{"id":54386,"date":"2025-09-06T23:02:57","date_gmt":"2025-09-07T04:02:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/?p=54386"},"modified":"2025-09-07T11:24:27","modified_gmt":"2025-09-07T16:24:27","slug":"connor-zilisch-ties-xfinity-series-record-with-fourth-straight-win","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/2025\/09\/06\/connor-zilisch-ties-xfinity-series-record-with-fourth-straight-win\/","title":{"rendered":"Connor Zilisch ties Xfinity Series record with fourth straight win"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Connor Zilisch, driver of the #88 WeatherTech Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series Nu Way 200 Sauced by Blues Hog at WWT Raceway on September 06, 2025 in Madison, Illinois. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

MADISON, Ill.\u2014Connor Zilisch\u2019s dream season continued on a track he\u2019d never raced before.<\/p>\n

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Connor Zilisch, driver of the #88 WeatherTech Chevrolet, takes the checkered flag to win the NASCAR Xfinity Series Nu Way 200 Sauced by Blues Hog at WWT Raceway on September 06, 2025 in Madison, Illinois. (Photo by Chris Graythen\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Holding off the rest of the NASCAR Xfinity Series field over a succession of restarts late in Saturday night\u2019s Nu Way 200 Sauced by Blues Hog at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway, Zilisch achieved a litany of milestones with his ninth victory as a rookie and 10th career.<\/p>\n

First, and perhaps most important, the 19-year-old phenom secured the regular-season championship and accompanying bonus of 15 Playoff points, beating reigning series champion Justin Allgaier for that distinction by 53 points.<\/p>\n

With four straight victories, Zilisch tied the series record for consecutive wins shared by Sam Ard (1983) and Noah Gragson (2022). His win was the 16th this year for JR Motorsports, a single-season record for the team.<\/p>\n

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Connor Zilisch, driver of the #88 WeatherTech Chevrolet, celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series Nu Way 200 Sauced by Blues Hog at WWT Raceway on September 06, 2025 in Madison, Illinois. (Photo by Chris Graythen\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Driving the No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet, Zilisch led 121 of 160 laps in posting his seventh victory in the last eight races and his first-ever from the pole in an oval race.<\/p>\n

Zilisch\u2019s triumph also made a Playoff driver of Harrison Burton, who advanced to the postseason on points in the first Xfinity Series race at Gateway since 2010.<\/p>\n

\u201cFour in a row, seven of the last eight, that\u2019s awesome,\u201d said Zilisch, who enters next week\u2019s Playoff opener at Bristol Motor Speedway with 59 Playoff points. \u201cWe\u2019re going to celebrate this\u2014and the regular-season championship.<\/p>\n

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Connor Zilisch, driver of the #88 WeatherTech Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series Nu Way 200 Sauced by Blues Hog at WWT Raceway on September 06, 2025 in Madison, Illinois. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cMan, this is going to be tough to keep up, honestly. It\u2019s rare that you can go on a run like this. Every week I show up thinking, \u2018Man, this is going to be the weekend that we just run eighth,\u2019 and just aren\u2019t great, but every weekend we show up and we\u2019re a winning race car, and my pit crew executes, my team executes, everybody does their job, and we end up doing burnouts on the frontstretch.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, it\u2019s awesome to be able to do this and win this many races.\u201d <\/p>\n

There is one unique twist to Zilisch\u2019s string of four victories. He broke his collarbone while celebrating in Victory Lane at Watkins Glen, started the subsequent race at Daytona on Aug.22 but gave way to relief driver Parker Kligerman, who took the checkered flag after completing 91 of the 104 laps.<\/p>\n

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Connor Zilisch, driver of the #88 WeatherTech Chevrolet, drives during the NASCAR Xfinity Series Nu Way 200 Sauced by Blues Hog at WWT Raceway on September 06, 2025 in Madison, Illinois. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Having started the race, Zilisch gets credit for the win.  <\/p>\n

William Sawalich passed fellow Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota driver Aric Almirola for the second spot on Saturday after a restart on Lap 149 and finished 1.506 seconds behind Zilisch. Christian Eckes ran third, Brandon Jones fourth and Jesse Love fifth, as Almirola faded to sixth.<\/p>\n

Sawalich needed a win to advance to the Playoffs at Burton\u2019s expense. Instead, he was runner-up for the second straight weekend.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe 88 (Zilisch), he was on rails tonight,\u201d Sawalich said. \u201cI think he was definitely the best car all night\u2026 We didn\u2019t make the Playoffs, but we certainly gave them a run for their money.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Connor Zilisch, driver of the #88 WeatherTech Chevrolet, and Aric Almirola, driver of the #19 Young Life Toyota, race during the NASCAR Xfinity Series Nu Way 200 Sauced by Blues Hog at WWT Raceway on September 06, 2025 in Madison, Illinois. (Photo by Chris Graythen\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Jeb Burton\u2019s long-shot hopes of securing a Playoff spot ended on Lap 100. With his right-front tire suddenly losing air, Burton rocketed into the outside wall near the exit from Turn 2.<\/p>\n

With a fire raging in the right-front wheel well of his No. 27 Chevrolet, Burton drove the car to pit road and climbed out, his race over.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was a hard hit,\u201d Burton acknowledged. \u201cIt sucks, but we\u2019re going to Bristol next week.\u201d<\/p>\n

That accident, combined with Zilisch\u2019s win, sealed a Playoff position for Burton\u2019s cousin, Harrison Burton, on points. Coincidentally, Harrison spun in Turn 2 on Lap 129 after contact from Brennan Poole\u2019s Chevrolet.<\/p>\n

Harrison finished 22nd and claimed the final Playoff berth by 45 points over his cousin.<\/p>\n

