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Xfinity series

   

www.nascar.com

Celebrating its 75th Anniversary in 2023, the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, LLC (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States and owner of 16 of the nation’s major motorsports entertainment facilities. NASCAR consists of three national series (NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR Xfinity Series™, and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series™), four regional series (ARCA Menards Series™, ARCA Menards Series East & West and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour™), one local grassroots series (NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series™) and three international series (NASCAR Pinty’s Series™, NASCAR Mexico Series™, NASCAR Whelen Euro Series™). The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. NASCAR also owns Motor Racing Network, Racing Electronics, and ONE DAYTONA. Based in Daytona Beach, Florida, with offices in eight cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races in more than 30 U.S. states, Canada, Mexico and Europe. For more information visit www.NASCAR.com and www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat (‘NASCAR’).


Connor Zilisch wins third straight, delivers 100th NASCAR Xfinity win to JR Motorsports

Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images

 

By Reid Spencer

NASCAR Wire Service

 

July 26, 2025

 

SPEEDWAY, Ind.—As contrary as it might seem, there was ambivalence in Connor Zilisch’s victory in Saturday’s Pennzoil 250 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

 

Yes, Zilisch won his third straight NASCAR Xfinity Series race and added to his inarguable credentials as a budding superstar.

 

What’s more, Zilisch delivered victory No.100 to JR Motorsports , the organization founded by Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his sister, Kelly Earnhardt Miller.

 

But Zilisch’s victory came at the expense of teammate Justin Allgaier, who made a heroic move on the outside to retake the lead from Kyle Larson on Lap 74 and had the win in his sights until the following restart on Lap 87.

 

That’s when Larson’s No. 17 Chevrolet broke loose in Turn 1 and turned Allgaier’s Chevrolet into the outside wall and out of the race.

 

That left Zilisch and Taylor Gray to battle for the lead after a restart with four laps left. With a push from the Ford of Sam Mayer, Zilisch took control on Lap 99 of 100 and held on to win by 0.339 seconds over Mayer as Gray slipped to third.

 

“I see some bricks that look kissable, and I’m going to kiss them,” Zilisch said, referencing an Indianapolis tradition started by NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Jarrett. “This is awesome. One hundred wins for JRM. Congrats to Dale, Kelley, L.W. (Miller), everybody who’s raced for JRM, everybody who works at JRM.”

 

“I’m the smallest part of this team, and I’m so glad to be a part of it.”

 

Zilisch’s fifth victory of the season and sixth of his career followed wins at Sonoma Raceway and Dover Motor Speedway in his last two starts. With Allgaier finishing 36th after the wreck, Zilisch, who turned 19 on Tuesday, cut his teammate’s lead in the series standings to 21 points with five races left in the regular season.

 

“I hate it for Justin, because he’s been the cornerstone of company for so many years,” Dale Earnhardt Jr. said of the reigning series champion. “He’s been dependable, reliable, great with our partners, and he want to do these things for us.”

 

A violent accident involving the cars of Aric Almirola and Austin Hill set up the final restart with four laps left. On Lap 91, Almirola looked to the inside of Hill’s No. 21 Chevrolet exiting the short chute leading to Turn 4.

 

Hill’s car got loose but recovered, then turned left into Almirola’s Toyota, sending the Supra hard into the outside wall.

 

“Of course it was intentional,” Almirola said after a mandatory trip to the infield care center. “It was time to go, and I got him loose, and he just turned left and hooked me in the right rear. Honestly, it was one of the biggest hits in my entire NASCAR career.”

 

NASCAR held Hill’s Camaro on pit road for five laps for rough driving and will review the incident in the coming week for additional penalties, if warranted.

 

Larson survived the accident with Allgaier to finish fourth, and Ryan Sieg came home fifth. William Sawalich, Sammy Smith, Daniel Dye, Jesse Love and Dean Thompson completed the top 10.

 

Jeb Burton ran 15th and leads his cousin, Harrison Burton, by 10 points in the race for the final Xfinity Series Playoff spot. Harrison Burton finished 18th.

 

–30–

 

NASCAR Xfinity Series Race – Pennzoil 250

Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Speedway, Indiana

Saturday, July 26, 2025

 

1. (7)  Connor Zilisch #, Chevrolet, 100.

2. (1)  Sam Mayer, Ford, 100.

3. (14)  Taylor Gray #, Toyota, 100.

4. (19)  Kyle Larson(i), Chevrolet, 100.

