively, Blaine Perkins completed the top ten.
The NASCAR Xfinity COTA race featured four caution periods over 14 laps and saw 14 lead changes among nine drivers. Connor Zilisch led for a total of 26 laps, more than any other competitor, showcasing his dominance despite facing adversity.
The event also highlighted standout moments from drivers like Riley Herbst and Harrison Burton, who each led multiple laps before encountering issues that dropped them down the order.
Several drivers faced mechanical problems or accidents that ended their races prematurely. Corey Heim’s incident with Zilisch relegated him to a disappointing 31st-place finish despite showing early promise.
Carson Hocevar retired after just three laps due to an accident, while Harrison Burton exited with an axle issue after leading briefly.
The Focused Health 250 serves as a prelude to Sunday’s EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix NASCAR Cup Series race at COTA, where Zilisch is set to make his Cup Series debut starting from 14th position. His confidence is undoubtedly bolstered by Saturday’s triumph as he looks forward to competing against NASCAR’s top-tier drivers.
As the NASCAR Xfinity Series moves forward, Austin Hill maintains a narrow points lead over Jesse Love heading into next week’s GOVX 200 at Phoenix Raceway.
