Latest news with #JRMotorsports
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Connor Zilisch goes for fourth straight NASCAR Xfinity Series victory
It would be difficult to imagine a performance more dominant than the one JR Motorsports driver Connor Zilisch has fashioned over the last nine races since returning from a back injury he sustained at Talladega. In that span, Zilisch won four races, including the last three in a row. He also finished second three times, along with two more top-five finishes, to post an average finish of 2.1 since Charlotte. RELATED: | With his win last Saturday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, he notched the 100th victory for JR Motorsports. At 19 years, 4 days, he's now the youngest driver to win three straight races in Xfinity Series history and to reach six career victories in the series, dethroning Joey Logano. All six of Zilisch's Xfinity wins have come in his series debuts at the respective tracks, a streak he'll attempt to maintain in Saturday's HyVee Perks 250 at Iowa Speedway (4:30 p.m. ET, The CW, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). Only two drivers in series history have won four straight races: Sam Ard in 1983 and Noah Gragson in 2022. Though Zilisch has never raced an Xfinity Series car at Iowa Speedway, two facts argue in his favor: he won last year's ARCA Menards Series race at the 0.875-mile short track, and Sam Mayer won last year's race with Zilisch's current crew chief, Mardy Lindley, calling the shots from Mayer's pit box. 'I was fortunate enough to win the ARCA race at Iowa last year, so I'm looking forward to using what I learned in that race with a new challenge in the Xfinity car,' Zilisch said. 'My crew chief, Mardy Lindley, won the race there with Sam Mayer last year, so I know we'll have a really good KOA Chevrolet when we get to the track this weekend. 'We've been on a roll lately with top-five finishes and trips to Victory Lane, so I'm ready to get to the track and continue that.' The HyVee Perks 250 is the third of five short-track races on the Xfinity Series schedule this year, but neither of the winners of the first two such races will compete on Saturday. NASCAR suspended Martinsville winner Austin Hill for one race for intentionally wrecking Aric Almirola last Saturday at Indianapolis, and Bristol winner Kyle Larson is not doing double duty this weekend. Full-time Cup Series driver Austin Dillon will take Hill's place in the No. 21 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet at Iowa. With five races left in the Xfinity Series regular season, there are five berths left in the playoffs. Cousins Jeb Burton and Harrison Burton are on opposite sides of the eligibility bubble, with Jeb Burton holding a 10-point edge for the final spot in the playoffs.
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Connor Zilisch Called a Generational Talent, Receives Praise from Denny Hamlin
Xfinity Series driver Connor Zilisch is widely recognized by many in the industry as a future superstar of the sport. While some fans might view the teenage driver as being overhyped, even amid his historic success, Denny Hamlin believes he's one of the best prospects in decades. On the latest episode of Actions Detrimental, Hamlin called Zilisch one of the most impressive rookies he's seen in NASCAR in decades. While everyone knew Zilisch would be great on road courses, Hamlin highlighted what he's doing on ovals as just as remarkable. 'Might be the most impressive rookie I've seen in decades. What he's doing on ovals, considering the amount of experience he has and the age that he is. Can't say I've seen anything more impressive, I truthfully cannot. He's already really good, he's gonna be great.' Denny Hamlin on Connor Zilisch Related: Connor Zilisch stats (): 674 points, 4 wins, 11 top-10s, 9 top-5s, 4 poles, 406 laps led, 7.421 average starting position, 10.684 average finishing position in 19 races Zilisch, who turned 19 years old on Tuesday, became a full-time Xfinity Series driver this year with JR Motorsports. He started slow, placing 27th and 34th in his first two races at Daytona and Atlanta. He immediately followed that up with a win at Circuit of the Americas (COTA). With a playoff spot in the Xfinity Series already locked up, Zilisch then went to work climbing the NASCAR standings and improving on ovals. He placed ninth at Las Vegas, 12th at Homestead-Miami, and then sixth at Darlington. Still 18 years old at the time, he then went three consecutive weeks without a top-10 finish. Related: However, Zilisch has been the best driver in the Xfinity Series for two months now. Over the last eight races, he has three wins and a 2.25 average finishing position with 17 playoff points. One of those wins came at Sonoma in a head-to-head battle against Shane van Gisbergen, with another coming on the 'Monster Mile' at Dover Motor Speedway. Some might point to Ty Gibbs' Xfinity Series success in 2022 (7 wins and 16 top 5s) as proof that success at the lower level doesn't guarantee Zilisch will perform well in the Cup Series. While that is true, it is also worth noting that Gibbs was 19 years old during his breakout year, while Zilisch's success has come at 18 years old. At the very least, Zilisch has earned the opportunity to replace Daniel Suarez in the No. 99 car with Trackhouse Racing next season. He can use his rookie Cup season to learn how to handle the Next Gen car on ovals while competing with Shane van Gisbergen as teammates for wins on road courses. At a minimum, he'll have a very good chance to win one of the five-plus road course races next season, which would likely mean making the playoffs in his age-19 season.
USA Today
a day ago
- Automotive
- USA Today
NASCAR Xfinity Series entry list for Iowa Speedway in August 2025
The NASCAR Xfinity Series is ready to take on the 2025 Hy-Vee Perks 250 at Iowa Speedway, and the entry list has been revealed. NASCAR released the 2025 Iowa Corn 350 entry list and Xfinity Series entry lists for Iowa on Monday afternoon. It is NASCAR's third straight oval after a strong stretch of road courses. It is also the sport's final oval race before heading to Watkins Glen International next weekend. There will be 38 entries for the 2025 Hy-Ve Perks 250 on Saturday, meaning zero drivers will miss the show. Among the notable entries are Ross Chastain (JR Motorsports) and Carson Hocear (Kaulig Racing). Also, Justin Bonsignore returns to the No. 19 car for Joe Gibbs Racing. Below, you can check out the NASCAR entry list for the Xfinity Series race at Iowa in August 2025! NASCAR Xfinity Series entry list, Iowa Speedway (August 2025) More: NASCAR Xfinity Series schedule: Start times, TV networks in 2025
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Dale Earnhardt Jr reflects on JR Motorsports' journey to 100th win
NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Jr. was proud, not only of his 19-year-old Pennzoil 250 winning driver Connor Zilisch but his entire JR Motorsports team as they celebrated their 100th win.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Three wins in a row: Connor Zilisch claims Xfinity Series victory at Indianapolis
Connor Zilisch claims his third win in a row, winning the 100th Xfinity race for JR Motorsports with a victory at Indianapolis.