5. (21)  Ryan Sieg, Ford, 100.

6. (9)  William Sawalich #, Toyota, 100.

7. (11)  Sammy Smith, Chevrolet, 100.

8. (18)  Daniel Dye #, Chevrolet, 100.

9. (4)  Jesse Love, Chevrolet, 100.

10. (16)  Dean Thompson #, Toyota, 100.

11. (25)  Matt DiBenedetto, Chevrolet, 100.

12. (12)  Jeremy Clements, Chevrolet, 100.

13. (15)  Christian Eckes #, Chevrolet, 100.

14. (26)  Parker Retzlaff, Chevrolet, 100.

15. (23)  Jeb Burton, Chevrolet, 100.

16. (28)  Kyle Sieg, Ford, 100.

17. (3)  Sheldon Creed, Ford, 100.

18. (20)  Harrison Burton, Ford, 100.

19. (30)  Josh Bilicki, Chevrolet, 100.

20. (27)  Brennan Poole, Chevrolet, 100.

21. (34)  Ryan Ellis, Chevrolet, 100.

22. (31)  Josh Williams, Chevrolet, 100.

23. (22)  Anthony Alfredo, Chevrolet, 100.

24. (33)  Mason Massey, Chevrolet, 100.

25. (32)  Garrett Smithley, Chevrolet, 100.

26. (17)  Leland Honeyman, Chevrolet, 100.

27. (29)  Blaine Perkins, Chevrolet, 100.

28. (36)  Joey Gase, Chevrolet, 100.

29. (38)  David Starr, Chevrolet, 100.

30. (10)  Carson Kvapil #, Chevrolet, 100.

31. (37)  Dawson Cram, Chevrolet, 100.

32. (5)  Brandon Jones, Toyota, 97.

33. (2)  Nick Sanchez #, Chevrolet, 96.

34. (13)  Austin Hill, Chevrolet, 95.

35. (6)  Aric Almirola, Toyota, Accident, 90.

36. (8)  Justin Allgaier, Chevrolet, Accident, 87.

37. (24)  Katherine Legge(i), Chevrolet, Electrical, 74.

38. (35)  Logan Bearden, Chevrolet, Electrical, 37.

 

Average Speed of Race Winner:  104.907 mph.

Time of Race:  2 Hrs, 22 Mins, 59 Secs. Margin of Victory:  0.339 Seconds.

Caution Flags:  6 for 29 laps.

Lead Changes:  10 among 6 drivers.

Lap Leaders:   S. Mayer 1-32;J. Allgaier 33;A. Almirola 34-35;J. Allgaier 36-51;C. Zilisch # 52-59;J. Allgaier 60-66;K. Larson(i) 67-73;J. Allgaier 74-86;C. Zilisch # 87-95;T. Gray # 96-98;C. Zilisch # 99-100.

Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led):  Justin Allgaier 4 times for 37 laps; Sam Mayer 1 time for 32 laps; Connor Zilisch # 3 times for 19 laps; Kyle Larson(i) 1 time for 7 laps; Taylor Gray # 1 time for 3 laps; Aric Almirola 1 time for 2 laps.

Stage #1 Top Ten: 41,7,19,20,88,00,2,17,54,1

Stage #2 Top Ten: 7,88,17,19,54,20,41,1,2,18


 

 

Connor Zilisch Wins Rain-Shortened Race at Moster Mile

  

 Sean Gardner/Getty Images

July 19, 2025

 

By Holly Cain

NASCAR Wire Service

 

Lest anyone doubt the all-around natural racing talent of 18-year-old Connor Zilisch, the rookie 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.

 

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.

 

—30—

 

NASCAR Xfinity Series Race - BetRivers 200

Dover Motor Speedway

Dover, Delaware

Saturday, July 19, 2025

 

                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

 

 


 

Connor Zilisch holds off Shane van Gisbergen for thrilling Sonoma win

 

Getty Images

July 12, 2025

 

By Reid Spencer

NASCAR Wire Service

 

SONOMA, Calif.—In closing laps of the Pit Boss/FoodMaxx 250 at Sonoma Raceway, the pupil schooled the master.

 

Taking shot after shot from JR Motorsports teammate Shane van Gisbergen over the final two laps, Connor Zilisch held off the more experienced driver to claim his third NASCAR Xfinity Series victory of the season and the fourth of his career.

