NASCAR News: Conor Zilisch Wins Rain-Shortened Xfinity Dover Race

European road racing trained 18-year-old rookie Connor Zilisch claimed a series best fourth NASCAR Xfinity Series victory on the season in Saturday’s rain-shortened BetRivers 200 at the one-mile Dover (Del.) Motor Speedway.

Zilisch led 77 of the race’s 134 laps in his No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet before NASCAR was forced to call the scheduled 200-lap race early because of rain. A pair of Joe Gibbs Racing Toyotas, driven by former NASCAR Cup Series veteran Aric Almirola and Xfinity regular Brandon Jones rounded out the top three.

“It is fun to get back in the race car and compete,” said 2nd place Almirola. “I felt really good about my car; I thought our Young Life Toyota GR Supra just needed clean air.

“Such a good car and felt like we were able to match Connor (Zilisch) on lap times for a while, and the longer it went, we were certainly better than he was and better in traffic than he was. Very disappointed that we didn’t get to finish that one.”

Although he qualified third – three rookies topped the starting grid – Zilisch ran first or second for most of the race, ultimately taking the lead for good on the restart following the Stage 2 break.

“We’ve been showing it lately,’’ a smiling Zilisch said when he was informed on pit road the race was official and he was the winner. “First of all I hate that we couldn’t finish the race the right way. Aric [Almirola] was really fast and was going to give me a run for my money. Props to him for making me work for it.

“Still really proud of this Junior Motorsports team. … We capitalized on all fronts, had good pit stops both stages and put ourselves in a position to be in the right spot when the rain fell. Very thankful.”

Zilisch’s win total is best in the series. And the North Carolina teenager has been so good this summer that that he’s now on an eight-race top-five streak that includes three wins and three runner-up finishes for an average finish of 2.25. He’s led laps in 15 of the 20 races.

Even before making his fulltime NASCAR debut this season, Zilisch was a multi-race winner in the sports car ranks with huge victories in the biggest races on the schedule – last year’s Daytona 24 hour and Sebring 12 hour endurance classics.

Not too surprisingly, he immediately proved himself a road-course ace when given the NASCAR Xfinity Series opportunity, even winning from pole position in his first series start at historic Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International last summer.

He answered that resoundingly this year as a full-time competitor, hoisting trophies at Circuit of the Americas and Sonoma, Calif. road courses, but also proving his oval-metal winning at the 2.5-mile Pocono (Pa.) Raceway last month and now adding the one-miler to an increasingly broad resume.

Zilisch’s effort at Dover’s Monster Mile moves him into second place in the championship standings – 56 points behind points leader – and his JR Motorsports teammate, and the reigning series champ – Justin Allgaier, who finished fourth Saturday.

Zilisch’s best friend, Richard Childress Racing’s Jesse Love was fifth at Dover, followed by Ryan Sieg, polesitter Taylor Gray, Sheldon Creed and rookies William Sawalich and Christian Eckes rounding out the top 10.

“It’s been awesome and I feel like even when we miss a little bit we’re still a top-five car and being able to go the race track and know that in the back of your head has definitely been comforting and confidence inspiring every weekend,’’ Zilisch said. “Gotta keep knocking the door down with wins.”

Jeb Burton, who finished 20th, now holds a seven-point advantage on his cousin Harrison Burton for the 12th and final Playoff-eligible position in points.

The NASCAR Xfinity Series returns to action next Saturday at the famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway. NASCAR Cup Series regular Riley Herbst is the defending race winner.

NASCAR Xfinity Series Race – BetRivers 200 Results

1. (3)  Connor Zilisch #, Chevrolet, 134.
2. (6)  Aric Almirola, Toyota, 134.
3. (4)  Brandon Jones, Toyota, 134.
4. (7)  Justin Allgaier, Chevrolet, 134.
5. (12)  Jesse Love, Chevrolet, 134.
6. (19)  Ryan Sieg, Ford, 134.
7. (1)  Taylor Gray #, Toyota, 134.
8. (11)  Sheldon Creed, Ford, 134.
9. (8)  William Sawalich #, Toyota, 134.
10. (31)  Christian Eckes #, Chevrolet, 134.
11. (9)  Harrison Burton, Ford, 134.
12. (13)  Sam Mayer, Ford, 134.
13. (15)  Austin Hill, Chevrolet, 134.
14. (18)  Matt DiBenedetto, Chevrolet, 134.
15. (14)  Carson Kvapil #, Chevrolet, 134.
16. (20)  Dean Thompson #, Toyota, 134.
17. (21)  Jake Finch, Chevrolet, 134.
18. (32)  Ryan Truex, Toyota, 134.
19. (27)  Parker Retzlaff, Chevrolet, 134.
20. (10)  Jeb Burton, Chevrolet, 134.
21. (30)  Daniel Dye #, Chevrolet, 134.
22. (16)  Rajah Caruth(i), Chevrolet, 134.
23. (26)  Anthony Alfredo, Chevrolet, 134.
24. (17)  Sammy Smith, Chevrolet, 134.
25. (23)  Brennan Poole, Chevrolet, 134.
26. (28)  Jeremy Clements, Chevrolet, 134.
27. (29)  Josh Williams, Chevrolet, 134.
28. (22)  Lavar Scott, Chevrolet, 134.
29. (25)  Leland Honeyman, Chevrolet, 133.
30. (34)  Ryan Ellis, Chevrolet, 131.
31. (36)  Kaz Grala(i), Chevrolet, 131.
32. (24)  Blaine Perkins, Chevrolet, 131.
33. (38)  Nick Leitz, Chevrolet, 131.
34. (33)  Josh Bilicki, Chevrolet, 131.
35. (37)  Garrett Smithley, Chevrolet, 131.
36. (35)  Kyle Sieg, Ford, 131.
37. (2)  Nick Sanchez #, Chevrolet, Steering, 107.
38. (5)  Ross Chastain(i), Chevrolet, Rear Gear, 106.

Average Speed of Race Winner:  105.999 mph.

Time of Race:  1 Hrs, 15 Mins, 51 Secs. Margin of Victory:  Under Caution Seconds.

Caution Flags:  3 for 18 laps.

Lead Changes:  4 among 4 drivers.

Lap Leaders:   T. Gray # 1-49;B. Jones 50-54;C. Zilisch # 55-95;K. Sieg 96-98;C. Zilisch # 99-134.

Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led):  Connor Zilisch # 2 times for 77 laps; Taylor Gray # 1 time for 49 laps; Brandon Jones 1 time for 5 laps; Kyle Sieg 1 time for 3 laps.

Stage #1 Top Ten: 54,19,20,88,9,48,7,18,2,00

Stage #2 Top Ten: 88,19,20,7,39,9,2,00,18,21