Allgaier\u2019s bid for the regular-season championship came to an abrupt end on the subsequent Lap 135 restart. His No. 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet was badly damaged in an 11-car melee in Turn 1 and effectively deprived of a chance to contest Zilisch for the top spot in the standings.<\/p>\n

Sam Mayer was eliminated in the same wreck and ended the regular season third in the standings.<\/p>\n

NASCAR Xfinity Series Race Winner and Regular-Season Champion – Connor Zilisch (No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet) Interview:<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

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NASCAR Xfinity Series Race \u2013 Nu Way 200 Sauced by Blues Hog<\/strong><\/p>\n

World Wide Technology Raceway<\/strong><\/p>\n

Madison, Illinois<\/strong><\/p>\n

Saturday, September 6, 2025<\/strong><\/p>\n

   1. (1)  Connor Zilisch #, Chevrolet, 160.<\/p>\n

   2. (3)  William Sawalich #, Toyota, 160.<\/p>\n

   3. (10)  Christian Eckes #, Chevrolet, 160.<\/p>\n

    4. (12)  Brandon Jones, Toyota, 160.<\/p>\n

    5. (18)  Jesse Love, Chevrolet, 160.<\/p>\n

   6. (7)  Aric Almirola, Toyota, 160.<\/p>\n

   7. (17)  Daniel Hemric(i), Chevrolet, 160.<\/p>\n

   8. (26)  Parker Retzlaff, Chevrolet, 160.<\/p>\n

   9. (16)  Corey Day, Chevrolet, 160.<\/p>\n

   10. (11)  Daniel Dye #, Chevrolet, 160.<\/p>\n

   11. (23)  Matt DiBenedetto, Chevrolet, 160.<\/p>\n

   12. (9)  Austin Hill, Chevrolet, 160.<\/p>\n

   13. (21)  Anthony Alfredo, Chevrolet, 160.<\/p>\n

   14. (27)  Brennan Poole, Chevrolet, 160.<\/p>\n

   15. (31)  Jeremy Clements, Chevrolet, 160.<\/p>\n

   16. (30)  Dean Thompson #, Toyota, 160.<\/p>\n

   17. (5)  Taylor Gray #, Toyota, 160.<\/p>\n

    18. (32)  Ryan Ellis, Chevrolet, 160.<\/p>\n

    19. (36)  Lavar Scott, Chevrolet, 160.<\/p>\n

    20. (29)  Thomas Annunziata, Chevrolet, 160.<\/p>\n

    21. (37)  Matt Mills(i), Chevrolet, 160.<\/p>\n

    22. (6)  Harrison Burton, Ford, 160.<\/p>\n

    23. (25)  Blaine Perkins, Chevrolet, 160.<\/p>\n

    24. (20)  Kyle Sieg, Ford, 160.<\/p>\n

    25. (2)  Nick Sanchez #, Chevrolet, 160.<\/p>\n

    26. (38)  Joey Gase, Chevrolet, 160.<\/p>\n

   27. (13)  Ryan Sieg, Ford, 160.<\/p>\n

    28. (14)  Justin Allgaier, Chevrolet, 160.<\/p>\n

    29. (34)  Nick Leitz, Chevrolet, 160.<\/p>\n

   30. (15)  Sheldon Creed, Ford, 158.<\/p>\n

   31. (35)  Glen Reen, Toyota, 158.<\/p>\n

   32. (33)  Garrett Smithley, Chevrolet, 158.<\/p>\n

   33. (22)  Sammy Smith, Chevrolet, 157.<\/p>\n

   34. (24)  Kole Raz, Ford, 145.<\/p>\n

   35. (4)  Sam Mayer, Ford, Accident, 134.<\/p>\n

    36. (19)  Jeb Burton, Chevrolet, Accident, 109.<\/p>\n

    37. (8)  Carson Kvapil #, Chevrolet, Engine, 38.<\/p>\n

   38. (28)  Jordan Anderson, Chevrolet, Accident, 33.<\/p>\n

Average Speed of Race Winner:  90.543 mph.<\/p>\n

Time of Race:  2 Hrs, 12 Mins, 32 Secs. Margin of Victory:  1.506 Seconds.<\/p>\n

Caution Flags:  6 for 42 laps.<\/p>\n

Lead Changes:  8 among 5 drivers.<\/p>\n

Lap Leaders:   C. Zilisch # 1-39;W. Sawalich # 40-46;J. Allgaier 47-74;A. Almirola 75;C. Zilisch # 76-114;N. Leitz 115-116;C. Zilisch # 117-147;A. Almirola 148;C. Zilisch # 149-160.<\/p>\n

Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led):  Connor Zilisch # 4 times for 121 laps; Justin Allgaier 1 time for 28 laps; William Sawalich # 1 time for 7 laps; Aric Almirola 2 times for 2 laps; Nick Leitz 1 time for 2 laps.<\/p>\n

Stage #1 Top Ten: 88,19,18,7,48,41,21,2,54,16<\/p>\n

Stage #2 Top Ten: 7,19,88,18,2,21,20,16,48,41<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service  MADISON, Ill.\u2014Connor Zilisch\u2019s dream season continued on a track he\u2019d never raced before. Holding off the rest of the NASCAR Xfinity Series field over a succession of restarts late in Saturday night\u2019s Nu Way 200 Sauced by Blues Hog at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway, Zilisch achieved […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":676,"featured_media":54365,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[11],"tags":[905,16,181,784],"class_list":["post-54386","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nascar","tag-connor-zilisch","tag-nascar","tag-nascar-xfinity-series","tag-world-wide-technology-raceway"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-2234079760-1-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1707","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7hzTZ-e9c","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54386","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/676"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=54386"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54386\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":54392,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54386\/revisions\/54392"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/54365"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=54386"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=54386"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=54386"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}