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Connor Zilisch Scores 1st Xfinity Win in 2 OTs in 1st Series Start

Connor Zilisch has arrived in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

The 18-year-old Zilisch scored his first career win in his first start in the Xfinity Series after saving enough fuel in a double overtime finish. The Mooresville, N.C. native The driver of the No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet led the most laps of the day at 45 and will drive the entry full time in the 2025 season.

Zilisch became the seventh driver in Xfinity Series history to win in his first career start, the first since Ty Gibbs won at Daytona International Speedway road course in February 2021.

“It’s so special to me man,” Zilisch said. “I don’t know how I even saved enough. I sputtered up the hill with two to go. I didn’t think I was going to make it to the line. I was saving the last two laps. I’m going to enjoy this one for a while.”

Sheldon Creed emerged as the driver in second after an intense three-wide battle for the runner-up position. Creed extended his record of most runner-up finishes without a victory to 12. Creed also locked his way into the playoffs via points with his finish.

AJ Allmendinger saved enough fuel to finish third and earn his ticket to the Xfinity playoffs, and Parker Kligerman, who announced retirement from full-time racing this weekend, finished fourth. Chandler Smith battled three wide in the closing laps but settled for fifth.

Shane van Gisbergen, Ross Chastain, Jesse Love, Joey Logano and Josh Bilicki rounded out the top 10.

Zilisch, who led every lap of stage one, was so dominant that at one point van Gisbergen, starting at the rear for an unapproved brake adjustment, pitted at the end of green flag racing in stage one, coming out ahead of the 18-year old. On older tires, Zilisch looked poised to pass van Gisbergen in the final two laps of the first stage.

Allmendinger assumed the lead during the first half of stage one, but he kept a line of cars behind him as his car lost grip during the run, and William Byron took the lead and held it through the end of stage two.

At the stage two break, Thomas Annunziata, in his third career Xfinity start, had to get out of the car after having problems with his helmet hose. He was replaced in the Joey Gase Motorsports No. 35 Toyota by owner Joey Gase.

The first caution for incident came out for Jordan Anderson Racing’s fourth entry. Mike Skeen, a IMSA GTD driver, got into Justin Allgaier in turn 7, sending him into the sand trap.

At the time of caution, the top three drivers of Gibbs, Sam Mayer and Zilisch cut the bus stop and NASCAR penalized them all, sending the trio to the rear.

Because of the penalty, Byron temporarily returned to the lead after passing Custer a few laps after the restart, but the driver of the No. 17 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet opted to stop with 30 to go to make it on fuel. Van Gisbergen stayed out longer and led for 15 laps before pitting but was issued a pass-through penalty on his final stop.

Zilisch took over the lead and began saving fuel in the final 15 laps after being told he was a gallon short on fuel. He was five seconds ahead of Gibbs, but with six to go, Matt DiBenedetto suffered a mechanical failure, and his No. 38 RSS Racing Ford stopped in the bus stop shortcut, bringing out the late yellow and setting up the three two lap shootouts.

With two laps to go in regulation, the field accordioned in turn one, triggering a multi-car pileup involving Austin Hill, Anthony Alfredo, Ed Jones, Byron and Smith. The red flag was displayed for the pileup for a 22-minute red flag.

On the first overtime restart, Gibbs ran out of gas before reaching turn 1, and at the bus stop, Brandon Jones spun through grass, hitting Skeen on the bus stop exit to bring out the sixth caution of the day.

Xfinity Watkins Glen Results

The regular season finale for the Xfinity Series will take place at Bristol Motor Speedway on Friday, 7:30 p.m. ET, with broadcasting being taken over by The CW.

About the author

Wyatt Watson has followed NASCAR closely since 2007. He joined Frontstretchas a journalist in February 2023 after serving in the United States Navy for five years as an Electronic Technician Navigation working on submarines. Wyatt writes breaking NASCAR news and contributes to columns such as Friday Faceoff and 2-Headed Monster. Wyatt also contributes to Frontstretch's social media and serves as an at-track reporter, collecting exclusive content for Frontstretch.

Wyatt Watson can be found on Twitter @WyattGametime

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DoninAjax

Wow! Carnage from multiple GWCs and it wasn’t a restrictor plate track. The Brain Trust is still doing high fives and can’t wait for the Cup event to end the same way. NA$CAR sure can draaaaaag out caution laps to get to a GWC