 

In what was a two-driver show from start to finish, Zilisch and van Gisbergen, the pole winner, combined to lead 70 of the 79 laps, surrendering the top spot only when they short-pitted the first and second stages to recover track position at the stage breaks.

 

For Zilisch, the victory was revenge for last Saturday’s Xfinity race at the Chicago Street Course, where the 36-year-old van Gisbergen ran his 18-year-old teammate wide in Turn 2 to take the lead and win a two-lap shootout for the victory.

 

But this Saturday, Zilisch survived contact from van Gisbergen’s front bumper in Turn 7 on the final lap and won the race to the finish line, as the New Zealander tried in vain to cross over to the inside in hairpin Turn 11 on the final lap.

 

Zilisch powered off the corner and won the race to the finish line by 0.438 seconds.

 

“First, hats off to Shane,” Zilisch said after climbing from his car. “That was awesome. “All race long, I felt like we were racing each other with respect. I wheel-hopped a little bit in Turn 7 one time and got into him. Otherwise, it was awesome to get to race against him finally and battle with him the whole race long.”

 

Both Zilisch and van Gisbergen managed to pull away from the rest of the field while saving fuel during the final stage.

 

“It’s always the hardest trying to save fuel while someone’s breathing down your neck, Zilisch said. “There was a chance that he could have gotten by me when he hit me, but he let me have it and raced me clean. I respect the hell out of him for that, and I’m looking forward to racing against him more.

 

“We’re going to race each other at Watkins Glen, and that’s one of my favorite tracks, so I hope I can beat him again there.”

 

Van Gisbergen knew he had an opening when his No. 9 Chevrolet made contact with Zilisch’s No. 88 in Turn 7, but he backed off to let the race play out.

 

“I gave him a bump into 7, and he wheel-hopped, and I probably could have taken it, but I just waited,” said van Gisbergen, the defending race winner. “I didn’t want to do it like that, and then we raced down the hill. What an awesome race.

 

“I had a blast all day—really, really fun.”

 

Zilisch led 46 laps to 24 for van Gisbergen, who was trying for his third straight NASCAR victory in as many starts after sweeping last weekend in Chicago.

 

Solid work on pit road gave Zilisch control of the race for the final restart on Lap 51, and he led the rest of the way, thwarting SVG’s persistent attempts to pressure him into a mistake.

 

William Sawalich, who won Friday’s ARCA race in a thrilling finish, was the best of the rest, coming home third, 13.668 seconds behind Zilisch. Nick Sanchez ran fourth, followed by Riley Herbst, series leader Justin Allgaier, Taylor Gray, Carson Kvapil, Sammy Smith and Sheldon Creed.

 

With Allgaier, Kvapil and Smith joining Zilisch and van Gisbergen, JR Motorsports placed five drivers in the top nine. The victory was the organization’s 10th in 19 races this season, with Zilisch tying Allgaier and 12th-place finisher Austin Hill for the series lead with three wins.

 

“I didn’t want to have to have to do anything dirty to win this race, and I’m glad I didn’t and glad to do it fair and square,” Zilisch said. “I learned a lot racing around him, and he’s got so many years of experience on me that I can learn from.”

 

NASCAR Xfinity Series Race - Pit Boss/FoodMaxx 250

Sonoma Raceway

Sonoma, California

Saturday, July 12, 2025

 

                1. (2)  Connor Zilisch #, Chevrolet, 79.

                2. (1)  Shane Van Gisbergen(i), Chevrolet, 79.

                3. (5)  William Sawalich #, Toyota, 79.

                4. (23)  Nick Sanchez #, Chevrolet, 79.

                5. (15)  Riley Herbst(i), Toyota, 79.

                6. (10)  Justin Allgaier, Chevrolet, 79.

                7. (11)  Taylor Gray #, Toyota, 79.

                8. (7)  Carson Kvapil #, Chevrolet, 79.

                9. (6)  Sammy Smith, Chevrolet, 79.

                10. (9)  Sheldon Creed, Ford, 79.

                11. (33)  Austin Green, Chevrolet, 79.

                12. (16)  Austin Hill, Chevrolet, 79.

                13. (8)  Brandon Jones, Toyota, 79.

                14. (25)  Josh Bilicki, Chevrolet, 79.

                15. (18)  Josh Williams, Chevrolet, 79.

                16. (36)  Will Rodgers, Chevrolet, 79.

                17. (3)  Sam Mayer, Ford, 79.

                18. (35)  Dean Thompson #, Toyota, 79.

