JR Motorsports’ rookie driver Connor Zilisch won his first NASCAR Xfinity Series pole of 2025 at Circuit of the Americas on Friday (Feb. 28) with a lap time of 88.832 mph. It is his second career pole and second on a road course. Zilisch is a one-time winner in the Xfinity Series at Watkins Glen and will make his NASCAR Cup Series debut on Sunday.
This guy just keeps on rolling! @ConnorZilisch captures the Kennametal Pole Award at @NASCARatCOTA! pic.twitter.com/URgOA38m7y
— NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) March 1, 2025
Zilisch is joined on the front row by JR Motorsports teammate and former cup series winner at COTA, Ross Chastain. Chastain is making his first Xfinity Series start of 2025 on Saturday.
Hendrick Motorsports’ William Byron will make his first Xfinity start of 2025 in third place with Justin Allgaier alongside him. Carson Kvapil rounds out the top five.
Corey Heim, Taylor Gray, Sam Mayer, Riley Herbst and Christian Eckes qualified sixth through 10th, respectively
The first road course race of the season saw 41 drivers attempt to qualify for 38 spots. Parker Retzlaff, Brad Perez and Thomas Annunziata will head home after failing to qualify.
NASCAR Xfinity Series Starting Lineup for COTA
The first road course race of the NASCAR Xfinity Series season kicks off Saturday (March 1) at 2:30 p.m. ET on the CW.
