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Teenager Connor Zilisch Wins NASCAR Xfinity Series Debut At Watkins Glen

by Hunter Thomas September 15, 2024 0 comments

WATKINS GLEN, NY – In his debut NASCAR Xfinity Series appearance, Connor Zilisch survived double NASCAR Overtime to win the Mission 200 at The Glen.

Zilisch, an 18-year-old from Mooresville, NC, is known throughout the industry as a driver who competes in an array of disciplines. Most recently, he has won five of the six ARCA Menards Series races he has competed in; however, on Saturday at Watkins Glen, the young driver competed for JR Motorsports for the first time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, and not only did he win, but did so while leading a race high of 45 laps.

“I worked so hard for this one,” Zilisch said. “I’ve been working for this one for months and it’s so special to me, man. I don’t even have words.”

Although Zilisch was in command for much of the race, the win didn’t come easy. In fact, he had to save fuel, and in NASCAR Overtime, he was running on fumes.

“I don’t know how I saved enough, I sputtered up the hill,” Zilisch said. “With two to go, I didn’t even think I was going to make it back to the line even. I’m going to enjoy this one for a while. I can’t say enough about JR Motorsports and everyone who supports me.”

Sheldon Creed is still searching for his first series win, and on Saturday, he came up just short again as he finished second in the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 18 Friends of Jaclyn Foundation Toyota. The effort marked Creed’s second top-three finish in the last three races.

“Just trying to keep the nose on it there, actually really fun,” Creed said. “I felt like that was the battle for the win probably there if the 88 ran out. I thought I put myself in really good positions to end up second again. I’m actually happy, for how my day was going.”

Behind Zilisch and Creed was a madhouse filled with road course experts battling it out for the third position. AJ Allmendinger prevailed, followed by Chandler Smith in fourth and Shane van Gisbergen in fifth.

Rounding out the top-10 was Ross Chastain, Park Kligerman who just announced his retirement at the end of the season, Jesse Love, Joey Logano and Josh Bilicki.

Zilisch won Stage 1, and William Byron won Stage 2.

The race saw 10 lead changes among seven drivers.

The caution flew on seven occasions for 19 laps.

With just one race remaining in the Regular Season, the Playoff race is now at max intensity. Sammy Smith currently holds the 12^th and final transfer position as he leads Ryan Sieg by 43 points. On Saturday, both drivers crashed in the closing laps. Smith finished 19^th, and Sieg who took a hard hit on the final lap finished 22^nd.

Point leader, Justin Allgaier also spun in the closing laps; however, he now has a 43-point lead over Cole Custer who also went for a spin as well.

The final race of the Regular Season will be held at Bristol Motor Speedway on Friday, Sept. 20. The Food City 300 will broadcast live on the CW, which is a new partner for NASCAR this season. Race coverage gets underway at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Photo Credit: Sean Gardner/Getty Images