                19. (12)  Blaine Perkins, Chevrolet, 79.

                20. (17)  Jeb Burton, Chevrolet, 79.

                21. (19)  Harrison Burton, Ford, 79.

                22. (32)  Brennan Poole, Chevrolet, 79.

                23. (13)  Anthony Alfredo, Chevrolet, 79.

                24. (14)  Corey Day, Chevrolet, 79.

                25. (37)  Kyle Sieg, Ford, 79.

                26. (24)  Matt DiBenedetto, Chevrolet, 79.

                27. (27)  Ryan Ellis, Chevrolet, 79.

                28. (34)  Parker Retzlaff, Chevrolet, 79.

                29. (28)  Kris Wright, Chevrolet, 79.

                30. (30)  Jeremy Clements, Chevrolet, 78.

                31. (38)  Brad Perez, Chevrolet, 78.

                32. (31)  Daniel Dye #, Chevrolet, 78.

                33. (22)  Connor Mosack(i), Chevrolet, 77.

                34. (21)  Christian Eckes #, Chevrolet, 76.

                35. (29)  Ryan Sieg, Ford, 76.

                36. (26)  Sage Karam, Toyota, Transmission, 40.

                37. (20)  Alex Labbe, Chevrolet, Suspension, 36.

                38. (4)  Jesse Love, Chevrolet, Rear Gear, 11.

 

Average Speed of Race Winner:  81.176 mph.


 

Shane van Gisbergen wins dramatic NASCAR Xfinity duel on the streets of Chicago

 

Logan Riely/Getty Images

July 5, 2025

 

By Reid Spencer

NASCAR Wire Service

 

CHICAGO—In a dream matchup between the veteran road course king and the 18-year-old pretender to the throne on the streets of the Windy City, Shane van Gisbergen schooled his young JR Motorsports teammate in winning Saturday’s The Loop 110.

 

With his cool suit malfunctioning on a hot day on the 2.2-mile, 12-turn Chicago Street Course, Van Gisbergen out-braked runner-up Conor Zilisch and ran him wide into Turn 1 with two laps left in the marquee event.

 

With Zilisch in determined but futile pursuit, Van Gisbergen crossed the finish line 0.823 seconds ahead of his fellow Red Bull athlete to post his first NASCAR Xfinity Series victory in his only start this season, his second straight win in Chicago and the fourth of his career.

 

Van Gisbergen, the pole winner, had to overcome not only the heat but also a balky carburetor and questionable strategy that kept him on the track before the end of Stage 1, while the vast majority of cars behind him came to pit road for tires and fuel.

 

“The strategy went wrong, but it worked out well,” said Van Gisbergen, who also will start on the pole in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race. “The car was a rocket. (Zilisch) is a great young driver, and that was the first time I’ve really raced him. I knew that was my opportunity, and I took it. Awesome 1-2 for the team.”

 

The 36-year-old New Zealander, a three-time Australian Supercars champion, is the sixth different driver to win for JR Motorsports this year, the most in series history for an organization in a single season.

 

Zilisch acknowledged he was surprised at the aggressiveness of Van Gisbergen’s attack in Turn 1, though he insisted it wasn’t a dirty move.

 

“I was clear there, just barely, on the front straight, and I just let him get to my inside, and he took advantage of it,” said Zilisch, who started 35th after hitting a tire barrier during practice earlier in the day. “I should have been a little more aggressive there. I just thought he was going to race me a little cleaner.

 

“I’ve just got to be better and not let that stuff happen. I’ll learn from it and move on.”

 

Third-place Sheldon Creed was the best of the rest, finishing 3.141 seconds behind the race winner. Creed led the field to green for a restart with 13 laps left but lost the top spot to Zilisch before he got back to the start/finish line.

 

“I’ve got to get better at road course racing,” Creed said. “Those guys are really good, and when SVG got to me, I just let him go because he had way more pace. Maybe I could get them racing and give me a shot.”

 

Clearly, that didn’t happen.

 

By staying on the track late in the 15-lap first stage, Van Gisbergen was mired mid-pack when he eventually pitted on Lap 26. He restarted 19th on Lap 29 after an inopportune debris caution and quickly worked his way forward.

 

By Lap 36 he was seventh and began a determined pursuit of Zilisch, who led Laps 38 to 48. On Lap 44, with Zilisch saving fuel, Van Gisbergen ran the fastest lap of the race (90.947 seconds) and cut Zilisch’s lead from 3.5 seconds to 2.3 seconds before Andre Castro planted his car in the Turn 6 tire barrier to cause the sixth and final caution and set up the two-lap shootout.

