Zilisch Claims Fourth Xfinity Series Victory at Dover
In a rain-impacted BetRivers 200 at Dover Motor Speedway, 18-year-old Connor Zilisch secured his fourth victory of the NASCAR Xfinity Series season, further solidifying his status as a rising star. The race was halted after 134 laps of the scheduled 200 due to inclement weather.
Zilisch, driving the No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet, dominated the race, leading for 77 laps before rain forced NASCAR officials to call the event official. Former Cup Series driver Aric Almirola and Xfinity competitor Brandon Jones finished second and third, respectively.
Qualified in third, Zilisch quickly asserted control, regaining the lead after the Stage 2 break. "I hate that we couldn’t finish the race the right way. Aric was really fast and was going to give me a run for my money," Zilisch remarked post-race. He praised his team’s strategy and execution, highlighting effective pit stops as crucial to positioning ahead of the rain.
With four wins this season, Zilisch leads the series in victories and boasts an impressive average finish of 2.25 over the last eight races, which includes three wins and three second-place finishes. His performance has placed him second in the championship standings, 56 points behind teammate Justin Allgaier, who finished fourth at Dover.
Zilisch’s talent extends beyond the oval; he is also a seasoned competitor in sports car racing, holding major victories at the Daytona 24 Hour and Sebring 12 Hour. He has recently proven adept on various track types, winning on both road courses and ovals.
The top ten at Dover included Jesse Love in fifth, Ryan Sieg, polesitter Taylor Gray, Sheldon Creed, and rookies William Sawalich and Christian Eckes. Meanwhile, Jeb Burton, finishing 20th, maintained a slender seven-point lead over cousin Harrison Burton for the final playoff position.
The NASCAR Xfinity Series will continue next Saturday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where defending winner Riley Herbst will seek to reclaim his title.
