Xfinity Series: Connor Zilisch sweeps Portland

Written by Bailey Defoor

Credit: David Jensen

Connor Zilisch became the winningest rookie in the Xfinity series by securing his eighth win of the season in Portland.

As it unfolded

It was an all JR Motorsports front row with Zilisch on the pole and Justin Allgaier on the outside. Allgaier slotted in behind Zilisch as the two created an early gap to Austin Hill in third. By the third lap, Allgaier fell back, and Zilisch built a three-second gap ahead of second place by lap six. 

Garrett Smithley went off at Turn 10 on Lap 10, but he was able to get going again without a caution. William Sawalich also went off track at the same spot on Lap 12. Dean Thompson momentarily slowed down on Lap 14, but he was back up to speed before darting onto pit road.

In the closing laps of the stage, Hill got in front of Allgaier and began chasing Zilisch down for the lead. Thompson went wide again with two laps to go, but Matt DiBenedetto pulled off and brought out the caution. DiBenedetto threw himself out of his car as soon as the caution was out; there was a.  

Zilsich went on to win the first stage with a gap of almost 15 seconds to Hill in second.

Stage 1 Results:

1. No. 88 - Connor Zilisch (JR Motorsports)

2. No. 21 - Austin Hill (Richard Childress Racing)

3. No. 7 - Justin Allgaier (JR Motorsports)

4. No. 41 - Sam Mayer (Haas Factory Team)

5. No. 18 - William Sawalich (Joe Gibbs Racing) 

6. No. 1 - Carson Kvapil (JR Motorsports)

7. No. 2 - Jesse Love (Richard Childress Racing)

8. No. 20 - Brandon Jones (Joe Gibbs Racing)

9. No. 19 - Jack Perkins (Joe Gibbs Racing)

10. No. 8 - Sammy Smith (JR Motorsports)

All of the drivers pitted for the scheduled, non-competitive stop, so Zilisch and Hill led the way on Lap 29. The two stayed door to door through the third turn when Zilisch had the preferred line.

Harrison Burton was nudged on Lap 32 and spun from 20th. He was able to keep it out of the wall and from other drivers. H. Burton had another moment on Lap 35 at the first turn. Also on Lap 35, Sawalich tried to go on the inside of Jesse Love, and the two collided. Love had rear panel issues but continued racing.

A patch of fire sparked in the grass with eight laps to go, but no caution was called. It was eventually hosed down with three laps left of the stage. 

Stage 2 Results:

1. No. 88 - Connor Zilisch (JR Motorsports)

2. No. 21 - Austin Hill (Richard Childress Racing)

3. No. 7 - Justin Allgaier (JR Motorsports)

4. No. 18 - William Sawalich (Joe Gibbs Racing) 

5. No. 41 - Sam Mayer (Haas Factory Team)

6. No. 1 - Carson Kvapil (JR Motorsports)

7. No. 19 - Jack Perkins (Joe Gibbs Racing)

8. No. 20 - Brandon Jones (Joe Gibbs Racing)

9. No. 16 - Christian Eckes (Kaulig Racing)

10. No. 8 - Sammy Smith (JR Motorsports)

After another non-competitive stop, Zilisch and Hill led the field back to full racing speed on Lap 54. Zilisch had a great start as Allgaier challenged Hill for second. Allgaier ended up slotting into third at turn one while Carson Kvapil passed Sawalich.

The second incident-related caution came with 10 laps to go when Anthony Alfredo and Thomas Annunziata spun in two different instances at the fourth turn. Sheldon Creed was also in position to clinch a playoff spot, but he spun at Turn 11 two laps earlier.

Zilisch and Hill led the way with seven laps to go, and Kvapil gave a push to Hill. Hill took the lead as Sawalich went into the side of ZIlisch, forcing ZIlisch to use the apron. Sam Mayer also went off with Christian Eckes later on in the lap.

Jack Perkins went into the barrier with four to go, and the caution came out, sending the race into overtime..

Hill and Zilisch lined up opposite to what they had done in previous restarts, and Zilisch got a push from Sawalich as Hill’s wheel spun. Sammy Smith spun at the first turn, and Zilisch missed the corner. Zilisch went through the apron and came out still in the lead

Connor Zilisch wins in Portland and becomes the third person of the year to sweep the weekend after Kyle Larson in Kansas and Corey Heim at Line Rock.

Provisional Results

1. No. 88 - Connor Zilisch (JR Motorsports) [FL]

2. No. 18 - William Sawalich (Joe Gibbs Racing) 

3. No. 48 - Nick Sanchez (Big Machine Racing)

4. No. 16 - Christian Eckes (Kaulig Racing)

5. No. 21 - Austin Hill (Richard Childress Racing)

6. No. 1 - Carson Kvapil (JR Motorsports)

7. No. 27 - Jeb Burton (Jordan Anderson Racing) 

8. No. 32 - Austin Green (Jordan Anderson Racing) +2 laps

9. No. 31 - Blaine Perkins (Jordan Anderson Racing)

10. No. 2 - Jesse Love (Richard Childress Racing)

11. No. 10 - Daniel Dye (Kaulig Racing) 

12. No. 25 - Harrison Burton (AM Racing) 

13. No. 44 - Brennen Poole (Alpha Prime Racing)

14. No. 54 - Taylor Gray (Joe Gibbs Racing) 

15. No. 7 - Justin Allgaier (JR Motorsports)

16. No. 41 - Sam Mayer (Haas Factory Team)

17. No. 51 - Jeremy Clements (Jeremy Clements Racing)

18. No. 20 - Brandon Jones (Joe Gibbs Racing)

19. No. 28 - Joey Hand (RSS Racing)

20. No. 24 - Alon Day (Sam Hunt Racing)

21. No. 71 - Ryan Ellis (DGM Racing + JIM)

22. No. 8 - Sammy Smith (JR Motorsports)

23. No. 91 - Josh Williams (DGM Racing x JIM)

24. No. 39 - Ryan Sieg (RSS Racing)

25. No. 14 - Garrett Smithley (SS-Green Light Racing)

26. No. 53 - Kyle Sieg (Joey Gase Racing)

27. No. 00 - Sheldon Creed (Haas Factory Team)

28. No. 70 - Thomas Annunziata (Cope Family Racing) 

29. No. 35 - Takuma Koga (Joey Gase Racing) +3 laps

30. No. 4 - Parker Retzlaff (Alpha Prime Racing) +4 laps

31. No. 19 - Jack Perkins (Joe Gibbs Racing) +7 laps

32. No. 26 - Dean Thompson (Sam Hunt Racing) +7 laps

33. No. 42 - Anthony Alfredo (Young’s Motorsports) +15 laps

34. No. 99 - Matt DiBenedetto (Viking Motorsports) [DNF]

35. No. 11 - Will Brown (Kaulig Racing) [DNF]

36. No. 07 - Alex Labbe (SS-Green Light Racing) [DNF]

37. No. 45 - Vicente Salas (Alpha Prime Racing) [DNF]

Next week, NASCAR Xfinity heads to the World Wide Technology Raceway for the last race of the regular season! Be there on Saturday, September 6, at 18:30 ET (23:30 BST).