 

On fresher tires, the one benefit of the later pit stop, Van Gisbergen prevailed. Van Gisbergen led 27 laps to Zilisch’s 11 and Creed’s nine.

 

Austin Hill ran fourth and Atlanta winner Nick Sanchez fifth. Jesse Love, Sammy Smith, Sam Mayer, Austin Green and Brennan Poole completed the top 10.

 

Justin Allgaier, who finished 23rd after suffering brake issues late in the race, leads second-place Hill by 49 points in the series standings.

 

NASCAR Xfinity Series Race - The Loop 110

Chicago Street Race

Chicago, Illinois

Saturday, July 5, 2025

 

                1. (1)  Shane Van Gisbergen(i), Chevrolet, 50.

                2. (35)  Connor Zilisch #, Chevrolet, 50.

                3. (4)  Sheldon Creed, Ford, 50.

                4. (2)  Austin Hill, Chevrolet, 50.

                5. (8)  Nick Sanchez #, Chevrolet, 50.

                6. (9)  Jesse Love, Chevrolet, 50.

                7. (10)  Sammy Smith, Chevrolet, 50.

                8. (3)  Sam Mayer, Ford, 50.

                9. (17)  Austin Green, Chevrolet, 50.

                10. (22)  Brennan Poole, Chevrolet, 50.

                11. (27)  Josh Williams, Chevrolet, 50.

                12. (14)  Alex Labbe, Chevrolet, 50.

                13. (15)  Harrison Burton, Ford, 50.

                14. (33)  Dean Thompson #, Toyota, 50.

                15. (38)  Christian Eckes #, Chevrolet, 50.

                16. (13)  Carson Kvapil #, Chevrolet, 50.

                17. (20)  Thomas Annunziata, Chevrolet, 50.

                18. (23)  Blaine Perkins, Chevrolet, 50.

                19. (21)  Daniel Dye #, Chevrolet, 50.

                20. (34)  Kyle Sieg, Ford, 50.

                21. (11)  Brandon Jones, Toyota, 50.

                22. (30)  Kaz Grala(i), Toyota, 50.

                23. (6)  Justin Allgaier, Chevrolet, 50.

                24. (24)  Parker Retzlaff, Chevrolet, 50.

                25. (32)  Ryan Ellis, Chevrolet, 50.

                26. (16)  Connor Mosack(i), Chevrolet, 50.

                27. (31)  Jeb Burton, Chevrolet, 50.

                28. (18)  Matt DiBenedetto, Chevrolet, 50.

                29. (12)  Preston Pardus, Chevrolet, 50.

                30. (26)  Brad Perez, Chevrolet, 50.

                31. (19)  Jeremy Clements, Chevrolet, 50.

                32. (5)  Jack Perkins, Toyota, 46.

                33. (29)  Andre Castro, Chevrolet, Accident, 43.

                34. (36)  Taylor Gray #, Toyota, DVP, 38.

                35. (25)  Josh Bilicki, Chevrolet, Electrical, 26.

                36. (28)  Anthony Alfredo, Chevrolet, Engine, 26.

                37. (7)  William Sawalich #, Toyota, Electrical, 7.

                38. (37)  Ryan Sieg, Ford, Accident, 5.

 

Average Speed of Race Winner:  58.999 mph.

Time of Race:  1 Hrs, 51 Mins, 52 Secs. Margin of Victory:  0.823 Seconds.

Caution Flags:  6 for 18 laps.

Lead Changes:  4 among 4 drivers.

Lap Leaders:   S. Van Gisbergen(i) 1-25;J. Love 26-28;S. Creed 29-37;C. Zilisch # 38-48;S. Van Gisbergen(i) 49-50.

Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led):  Shane Van Gisbergen(i) 2 times for 27 laps; Connor Zilisch # 1 time for 11 laps; Sheldon Creed 1 time for 9 laps; Jesse Love 1 time for 3 laps.

