Zilisch wins Xfinity overtime thriller in Portland

Zilisch Dominates at Portland for Record-Breaking Eighth Win

PORTLAND, Ore. — Connor Zilisch of JR Motorsports achieved a historic victory at Portland International Raceway, claiming his series-high eighth win of the NASCAR Xfinity Series season and setting a record for rookie drivers. The 19-year-old’s remarkable performance included securing pole position, winning both stages, and leading 70 of the 78 laps, finishing 1.572 seconds ahead of fellow rookie William Sawalich.

Zilisch’s day unfolded nearly flawlessly despite a recent collarbone surgery just weeks prior. He initially established dominance in the race, winning the first stage by nearly 15 seconds and the second by over eight seconds. Austin Hill from Richard Childress Racing was the only competitor to lead laps, holding the lead for eight laps after a restart with seven remaining.

The race culminated in an overtime restart following a late caution, where Zilisch navigated a chaotic four-wide battle to reclaim the lead from Hill. “To come back two weeks after collarbone surgery, it hurt, but it hurt so good,” Zilisch remarked. This victory extends his streak to 13 consecutive top-five finishes.

Zilisch elaborated on a pivotal moment during the final restart, stating, “As soon as I hit the brakes, I wheel-hopped… but kind of committed to it and it worked out.”

Allgaier’s day ended disappointingly; after being collected in a four-wide incident on the restart, he finished 15th. This setback dropped the reigning series champion to 20 points behind Zilisch in the standings, heading into the regular season finale.

Rookie Carson Kvapil finished sixth, followed by Jeb Burton in seventh, who is currently on the edge of the playoff cutoff. Austin Green and Blaine Perkins rounded out the top ten, which included Jesse Love in tenth.

With one race remaining to solidify the 12-driver playoff field, there are currently eight different race winners, with four drivers above the cutoff line based on points. The series will next compete at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway, marking its first race at the venue since 2010.

Final Results: