Mission 200 at the Glen: Zilisch Dominates for Sixth Rookie Year Win

JR Motorsports rookie phenom Connor Zilisch won his sixth race of a very successful rookie campaign. Despite dominating early, Zilisch had a scrap and claw for the checkered flag.

Zilisch’ main challenges were mounted from teammate and road course king Shane Van Gisbergen, who kept the #88 honest in the first stage before both pitting. Other JRM teammate Justin Allgaier won the first stage.

Stage One Results:

1. #7
2. #54
3. #00
4. #48
5. #2
6. #25
7. #26
8. #4
9. #39
10. #99

The rookie sensation picked up where he left off in the second stage. With SVG marred back in traffic after pit stops, the #88 was unopposed at the front and ran away to the stage victory.

Stage Two Results:

1. #88
2. #9
3. #41
4. #21
5. #1
6. #11
7. #00
8. #7
9. #8
10. #32

The final stage began as the others did, with the #88 gapping the field on the restart. But the first caution of the day, for the #00 of Sheldon Creed in the wall at the carousel exit, sent him back to the field. As the caution came out at the start of pit cycles, the #88 would be back in 9th for the restart, while SVG would start first.

On the subsequent restart, the Kiwi Comet led the field but the #88 began storming through the field and it wasn’t long before he was challenging the #9 for the race lead.

While making a move around the outside of the #9 in turn 6 Zilisch went off track and, in an attempt to rejoin, he spun the #9, sending him into the wall. The #9 would not be able to continue the race.

At the restart, the #88 fell victim to the #21 of Austin Hill, who bumped him out of the way in the first corner for the lead, sending the #88 down the order. A caution for debris quickly neutralised the race.

Hill restarted alongside the #11 car, this week driven by Michael McDowell, with 11 laps remaining. The #11 got the better jump and the two began dogfighting for the lead. Meanwhile, their fight had allowed the #88 to once again sweep by for the lead.

With ten to go, Hill, coming back from a suspension issued last weekend for intentional wrecking a car, spun McDowell out of turn 5. 16 cars total were involved in the wreck, including the #91 being sent airborne from the #39 driving underneath. A red flag was required to clean up damages.

The final restart of the day occurred with 4 to go, after the caution had to be extended after the #48 suffered a steering problem and crashed in the turn 5 wall. At the restart, Zilisch held off a minor challenge from JRM teammate Sammy Smith to cruise away and win his sixth race of the year.

In victory lane after the race, Zilisch suffered an accident in which he slipped from the top of his race car, landing on his head. The 19 year old was taken to hospital and diagnosed with a broken collarbone. He was released from hospital that evening.

Sam Mayer drove his #41 to second place, with Sammy Smith’s #8 behind him in third, Hill took fourth and the final JRM car Carson Kvapil rounded out the top 5.

Featured Image Credits: JRMotorsports on Twitter/X