Stage #1 Top Ten: 9,00,21,41,48,7,8,88,1,07

Stage #2 Top Ten: 00,2,21,88,8,27,11,7,20,70\


 

 
Rookie Nick Sanchez scores first career NASCAR Xfinity Series win at EchoPark Speedway
 

Krista Jasso/Getty Images

 

By Reid Spencer
NASCAR Wire Service 
 
HAMPTON, Ga. – Nick Sanchez charged to the front after a restart with seven laps left in Friday night’s Focused Health 250 and held off fellow Sunoco rookie Carson Kvapil to secure his first NASCAR Xfinity Series victory.
Sanchez, who rallied from a spin through the frontstretch grass at EchoPark Speedway on Lap 68, lost the top spot to Jesse Love on the final restart on Lap 157 of 163, but regained it on the following circuit.
Sanchez spent the next five laps doing everything in his power to keep Kvapil behind him. The win earned the 24-year-old from Miami, Fla., a berth in the Xfinity Series Playoffs.
“It’s a weight lifted off my shoulders, that’s for sure,” Sanchez said after climbing from his car on the frontstretch. “Now we can go chase checkered flags.”
Kvapil was lined up in front of third-place finisher Sam Mayer, fourth-place Connor Zilisch and fifth-place Taylor Gray as he chased Sanchez over the closing laps, trying to find a way around the race winner.
“To be that close really does sting,” said Kvapil, who started from the rear of the field after unapproved adjustments to his No. 1 JR Motorsports Chevrolet. “I couldn’t really generate a run there. I didn’t feel like we had enough cars nose-to-tail and organized.
“We were all kind of just too far away from each other. I tried backing up on the last lap… I probably could have made a move earlier. I just felt like, if we got side-by-side, we’d get swallowed up by somebody.”
For his part, Sanchez was fortunate his No. 48 Big Machine Racing Chevrolet sustained minimal damage on the slide through the grass, which caused the fourth of nine cautions.
“I’m still a little embarrassed about that,” Sanchez said. “It was certainly a rookie mistake, but we rebounded.”
It was after midnight when Sanchez took the checkered flag, thanks to some threatening weather near the 1.54-mile track. Lightning forced NASCAR to halt the race after 36 laps.
After a delay of one hour, 18 minutes, 55 seconds, the race resumed. Sheldon Creed, who led the first 37 laps from the pole, tried to flip the stage by pitting under caution after the resumption, but the strategy backfired.
Creed was one of 10 drivers involved in a massive wreck on the backstretch moments after a restart on Lap 41. Contact from Sanchez turned Jesse Love across traffic near the front of the field.
Love’s Chevrolet collided with Ryan Sieg’s Ford, turning it into the outside wall. A broken axle eliminated Sieg’s No. 39 RSS Racing Ford. Other victims included series leader Justin Allgaier, who exited the race in 31st place, Sammy Smith, Katherine Legge, Patrick Staropoli, Jeb Burton and Christian Eckes.
Creed, credited with 32nd place, suffered his fifth DNF (did not finish) in the last nine races and sixth of the season.
“It was probably the best car I’ve had all year,” Creed said ruefully after leaving the infield care center. “Just really fast, could control lanes and felt really good up front. So we were just trying to keep ourselves up front by short-pitting there, and it didn’t work out.”
Notes: Sanchez led 32 laps to Aric Almirola’s 48 and Creed’s 37... The nine cautions put the race under yellow for 58 laps… Mayer was the only non-rookie to finish in the top five… Love, Almirola, Daniel Dye, Kyle Sieg and Jeremy Clements finished sixth through 10th, respectively… Austin Hill, trying for his fourth straight win at EchoPark Speedway, lost six laps early with fuel pickup issues and finished 26th.
 
NASCAR Xfinity Series Race - Focused Health 250
EchoPark Speedway
Hampton, Georgia
Friday, June 27, 2025
 
                1. (11)  Nick Sanchez #, Chevrolet, 163.
                2. (24)  Carson Kvapil #, Chevrolet, 163.
                3. (3)  Sam Mayer, Ford, 163.
                4. (6)  Connor Zilisch #, Chevrolet, 163.
                5. (7)  Taylor Gray #, Toyota, 163.
                6. (5)  Jesse Love, Chevrolet, 163.
                7. (10)  Aric Almirola, Toyota, 163.
                8. (22)  Daniel Dye #, Chevrolet, 163.
                9. (21)  Kyle Sieg, Ford, 163.
                10. (26)  Jeremy Clements, Chevrolet, 163.
                11. (29)  Dean Thompson #, Toyota, 163.
                12. (19)  Leland Honeyman, Chevrolet, 163.
                13. (9)  Harrison Burton, Ford, 163.
                14. (4)  Brandon Jones, Toyota, 163.
                15. (33)  Matt DiBenedetto, Chevrolet, 163.
                16. (27)  Jeb Burton, Chevrolet, 163.
                17. (32)  Brennan Poole, Chevrolet, 163.
                18. (34)  Joey Gase, Chevrolet, 163.
                19. (17)  Christian Eckes #, Chevrolet, 163.
                20. (37)  Mason Massey, Chevrolet, 163.
                21. (28)  Ryan Ellis, Chevrolet, 163.
                22. (15)  Blaine Perkins, Chevrolet, 163.
                23. (36)  Garrett Smithley, Chevrolet, 163.
                24. (35)  Nick Leitz, Chevrolet, 163.
                25. (31)  Kris Wright, Chevrolet, 163.
                26. (2)  Austin Hill, Chevrolet, 158.
                27. (38)  Mason Maggio, Ford, 153.
                28. (8)  CJ McLaughlin, Chevrolet, Accident, 138.
                29. (25)  Anthony Alfredo, Chevrolet, Accident, 53.
                30. (13)  Ryan Sieg, Ford, DVP, 46.
                31. (16)  Justin Allgaier, Chevrolet, Accident, 42.
                32. (1)  Sheldon Creed, Ford, Accident, 41.
                33. (14)  Sammy Smith, Chevrolet, Accident, 40.
                34. (23)  Katherine Legge(i), Chevrolet, Accident, 40.
                35. (20)  Patrick Staropoli, Toyota, Accident, 40.
                36. (12)  William Sawalich #, Toyota, Accident, 4.
                37. (18)  Parker Retzlaff, Chevrolet, Accident, 3.
                38. (30)  Josh Williams, Chevrolet, Accident, 3.
 
Average Speed of Race Winner:  96.402 mph.
Time of Race:  2 Hrs, 36 Mins, 14 Secs. Margin of Victory:  .104 Seconds.
Caution Flags:  9 for 58 laps.
Lead Changes:  12 among 9 drivers.
Lap Leaders:   S. Creed 1-37;S. Mayer 38-40;T. Gray # 41-50;C. Zilisch # 51-82;C. Kvapil # 83-85;B. Jones 86-90;T. Gray # 91-94;A. Almirola 95-142;N. Sanchez # 143-145;J. Love 146-147;N. Sanchez # 148-156;J. Love 157;N. Sanchez # 158-163.
Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led):  Aric Almirola 1 time for 48 laps; Sheldon Creed 1 time for 37 laps; Connor Zilisch # 1 time for 32 laps; Nick Sanchez # 3 times for 18 laps; Taylor Gray # 2 times for 14 laps; Brandon Jones 1 time for 5 laps; Sam Mayer 1 time for 3 laps; Carson Kvapil # 1 time for 3 laps; Jesse Love 2 times for 3 laps.
Stage #1 Top Ten: 54,41,10,48,26,88,44,70,1,99
Stage #2 Top Ten: 20,1,2,99,44,26,48,28,31,71

 

 


 

 


  Xfinity series

  2025 NASCAR XFINITY SERIES SCHEDULE

 

Date

Race / Track

Saturday, February 15

Daytona

Saturday, February 22

Atlanta

Saturday, March 1

COTA

Saturday, March 8

Phoenix

Saturday, March 15

Las Vegas

Saturday, March 22

Homestead-Miami

Saturday, March 29

Martinsville

Saturday, April 5

Darlington

Saturday, April 12

Bristol

Saturday, April 19

Rockingham

Saturday, April 26

Talladega

Saturday, May 3

Texas

Saturday, May 24

Charlotte

Saturday, May 31

Nashville Superspeedway

Saturday, June 14

Mexico City

Saturday, June 21

Pocono

Friday, June 27

Atlanta

Saturday, July 5

Chicago Street Race

Saturday, July 12

Sonoma

Saturday, July 19

Dover

Saturday, July 26

Indianapolis

Saturday, August 2

Iowa

Saturday, August 9

Watkins Glen

Friday, August 22

Daytona

Saturday, August 30

Portland

Saturday, September 6

World Wide Technology Raceway

Friday, September 12

Bristol

Saturday, September 27

Kansas

Saturday, October 4

Charlotte Roval

Saturday, October 11

Las Vegas

Saturday, October 18

Talladega

Saturday, October 25

Martinsville

Saturday, November 1

Phoenix (Championship)

 

       

 

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